Postgame Notes: Atlanta 77, Indiana 93
August 2, 2020 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release
Atlanta Notes
- Atlanta's record against the Indiana Fever is now tied 24-24.
- The Atlanta Dream started Chennedy Carter, Betnijah Laney, Shekinna Stricklen, Monique Billings and Elizabeth Williams.
- Courtney Williams came off the bench for her first double-digit scoring effort of the season with 18 points to lead the team.
- Betnijah Laney finished with another strong performance for the Dream with a line of 13 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals against her former team.
o Laney has scored in double-digits three times this season.
o She dished out a season-high 6 assists.
o Her 4 steals match a career-high, which she has done twice before.
- Elizabeth Williams has finished in double-figure scoring in all four games this season, including her 15-point performance tonight.
o The last time she had four straight double-figure outings was in 2018, when she had five straight from August 17 to 31.
- Chennedy Carter, who was limited due to foul trouble, scored 15 points for her fourth straight double-digit effort to start her career.
- Monique Billings has led the Dream in both defensive rebounds and total rebounds in all four games this season.
- Rookie Jaylyn Agnew knocked down her first two career three-pointers in 7 minutes off the bench, going 2-2 from the field.
- Courtney Williams and Agnew came off the bench to combine for 24 points, the most the Dream's bench has scored so far this season.
- Atlanta attempted only 8 free throws Sunday to the Fever's 21, the fewest the Dream have shot so far this season.
Atlanta Quotes
Head Coach Nicki Collen
On Courtney Williams's development from game one to game two and how she felt like she played today...
"Obviously, Courtney Williams is shaking the rust off. I thought she, obviously, got her legs under her a little bit [and] made some jumpshots tonight. [Courtney Williams] had four assists tonight. I think it's still going to take some time... with the playbook still [being] pretty small. When she's on the court, Courtney Williams has the advantage of [saying] I could string [the Connecticut Sun] in some of the things that we do. We may do it slightly differently, but I think she has the advantage in learning. [She is] somebody [that] I can always say [to], 'okay, we're going to run this and you called it something else in Connecticut.' [It is] just kind of getting her up to speed. I thought she played more comfortably. I thought she played more comfortably off the ball. I had Blake Dietrick run the point and get [Courtney Williams] the ball. In actions I had [Courtney Williams] in with Chennedy more. I think that helps. I think you want to play to and through Courtney, but I think she's more suited to play off the ball and then run her into actions."
On what excites her about Chennedy Carter's game and what she needs to work on the most...
"Well, I would start with she's got to stop fouling. That seems to be a trend for her. She has gotten herself in foul trouble in three of our four games. She is fouling jump shooters, probably over aggressive against Sabrina [Ionescu] the other night, got herself in foul trouble early. I would say that's, right now through four games, what I'm the most concerned with because that takes her off of the floor. What I'm most excited about is I just think she's explosive off the bounce. She can create her own shots. She can create for her teammates. If you look at some of her statistics, she has started games well and finished games well. She's fearless in the fourth quarter. We've had some games where she's had to make plays down the stretch, so she's not afraid of the big moments or the big shots, and she has shown that she'll go make those. She still has got to learn and she still has got to understand defense, she's got to understand helpside. There was a late example where Blake [Dietrick] was helping on the nail on a drive, and Blake was guarding Kelsey Mitchell and Chennedy was guarding [Julie] Allemand, she needed to sell out on Kelsey Mitchell when Blake had to help on the nail, Kelsey hit that late three and that's just part of learning. [It's] really understanding scouting report defense and who's going to beat you and who's hot. Her growth is going to come as she learns the game, as she learns who everybody is in this league and what they do well, [and] how she can continue to get better on both sides of the ball. She's a great kid, wants to be great, is a willing learner, asks questions. I'm excited. I think she can be a star. There is no doubt. Long term, she can be a star in this league."
Guard Courtney Williams (#10)
On how her body feels after playing her second game since she's been inside the bubble...
"It's hurting. I'm definitely sore. I haven't really picked up a basketball in two months. I kind of told myself I was going to get back into game shape during training camp, and, obviously, I missed that. Now I'm trying to catch everything back up during games which is tough, but I have to do it."
On how the Dream's roster has had a lot of turnover and how she feels her team is meshing...
"It's tough. We don't really have a lot of time to really get to know how each other plays just yet. It's like we are learning on the spot where certain people like to be, where they want the ball, and how they play defense. It's tough, but it's kind of a long season, the games are back-to-back, so we have got to get it together, and I think that we will."
Guard Jaylyn Agnew (#5)
On what her mentality is in the game, what she thinks about when her number is called...
"You just have to be ready when your number is called. Today, I just had to be open on both of those shots. [I had to] shoot with confidence and they went in today. I think that you just have to be ready and prepared no matter if you are going to play 30 minutes or two minutes. Still know scout on defense and offense. You just have to be prepared no matter what."
On how she has adjusted to the WNBA three-point line being longer than the three-point line in women's college basketball ...
"I think that it's been okay. During the quarantine when I was training I was shooting NBA threes because I knew that the line was longer. I think that the adjustment has been fine."
On her biggest goal this season...
"I would say just to contribute where I can. Whether that is on the offensive end, defensive end, or on the bench. Just being an energy player and hyping my teammates up. Just being good at whatever role I am in is probably my biggest goal this year. Just doing what I can where I can."
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from August 2, 2020
- Aces Dial It up on Defense in 79-70 Win over Dallas - Las Vegas Aces
- Wings Downed 79-70 by Aces - Dallas Wings
- Postgame Notes: Atlanta 77, Indiana 93 - Atlanta Dream
- Shorthanded Fever Run Past Dream - Indiana Fever
- Liberty's Third Quarter Run Not Enough, Drop To Mercury 96-67 - New York Liberty
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