NBA W· Season 2026
Allisha Gray's 23-point, 11-rebound double-double powered the Atlanta Dream past the Minnesota Lynx 89-81, handing the West leaders their second straight loss.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
The Dream seized control from the opening tip, winning the first quarter 26-21 and the second 26-20 to take a 52-41 lead into the break. Atlanta's outside shooting was the difference early — they connected on 13 of 36 three-point attempts (36.1%) for the game, while the Lynx hit just 6 of 19 (31.6%).
Minnesota (31-9) showed their mettle after halftime. The Lynx outscored the Dream 21-19 in the third quarter and opened the fourth with a 17-4 run spanning 8:47 of game time, cutting Atlanta's lead to 76-66 with 6:38 remaining.
But the Dream steadied. Canada, who finished with 16 points and 10 assists, reached double-digit dimes by the 5:55 mark of the fourth quarter, and Atlanta's shooters converted enough free throws down the stretch to keep the Lynx at arm's length. The Dream closed with an 18-19 fourth quarter, doing just enough to preserve the eight-point win.
The turning point
Atlanta's first-half dominance built the cushion that ultimately decided the game. The Dream shot 46.5% from the field to the Lynx's 42.9%, and their 13 made three-pointers — more than double Minnesota's six — created a margin that proved too deep for even a 17-4 Lynx run to overcome.
When Minnesota cut the lead to 10 in the fourth quarter, Canada orchestrated the reset, and Gray knocked down a key triple to push the lead back to 13, effectively ending the Lynx's comeback hopes.
Key performers
Allisha Gray (ATL) — Game-high 23 points on 6-of-11 shooting from three-point range, plus 11 rebounds. A 23-point, 11-rebound double-double that controlled both ends of the floor.
Jordin Canada (ATL) — 16 points and 10 assists, steering Atlanta's offence through the Lynx pressure and hitting the double-digit assist mark with time to spare.
Napheesa Collier (MIN) — 17 points on 5-of-15 shooting and 7 rebounds, leading the Lynx scoring but struggling with efficiency as Atlanta's defence contested her looks.
Natasha Howard (MIN) — 9 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 4 steals in a well-rounded performance that wasn't quite enough to drag the Lynx back.
Player of the match: Allisha Gray.
By the numbers
Atlanta outrebounded Minnesota 37-32 and shot 36.1% from three (13/36) compared to the Lynx's 31.6% (6/19). The Dream committed 18 turnovers to the Lynx's 11 but still generated enough offence through superior shooting accuracy. Minnesota held a 23-13 edge in points off turnovers, a reflection of Atlanta's sloppy stretches, but the Dream's 10-point halftime lead never fully evaporated.
The total of 170 points went under the pre-game line of 177.5. Atlanta won outright as +122 underdogs, meaning a $100 bet would have returned $222.
What it means
The Lynx (31-9) have now lost consecutive games for just the second time this season, following a 94-84 defeat to Washington on August 26. They remain first in the Western Conference but have seen their lead trimmed.
Atlanta (26-14) climbs into the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference, per Yahoo Sports, leapfrogging key rivals with the regular season winding down. The win is a significant résumé-builder for a Dream side positioning itself for playoff home-court advantage.
Next up:
- Atlanta Dream host the Connecticut Sun on September 17.
- Minnesota Lynx host the New York Liberty on September 18.
Verdict
This was a game Atlanta controlled from the first quarter and never truly lost control of, even when Minnesota's 17-4 run threatened. Gray and Canada were the difference-makers, and the Dream's three-point shooting gave them a margin that the Lynx — even at their best — could not erase. A confident, professional win from a team peaking at the right time.
Rivalry since 2010
Atlanta Dream W vs Minnesota Lynx W Head to Head Results· 50
Atlanta Dream W and Minnesota Lynx W have met 50 times — Atlanta Dream W won 12, Minnesota Lynx W won 38, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2010. Minnesota Lynx W leads the head-to-head with 38 victories from 50 meetings. A combined 8143 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 162.86 per match (3875 for the home side, 4268 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 50 matches (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 50 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 112–108 in 2014.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 1 Sept 2026