In the first quarter, the Dream were leading 30-24. Last season, Atlanta struggled down the stretch but managed to finish in fifth place with a record of 19-21, which was their best season since 2018. This season, they are looking to compete with Indiana for a spot in the middle of the standings (5-8) and for playoff positioning.
The Dream have some key players returning for the upcoming season, including 2021 No. 1 overall pick Rhyne Howard who averaged 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. They also have Olympic 3×3 champion Allisha Gray, who averaged 17.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, as well as center Cheyenne Parker who averaged 15 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
In addition to their returning players, the Dream have added veteran center Tina Charles to their roster. Charles is an all-WNBA player and Olympic gold medalist who did not play last season but signed with Atlanta in free agency