Atlanta Dream Defeats Indiana Fever in WNBA Playoffs Opener

COLLEGE PARK, Georgia — In a thrilling opening game of the 2025 WNBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Dream emerged victorious against the Indiana Fever, winning 80-68 at Gateway Center Arena on Sunday. This marked the first playoff game hosted by the Dream since 2018.

The Dream, holding the No. 3 seed, knew this contest was pivotal in their pursuit of the franchise’s first championship. Rhyne Howard, a three-time All-Star, played a crucial role, scoring 20 points and contributing six rebounds, two assists, and a steal. “We know that the playoffs is a whole new ball game,” said Howard, emphasizing the heightened intensity of postseason play.

The Fever started strong, taking a three-point lead after the first quarter. However, Atlanta turned the tide in the second quarter, outscoring Indiana 22-12 and leading 40-33 at halftime. Both teams faced challenges, with physical play resulting in a total of 43 personal fouls during the game.

In a tense final quarter, Howard and her teammate Naz Hillmon sealed the win by scoring 16 of the Dream’s 22 points, pushing their lead to secure victory. “This is a tough team,” Dream head coach Karl Smesko acknowledged after the game. “We’re going to have to play really well to win another game in the series.”

Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell led her team with a game-high 27 points. However, the Fever’s attempts to reclaim the lead in the second half fell short. With a strong performance from Howard and support from Allisha Gray, the Dream managed to keep the Fever at bay and clinch the win.

This victory marked the Dream’s first playoff win since August 31, 2018. Looking forward, the Dream will face the Fever again in Game 2 on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, held at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.