Karl Smesko didn’t sugarcoat what Thursday night meant. His Atlanta Dream walked into Indiana and beat the Fever 87-79. It wasn’t just a regular season win. It was personal.
Indiana knocked Atlanta out of the playoffs last year in the first round. So when the Dream went on the road and handled business, Smesko called it exactly what it was.
“The more you play with that playoff intensity, like games that have this type of edge to it, and when both teams are playing really well, I think the more you can be in that environment and in those situations, the more comfortable you’ll be,” Smesko told reporter Wilton Jackson. “It’s a great road win against a really good team.”
How the Dream got it done
Five Dream players scored in double figures. Angel Reese led the way with 21 points and 11 rebounds. She shot 8-of-14 from the floor and 5-of-8 from the line. Not bad for a second-year pro still finding her rhythm.
Jordin Canada added 18 points and five assists. Naz Hillmon and Allisha Gray each dropped 17. Rhyne Howard chipped in 16 points and six assists. That kind of balance is exactly what Smesko wants to see from a team trying to prove it belongs in the title conversation.
Atlanta improved to 10-4 on the season, good for second place in the Eastern Conference. They’re ahead of Indiana and Toronto but still chasing New York at the top. The Dream host the Fever again on June 20 at 1 p.m. ET. That one’s at home, which should help.
This win wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t supposed to be. It was physical, chippy, and felt like a playoff game in June. That’s the whole point for Smesko. You don’t wait until October to learn how to handle pressure. You build that muscle now.
Reese looked comfortable in the moment. She attacked the glass, scored through contact, and didn’t back down from Indiana’s frontcourt. For a team that got bounced early last year, that kind of mentality matters more than any single win.
Atlanta’s schedule doesn’t let up. They see Indiana again soon, then a stretch of games against top-tier teams. If they keep playing like this, Smesko’s playoff talk won’t sound premature for long.
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