During the first week of the new WNBA season, the Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever played against each other, each hosting a game—one in Indiana on Tuesday and the other in Atlanta on Thursday. The two teams ended up splitting; each achieving a road win.
The question now is whether it could be a possible playoff matchup. The Dream is a sleeper team, and the Fever’s team chemistry is looking strong through the first three games of the regular season.
‘Caitlin Clark Effect’ in Good Hands in Atlanta
The Dream recently played their first home game at State Farm Arena, influenced by the ‘Caitlin Clark effect.’ This phenomenon has led several WNBA teams to move home games to larger venues to accommodate in the interest in Clark.
The Dream unveiled a new court featuring Playa Society’s design, which reads, “Pay respect to women’s sports.” Atlanta also had a sellout, marking the third time in the last year the team has filled more than 17,000 seats in the arena.
“We are so excited to tip off the home schedule in front of another packed house at State Farm Arena,” Atlanta Dream President and COO Morgan Shaw Parker said in press release. “Dream fans set the standard in the W. They continually bring their passion and energy into the arena and our players feed off it. We are so grateful for their support and can’t wait to get this home season started tonight and carry the momentum through this weekend.”
When Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark was asked about who she would pay respect to in the WNBA, she mentioned the impact of her teammate, veteran forward DeWanna Bonner. Bonner moved into third place in the WNBA’s all-time scoring list in league history in the team’s blowout win over the Chicago Sky on Saturday.
“Moving into third all-time, I don’t see people talking about that enough,” Clark said of Bonner.
Bonner now has 7,490 career points, exactly 3,156 points behind WNBA all-time leading scorer and legend Diana Taurasi.
Rhyne Howard vs. Caitlin Clark: Must-See Guard Matchup
At the end of the first quarter between the Fever and Dream in Atlanta on Thursday, Clark was walking up on the front court when she and Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard were talking trash to each other. They ended up having to be separated at the half-court. Clark told Howard, “I’m not scared of you.”
Caitlin Clark and Rhyne Howard got chippy early into Fever-Dream 😳👀
Clark: 11 PTS, 4 REB, 6 AST, 0-5 3PT
Howard: 24 PTS, 5 REB, 2 STL, 1 BLKFever beat Dream 81-76 pic.twitter.com/Q4KI4MgPOJ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 23, 2025
On Tuesday, Clark, one of the contenders for the MVP award this season, had a double-double with 27 points and 11 assists, surpassing New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu for the most games with at least 25 points and 10 assists at 42.
On Thursday, Howard delivered an outstanding performance for Atlanta, scoring 24 points along with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. She is recognized for her versatility and her ability to score from all three levels on the court.
Both Howard and Clark are ranked in the league’s top 15 when it comes to points per game.
Aliyah Boston’s Presence on the Court
Indiana Fever center-forward Aliyah Boston is currently averaging a double-double, with 15.7 points and 10.0 rebounds per game after having a double-double in the first two games of the season. Additionally, she is averaging 2.3 blocks per game and has an efficiency rating of 24.7 over her first three games.
Boston was selected first overall in the 2023 WNBA Draft out of South Carolina and has been consistently improving each year. She is recognized for her strong defense and ability to score from all three levels.
The chemistry between Boston and Clark has been strengthening since Clark was also chosen first overall in last year’s draft out of Iowa.
How the Griner-Jones Frontcourt Experiment is Working
The additions of Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to the frontcourt are seen as an upgrade for the Atlanta Dream, and the duo is proving effective through the first three games of the season.
Griner had a significant impact on the Dream’s victory on Tuesday, contributing 21 points and eight rebounds. Her scoring and leadership were particularly evident in the fourth quarter for Atlanta.
Griner, however, fouled out in two consecutive games against Indiana, which raised concerns for Atlanta. In Thursday’s game, she scored in single digits for the first time this season, managing only five points and seven rebounds. The Dream needs her to stay out of foul trouble to remain competitive in close game situations.
Bench Production Crucial for Both Teams
Throughout the offseason, both the Dream and Fever improved their rosters, hoping to bring in more bench depth.
For example, the Atlanta Dream selected guard Te-Hina Paopao at 18th overall in this year’s WNBA Draft, after she was projected to be selected in the first round or early second round. But with Jordin Canada being out due to a knee injury, the team needed some depth at the point guard position to ensure that they are on a playoff run in the long term.
For the Indiana Fever, Clark had a challenging night in Atlanta on Thursday, ending a streak of making at least one three-pointer in a game dating back to her sophomore year at Iowa. She also got into foul trouble with five personals.
The team needed a lot of help to bounce back with a victory. Forward Natasha Howard, whom the Fever acquired in free agency, stepped up big time with 26 points, seven rebounds, and two assists while shooting 70.6 percent from the field.
“I felt like our defensive energy, physicality, disruptiveness, was better,” Indiana Fever head coach Stephanie White said. “We made it more difficult for them moving the ball around the perimeter, we executed better in our in our ball screen defense. I felt like we had each other’s back a little bit more, and we played through breakdowns, and that’s what it’s going to take. It wasn’t perfect, but we stayed together and we grew.”
The Indiana Fever outscored the Atlanta Dream in bench points, 22-10, while some of their starters got into foul trouble. White also praised to center-forward Damiris Dantas, who played 17 minutes of action and grabbed six rebounds while filling in for Boston, who got into foul trouble.
“It’s huge,” White said. “And our depth and our ability to play different lineups, our ability to lift one another up if we don’t have it. I thought Damiris Dantas was huge for us when (Aliyah Boston) got in foul trouble. And it’s easy to look at numbers, but what she brought in terms of her ability to move the ball, her defensive physicality was huge. Obviously, what Lexie (Hull) and Sophie (Cunningham) bring for us, and even (Sydney Colson), she hadn’t played the whole game, and we throw her in there in some time and score situations.”
Sophie Cunningham a Difference-Maker in First Fever Game
Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham made her season debut after missing the first two games due to a right ankle injury. She was known for her 3-point shooting, versatility, and high-energy style during her six seasons with the Phoenix Mercury.
In Thursday’s game, Cunningham positively impacted the team’s defense by drawing a crucial offensive foul in the fourth quarter and successfully making at least one free throw, which helped extend the Fever’s margin of victory to five points.
“She brings in a level of energy that is huge,” Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull said. “And not playing in the couple games, not getting a chance to practice fully before getting back out there. I was really proud of her for the energy she brought. She made some big plays down the stretch, getting her hands, getting steals and deflections, and we needed her tonight. So just really proud of her to be able to come out and contribute like that.”
The Indiana Fever will take on the reigning WNBA champion New York Liberty, while the Atlanta Dream will face the Dallas Wings on Saturday. Both games will be streamed on CBS Sports Network.
