The Atlanta Dream aren’t just heading into the playoffs—they’re storming in. After closing the 2025 regular season on a six-game winning streak, Atlanta finished with a sparkling 30-14 record, smashing their previous franchise-best of 23 wins. This year has already been one for the books, but the Dream aren’t celebrating for long. The postseason awaits, and their first opponent is no easy draw.
A Historic Season Under Karl Smesko
In his very first year as head coach, Karl Smesko has taken the Dream to heights nobody saw coming. His 30-win debut isn’t just a franchise record—it’s a WNBA milestone, setting the all-time mark for victories by a rookie head coach. Surpassing Michael Cooper’s 28-win debut with the Los Angeles Sparks back in 2000, Smesko has quickly earned respect across the league.
Players have embraced him both for his basketball mind and his offbeat personality, but Smesko himself has downplayed the accolades. His eyes are firmly fixed on the bigger picture: making sure this momentum carries into the playoffs.
The Bracket is Set
When the dust settled, Atlanta landed the No. 3 seed in the WNBA playoffs. The top of the bracket features the Minnesota Lynx at No. 1 and the red-hot Las Vegas Aces at No. 2, riding their own massive winning streak. For the Dream, the opening test is the Indiana Fever, who finished 24-20 and battled through adversity all year.
The Fever were missing superstar rookie Caitlin Clark for most of the season, but Kelsey Mitchell kept them afloat with MVP-caliber numbers—20.2 points per game on elite efficiency. Add in Aliyah Boston’s interior presence, Natasha Howard’s versatility, and a tough home crowd in Indiana, and the Fever suddenly look like one of the trickiest lower seeds in the bracket.
The Dream’s Strength Lies in Depth
Luckily for Atlanta, they aren’t a one- or two-star team—they’re a full roster threat. Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard lead the way, but it’s the supporting cast that makes the Dream dangerous.
- Brionna Jones and Naz Hillmon dominate the paint.
- Jordin Canada has blossomed into a reliable playmaker.
- Veterans like Brittney Griner and Maya Caldwell bring size and savvy.
- Rookie Te-Hina Paopao adds an extra spark with her outside shooting.
This depth has been the secret weapon all year long. When the Fever key in on Howard or Gray, the Dream have plenty of other ways to score—and that’s exactly why they’ve been so hard to beat.
Can Atlanta Push Further This Year?
The Dream’s fans will pack Gateway Center Arena with playoff basketball returning to Atlanta on Sunday, September 14. And while advancing past Indiana won’t be simple, there’s a sense that this team is built for the moment.
Should they move on, the real test looms in the second round, likely against the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Vegas swept the season series, but as the Dream just showed by winning 30 games, this isn’t the same Atlanta team the league has gotten used to.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 regular season proved one thing: the Atlanta Dream are no longer rebuilding, they’re contenders. Whether they can ride their winning streak into a deep playoff run remains to be seen, but one thing is certain—this is the best chance the franchise has had since 2010 to make noise in the postseason.
So buckle up, Atlanta. The Dream have already made history, and now they have the chance to chase something even bigger.