Early within the fourth quarter of the Atlanta Dream’s recreation towards the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, Aug. 21, Allisha Grey missed a driving layup that was rebounded by Lorela Cubaj, who kicked the ball out to the highest of the arc the place Tina Charles was stationed. The 13-year veteran who has performed 439 profession video games caught the go, paused after which fired up a 3-pointer.
The triple not solely gave the Dream a three-point lead, a bonus they’d not relinquish as they defeated the Mercury, 72-63 to win their third-straight recreation, but additionally vaulted Charles to No. 2 on the WNBA’s all-time scoring checklist, surpassing the nice Tina Thompson. The participant atop that checklist, Diana Taurasi, additionally was on the courtroom for the historic bucket, with the gamers who’ve scored 17,991 factors between them sharing a hug in the course of the timeout known as to honor Charles’ accomplishment.
Charles, who completed the sport with a double-double of 12 factors and 17 rebounds, mirrored on her path this achievement, saying, “Simply the place I used to be final 12 months, and simply the place I’m in the present day…I believed I used to be carried out enjoying final 12 months. So for me to be right here proper now’s simply actually particular.” The double-double was Charles’ 184th, the second-most in WNBA historical past behind Sylvia Fowles’ 193. She’s additionally second to Fowles in profession rebounds, 3,876 to 4,006.
Charles additionally spoke to how she sees her impression on the sport as wider than any statistical milestone, noting, “However … I feel after I’m truly carried out [playing], you are taking it in otherwise. I’m simply grateful to be round a terrific group of ladies. To see the expansion of Allisha Grey, to be alongside Rhyne Howard, to have an effect on them. I feel that’s simply what means essentially the most to me proper now in my profession.”
In the meanwhile, Charles actually is having a tangible and intangible impression on a Dream staff that, after a season-long malaise, has begun enjoying with a renewed goal out of the Olympic break, scoring three-straight wins over high-quality opponents within the Seattle Storm, Connecticut Solar and Mercury. Atlanta gained these three video games by a complete of 23 factors; when Charles was on the courtroom, they outscored their opponents by 45 factors, giving her the best plus/minus on the staff over the three-game win streak. Her 17 rebounds towards the Mercury had been essentially the most she’s grabbed this season, topping the 15 she corralled towards the Solar within the earlier recreation. She unleashed these efforts when Atlanta wanted them essentially the most, as Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, Charles’ backup, suffered an gnarly ankle damage early in Sunday’s win over the Solar.
Charles’ total play additionally exemplifies the additional intention that Atlanta has adopted. The staff is popping in full 40-minute performances, persevering via stretches of wrestle. Whereas Rhyne Howard placed on a scoring present within the Dream’s win over the Storm, cashing in on 5 3-pointers on her option to 30 factors, her stroke wavered towards the Solar and Mercury. And nonetheless, she discovered her option to optimistic performs, together with the game-sealing triple towards Connecticut, a recreation by which Atlanta was a team-best +17 when she was on the courtroom. Constantly placing the ball within the basket additionally has been troublesome for Allisha Grey. But, she’s been essential in serving to the Dream shut out these three wins, scoring seven fourth-quarter factors towards the Storm and Solar earlier than dropping eight factors within the last interval towards the Mercury.
Jordin Canada has been an absolute distinction maker for the Dream. It isn’t a coincidence that the staff has a profitable file, 4-3, within the seven video games she has performed. Canada is serving because the offensive organizer Atlanta has desperately wanted, all whereas providing point-of-attack aggression on the defensive finish. Her greatest recreation in an Atlanta uniform got here towards the Solar, with 19 factors, six assists and 6 steals. These statistical markers of her impression additionally had been matched by little issues that don’t present up in a standard field rating. Down the stretch, she drew a pair of momentum-shifting offensive fouls on Connecticut as a consequence of her insistent effort making an attempt to battle over screens.
It’s the little issues that the Dream’s fifth starter, Naz Hillmon, additionally brings to the courtroom. Over the previous three video games, Hillmon has performed 34, 31 and 34 minutes, her three-highest minute totals of the season. It’s an expanded position that’s well-earned. She’s been crashing the glass with relentlessness, grabbing a season-high 13 boards towards Seattle earlier than securing eight towards Phoenix. She’s additionally proven an elevated willingness to shoot. Within the win over Connecticut, she took a season-high 12 area objective makes an attempt; she then tried her second-most photographs of the season within the victory over the Mercury. For Hillmon, merely taking open photographs is important to turning into a extra precious offensive participant.
Now, the query is that if Atlanta can preserve this optimistic play and sneak into the eighth and last playoff spot. At present, the Dream are one recreation again of the Chicago Sky. It gained’t be simple, starting with a rematch towards the Mercury on Friday, Aug. 23 (7:30 p.m. ET, ION) earlier than a matchup with the Indiana Fever on Monday, Aug. 26 (7:30 p.m. ET, League Cross). After that, the Dream head out on a four-game West Coast highway journey.
