September 15, 2025
By Hunter Cruse
Rhyne Howard: ‘Our mindset was we wished to punch first, and we knew it will be a canine battle’
ATLANTA – The Indiana Fever raced to fifteen factors within the first 5 minutes of the WNBA playoffs, however its early burst rapidly stalled in opposition to the Atlanta Dream’s league-best defense after the All-Star break.
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Over the following 5 minutes, the Dream held the Fever to only six factors whereas Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard supplied sufficient offense to chop the deficit to 3 on the finish of the primary quarter.
“Our mindset was we wished to punch first, and we knew it will be a canine battle,” Howard instructed reporters postgame. “I believe that helped us even with the gradual begin as a result of we nonetheless had been capable of fight what they had been doing [offensively].”
That momentum carried into the second, the place wing Maya Caldwell delivered a set off the bench.
With the rating tied at 26 on the 5:35 mark, Caldwell fronted Aliyah Boston within the put up, then rotated to the weak facet to swat Natasha Howard’s drive on the rim. Atlanta ran the opposite manner, pushing the tempo for a straightforward Nia Coffey layup.
“I imagine protection wins video games, and that’s one thing we purchased into early within the season,” Caldwell instructed The Subsequent pregame. “We all know we now have to destroy house, and we take delight in our 1-on-1 protection, in addition to how we assist one another to verify all the pieces comes collectively.”
Atlanta compelled Indiana deep into the shot clock within the half-court, flooding the gaps on each drive and contesting practically each shot.
The Fever shot simply 4-for-17 from the sphere within the second quarter, with only two field goals coming from gamers exterior of Mitchell. This allowed the Dream to construct a 40-33 lead coming into the break.
“Within the second quarter, I believed we began to settle in,” Atlanta head coach Karl Smesko mentioned. “We compelled much more powerful pictures, and we compelled a number of extra turnovers. We actually wanted it as a result of the primary 5 minutes had been tough.”
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Atlanta’s protection stayed relentless early within the second half, as All-Star middle Brionna Jones was bodily with Boston within the put up, forcing her to move out to Lexie Hull, just for Howard to chop off Hull’s drive and drive a shot clock violation.
The Fever outscored the Dream 20-18 within the third quarter, however with Natasha Howard and Boston held to a mixed 0-for-2 from the sphere, and three turnovers from Howard, Indiana couldn’t create any separation.
“Their physicality took us out of our rhythm,” Indiana head coach Stephanie White mentioned postgame. “They’re quick, they’re lengthy, they usually make you’re employed all through complete possessions.”
Regardless of outscoring Atlanta within the third, Indiana entered the fourth trailing by simply 5. However foul hassle struck early, with Boston choosing up her fifth foul with 8:58 remaining within the sport. This, mixed with two technicals referred to as on Indiana’s Odyssey Sims and White, gave Atlanta the sting.
The Dream opened the quarter with a 9-0 run, and with Boston on the bench, Atlanta pulled away as Naz Hillmon and Howard mixed for 16 fourth-quarter factors. The Dream held on to win 80-68 and take a 1-0 lead within the collection.
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Atlanta’s protection was the story of the sport. Whereas Mitchell scored a game-high 27 factors, the Dream restricted the remainder of Indiana’s rotation to only 28.9% from the sphere and seven.1% from three. Indiana managed solely 9 factors in transition, effectively under their season common (14.5 factors), in accordance with Synergy Sports activities.
The Dream’s protection, from its on-ball strain within the backcourt to its rim safety, helped maintain the Fever to only 44% on the rim and restricted second-chance alternatives to choose up the win.
Atlanta will journey to Indiana for Recreation 2 on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.
Hunter Cruse covers the Atlanta Dream and the WNBA Draft for The Subsequent.
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