The Atlanta Dream swept the Washington Mystics in two games, closing out their first-round playoff series with a 93-75 victory in Game 2. The win sends Atlanta to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018, ending a six-year drought that spanned three ownership changes and two full rebuilds.
The Dream won both games by double digits—Game 1 finished 78-67—and never trailed in the fourth quarter of either contest. Washington shot 38.2% from the field in Game 2 and turned the ball over 16 times. Atlanta's bench outscored Washington's reserves 32-18 across the two games, a margin that proved insurmountable in a series where neither starting five shot above 43%.
This matters because Atlanta is now four wins from a WNBA title under an ownership group that bought the franchise in February 2021 for approximately $50 million—then a record for a women's professional team. Larry Gottesdiener, Renee Montgomery, and Suzanne Abair inherited a roster that finished 8-16 in the 2020 bubble and a fanbase still processing the franchise's role in the Raphael Warnock Senate race. Three seasons later, the Dream finished the regular season 15-25 and entered the playoffs as the eighth seed, but the roster construction is working: five rotation players are 25 or younger, and the team's salary cap sheet has $1.2 million in flexibility heading into 2025.
The semifinals appearance also validates the Gottesdiener group's decision to keep general manager Dan Padover and head coach Tanisha Wright through two losing seasons. Wright, hired in January 2022, is now 2-0 in playoff series and 10-8 in her last 18 games including postseason. Padover's offseason moves—trading for Tina Charles, drafting Haley Jones fourth overall, re-signing Allisha Gray—produced a roster that ranks third in defensive rating since the All-Star break. The Dream allowed 82.4 points per 100 possessions in this series, the lowest mark by any team in the first round.
Atlanta will face either the top-seeded New York Liberty or the fourth-seeded Las Vegas Aces in the semifinals, with Game 1 scheduled for late September. The Dream have not appeared in a conference finals series since 2013. Television ratings for their playoff games have not been disclosed, but State Farm Arena reported 8,200 paid attendance for their lone home game this postseason, roughly 60% of capacity. The franchise averaged 5,100 paid tickets during the regular season, 11th in the league.
The Dream's playoff run also arrives as the WNBA prepares to negotiate its next media rights deal, with current contracts expiring after the 2025 season. League sources expect the next package to exceed $200 million annually, more than triple the current $60 million per year from CBS, ESPN, and Amazon. Atlanta's market—the ninth-largest in the U.S.—and its young core make it a useful data point for networks modeling future inventory. The Dream now have three playoff telecasts on national television this month, each airing in prime time.
Suzanne Abair, the team's vice chair, was courtside for both games wearing a custom Dream blazer. She sat two rows behind Gottesdiener, who flew in from New York for Game 2. Montgomery, the team's vice president and former WNBA guard, worked the sideline during warmups and was seen speaking with Katie Nolan, who is producing a women's sports documentary for ESPN. The Dream's ownership group also controls the Minnesota Lynx, acquired in March 2024 for an undisclosed sum. Minnesota is also in the playoffs, meaning Gottesdiener's group now has two teams in the final eight.
Atlanta opens its semifinal series on September 29 or 30, depending on the Liberty-Aces result. The Dream have 12 days to prepare, their longest rest period since the Olympic break. Wright has already confirmed the team will hold two practices per day starting Monday, with video sessions focused on transition defense and post rotations. The coaching staff is expected to scout both potential opponents in person, with assistants traveling to Las Vegas and New York this week.
The takeaway
Atlanta's first playoff series win in six years gives Gottesdiener's ownership group two semifinal teams and a **$50M** franchise now worth multiples more.
Editorial & Disclosure Notice: This article was written with artificial intelligence from public sources and is published without individual human review. Artificial intelligence and other digital tools are also used for research, analysis, editing, formatting, and production. Errors, omissions, outdated information, or inaccuracies may occur. References to companies, brands, products, services, organizations, or individuals are for informational and editorial purposes and do not imply endorsement, sponsorship, affiliation, partnership, or approval unless expressly stated. All trademarks and other intellectual property remain the property of their respective owners. Opinions, analysis, estimates, and commentary are informational only and should not be construed as financial, investment, legal, tax, medical, procurement, or other professional advice. Information may be corrected, clarified, or updated after publication. Corrections or removal requests: jenny@pops4.com.
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