Atlanta was hoping to get their first win behind them on Saturday night against the Indiana Fever, a task that was especially important considering it took them 18 tries to snatch a victory last year. Twenty-seven turnovers, two overtimes, and countless lead changes later they had done just that, winning their season opener in a 87-86 double overtime thriller.
“It was a great game. There was no quitting in this team tonight,” said head coach and general manager Marynell Meadors. “They were on a mission and I thought they played well.”
In a game that featured plenty of fast-break basketball for the duration, Atlanta finally emerged as the victor when a Tamika Catchings jump shot clanged off the back rim as time expired, capping off a game that will likely go down as one of the wildest of the entire season.
Neither team led by more than six points throughout the game, with both sides missing multiple chances to win it. In the end, Atlanta rode the strength of the home crowd, and strong performances from Chamique Holdsclaw and Erika DeSouza to victory.
Holdsclaw finished with 22 points, while DeSouza notched 17 points and 16 boards.
NOTHING LEFT …
Dream players and coaches only managed a few hours of sleep after Saturday night’s marathon, hopping on a red-eye Sunday to play Washington at 4 p.m. You’ve got to wonder what the schedule-makers were thinking with this one. Seriously, guys, a back-to-back featuring a night game at home and then an afternoon matchup less than 24 hours later? That would have been a tall task for Atlanta even if the Fever game hadn’t gone to extra time.
Atlanta got off to a hot start in Washington, jumping out to a surprising 22-8 lead after one quarter before crumbling the rest of the way. They trailed by eight at the half and never really tested the Mystics in the final two stanzas.
“I thought we played as hard as we possibly could have played,” Meadors said. “We had a very tough night last night. We didn’t get through playing until around 10:30 p.m. I was real proud of our team.”
With tired legs surely being a big reason for the struggles, Atlanta simply couldn’t stay in front of the Mystics, who shot 34 free throws to just 13 for Atlanta. Alana Beard led the way, making 11-of-13 from the charity stripe in a 27-point outburst.
RUN, RUN, RUN
Saturday evening’s game was played at a helter-skelter pace for the duration. Surely that had a lot to do with the 27 turnovers (Indiana checked in with 21).
But while the execution wasn’t there, the pace was no problem for Meadors, who wants her team to run-and-gun after harping on their athleticism throughout training camp.
“To be honest, we actually want the speed of the game to be faster,” Meadors said afterwards.
This should be interesting. If Atlanta wants to play fast they will surely have some success. But one has to wonder whether starters Nikki Teasley and Chamique Holdsclaw will be able to keep up. Both are still playing themselves into shape after extended hiatuses from the league.
Holdsclaw conducted interviews from the whirlpool in the Philips Arena locker room after playing just under 46 minutes.
“I’m not in the shape that I’ve been in the past,” Holdsclaw said, “but I’m a lot smarter. I understand how to pick and choose my spots. As far as shape, I probably came back so-so, but I’ve been working so hard. I just want to keep improving, that’s the only thing I can do.”
SECRET WEAPON
It’s only going to be a matter of time before opponents figure out who Erika DeSouza is. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound native of Brazil got her chance to prove her worth in the WNBA last season with Atlanta, but injuries derailed her opportunity. She was impressive, however, when she saw the court, averaging 9.3 points and 6.6 rebounds in just 12 games played.
A fully healthy DeSouza filled the stat sheet in her return against Indiana, scoring 16 points and 17 rebounds in the opening-night victory.
“I think she’s a secret weapon, but I don’t know how long she’s going to be a secret,” Meadors said. “She’s just powerful. She’s one of the best players I think I’ve ever coached in that position.”
Bagriansky can be reached at jbagriansky@scoreatl.com.
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