DREAM BEAT: Atlanta drops Game 1 of Finals

The Atlanta Dream, after capturing a hard fought Eastern Conference Title had to travel to Seattle to go up against the Storm and WNBA MVP Lauren Jackson in hopes of grabbing of a bigger prize in this best of five series. Seattle came in with the best overall record in the WNBA at 28-6. They also easily got into the finals by defeating the Los Angeles Sparks and the Phoenix Mercury respectively. Atlanta however exceeded expectations by defeating the number one seed Washington Mystics and then shocking everyone by eliminating the New York Liberty and getting to the WNBA Finals. The first half of this contest was a game of runs as the Storm raced out to a 22-9 lead by hitting nine of their first 13 shots. By the end of the 1st Quarter into the 2nd Quarter however the Dream would get on track by going on a 21-6 run and would take the lead with 3:42 left in the half on a steal and layup by Coco Miller. Much of the half was played without leading scorer Angel McCoughtry who picked up three 1st Quarter fouls. She would sit out the entire 2nd Quarter but despite that Atlanta would go into halftime tied with the Storm at 39 on a 3-pointer at the buzzer by Iziane Castro Marques. Coach Marynell Meadors would say in reference to McCoughtry that, “She has to do a better job of not getting into foul trouble and still staying aggressive.” In the 3rd the game was back and forth until Seattle established a cushion led by Jackson who ended the night with 26 points. She would score 14 in the quarter leading to a six point lead going into the 4th. Seattle would push the lead to nine but Atlanta would come back to tie the score at 77 on a three-point play by Castro Marques. After a timeout, Seattle Guard Sue Bird who ended the night with 14 points, would hit a pull up jumper from the foul line, giving the Storm a 79-77 lead. McCoughtry would try to hit a 3-pointer at the end but it did not connect giving Seattle the win. Castro Marques would later say about the shot by Bird, “We had to make a good defensive play in that situation.” “It was just a good play with two good shooters, and it’s hard to defend that.” McCoughtry and Castro Marques ended the night with 19 a piece for the Dream. Jackson had 26 points; Camille Little added 18 points and 11 rebounds. They will play Game 2 on Thursday.