Atlanta Dream triumphs over Los Angeles Sparks with 87-74 victory

Allisha Gray scored 25 points and Tina Charles added 16 while putting in spirited performances. The Atlanta Dream defeated the Los Angeles Sparks, 87-74, Sunday afternoon in College Park.

Rhyne Howard chipped in with 16 points and five assists for Atlanta. Aerial Powers added 13 points, six rebounds and three assists coming off the bench.

The Dream’s ability to come down the hill and put Sparks rookie Cameron Brink in trouble was the key to the victory.

“We always want to be able to put both feet in the paint,” Dream head coach Tanisha Wright said. “That’s our goal. Then being able to find the right reading and find the open person. I think we did a good job tonight: going downhill and continuing to trust him even when the shots weren’t falling.

Star rookies Brink and Rickea Jackson each scored 16 points for Los Angeles. At times, Jackson was a bucket for the Sparks. Additionally, former Atlanta Dream draft pick Aari McDonald scored 14 points off the bench in nearly 31 minutes for Los Angeles.

Pay it forward

Notably, Tina Charles explained why she spoke to Brink during the first game in California. She recently cheered on Angel Reese during their match in Chicago. Charles, a veterinarian for 12 years, says it’s all about paying it forward. Charles mentioned that Sylvia Fowles, Nakia Sanford and Chasity Melvin were those voices for her when she was a young player.

“But that’s exactly who I am,” Charles said. “I am very friendly. I’ll talk to you one-on-one, tell you the things you should do better. Once in the game, Cameron got me, but she flew away. And I told him on the next dead ball, ‘Hold your bucket, you know, get on defense for three seconds.’ Make them throw it at you. These are things Asia (Jones) would tell me to do. So I just try to pay it forward.

Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream attempts a shot during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024, inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Ga. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus of the Atlanta Dream confronts Li Yueru during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Haley Jones of the Atlanta Dream drives the ball during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Haley Jones of the Atlanta Dream attempts a layup during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N . Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream drives the offense during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Ga. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Haley Jones of the Atlanta Dream attempts a layup during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N . Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream attempts a shot during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen /The Atlanta Voice)
Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream attempts a layup during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N . Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Allisha Gray of the Atlanta Dream attempts a shot during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen /The Atlanta Voice)
The Air Powers of the Atlanta Dream are exuberant during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks makes a layup during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen /The Voice of Atlanta)
Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream drives the ball during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024, inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia ( Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Rhyne Howard of the Atlanta Dream attempts a shot during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024, inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Ga. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Aerial Powers of the Atlanta Dream lead the crowd after a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Ga. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice )
Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks and Aerial Powers of the Atlanta Dream talk after a WNBA game on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Ga. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks drives the lane during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Cameron Brink of the Los Angeles Sparks drives the lane during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus of the Atlanta Dream rebounds the ball during the first half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Voice of Atlanta)
Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks makes a layup during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen /The Voice of Atlanta)
Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks makes a layup during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen /The Voice of Atlanta)
Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks makes a layup during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen /The Voice of Atlanta)
Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks celebrates after scoring a basket during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N . Umontuen/The Voice of Atlanta)
Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks celebrates after scoring a basket during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N . Umontuen/The Voice of Atlanta)
Dearica Hamby of the Los Angeles Sparks looks to pass during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Aari McDonald of the Los Angeles Sparks drives the offense during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus of the Atlanta Dream rebounds the ball during the first half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Voice of Atlanta)
Rickea Jackson of the Los Angeles Sparks makes a layup during the first half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen /The Voice of Atlanta)
Tina Charles of the Atlanta Dream celebrates after scoring a basket during the first half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Voice of Atlanta)
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus of the Atlanta Dream confronts Li Yueru during the second half of a WNBA game against the Los Angeles Sparks on Sunday, June 16, 2024 inside the Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

Wright preaches patience

Coach Wright brought up the idea that young players are supposed to come into the W ready to go. However, she stressed that it was okay to allow players to develop. Wright says she probably wasn’t completely ready until her fifth year in the W. So, patience is indeed a virtue. As for Atlanta Olympian Rhyne Howard, Wright says she enjoys watching her growth. She described it as “something really special”.

“So it takes time for all these young kids and all these recruits. They need grace to be able to continue to develop and become what they’re going to be,” Wright said. “What they are today is not what they will be in three or four years. In three or four years, you’ll see extraordinary young athletes breaking records and doing incredible things here in the WNBA, on top of what they’re already capable of doing. So, I think giving them time and a little grace is really important.

And after?

Atlanta will face the Minnesota Lynx on Wednesday night. They will host Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever Friday night at State Farm Arena.

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