![Atlanta Dream](https://www.oursportscentral.com/graphics/teams/resized/wnba_atlanta_dream19-2-200.png)
Atlanta Dream Open 2024 Campaign with 92-81 Win over Los Angeles Sparks
May 16, 2024 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release
ATLANTA, Ga. - The Atlanta Dream opened its 2024 season victorious, led by veteran Tina Charles and Rhyne Howard as they defeated the Los Angeles Sparks in a back-and-forth game that featured seven different ties.
With the win, Atlanta also broke a 20-20 overall series ties with the Sparks. In her third season at the helm of the Atlanta Dream, head coach Tanisha Wright elected to utilize a starting lineup of Haley Jones, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Tina Charles. Charles made her debut for the Dream with a double-double, finishing with 21 points and 14 rebounds. The center signed to the Dream as a free agent this past February. Howard led Atlanta's scorers with 25 points and three rebounds. Howard, Charles, Gray and Jones all finished scoring in double figures. The Dream began its season opener down 9-2 but fought back to end the first quarter with a 26-26 tie. Charles helped Atlanta to shake off its start and overcome the Los Angeles lead throughout the first half. She powered the Dream to a 7-0 run against the Sparks in the second quarter, being the singular outlet for the Dream offense for almost five minutes. The veteran center combined with Howard to score 18 of the Dream's 22 second quarter points. Ending at 48-48, the first half featured three lead changes with the game being tied five different times.
The Dream and Sparks continued to go back-and-forth in the third, ending with yet another tie at 66 even. Atlanta broke the fourth quarter open with an 11-point unanswered run to start, led by Howard who scored five consecutive points. The Dream held the Sparks scoreless for four minutes, featuring blocks by Howard, Dangerfield and Aerial Powers.Howard furthered the Dream's fourth quarter onslaught, knocking down another 3-pointer to give Atlanta an 80-70 double-digit lead with just under five minutes to play.The Sparks fought to bring the game within seven, but it wasn't enough to overcome Howard and Atlanta's fourth quarter performance.The Dream will travel to Phoenix next to take on the Mercury on May 18. The game will tip-off at 10:00 p.m. EST and stream on both Peachtree Sports Network and NBA TV.
• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 16, 2024
- Clark Makes Home Debut, Continuing to Adjust to Life in the WNBA - Indiana Fever
- Fans Create Special Environment for Fever Home Opener - Indiana Fever
- Liberty Top Fever, 102-66 - New York Liberty
- Atlanta Dream Open 2024 Campaign with 92-81 Win over Los Angeles Sparks - Atlanta Dream
- Washington Mystics Season Opener Sees Record Viewership on Monumental Sports Network - Washington Mystics
- Storm Announce Tenth Annual Toy Drive Benefiting Seattle Children's - Seattle Storm
- Jaelyn Brown to Have Nose Procedure - Dallas Wings
- UWM's Mortgage Matchup Named Official Mortgage Partner of the NBA and WNBA - WNBA
- Atlanta Dream to Host Two Indiana Fever Games at State Farm Arena - Atlanta Dream
- Fans Attending this Week's Pacers and Fever Home Games Will Take Home One-Of-A-Kind Souvenir Tickets, Powered by Spokenote Technology - Indiana Fever
- Fever Open Regular Season Home Slate against New York Liberty on Thursday Night - Indiana Fever
- Late Surge Pushes Dallas Wings Past Chicago Sky 87-79 in Season Opener - Dallas Wings
- Five Players Make Sky Debuts as Chicago Falls 79-87 in Opener to Dallas - Chicago Sky
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Atlanta Dream Stories
- Allisha Gray Becomes First-Ever Player to Win Both WNBA Kia Skills Challenge and Starry 3-Point Contest - Atlanta Dream
- Allisha Gray Becomes First-Ever Player to Win Both WNBA Kia Skills Challenge and Starry 3-Point Contest
- Atlanta Dream 79, Minnesota Lynx 86
- Atlanta Dream 70, Seattle Storm 81
- Dream Fall to Aces, 84-70
![Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew](https://www.oursportscentral.com/graphics/sc_400w_tag.png)
![OurSports Central](https://www.oursportscentral.com/assets/img/footer-logo-latest.png)