The Atlanta Dream continued their impressive run on Saturday, defeating the New York Liberty 78-62, thus setting a new franchise record for wins at 24, surpassing their former high of 23 wins achieved in 2018.

The Dream, standing at 24-13, have secured nine victories in the last 11 matches. Since their inception as an expansion team in 2008, the Dream had only recorded two seasons with 20 or more wins before this.

Despite the WNBA extending the current season to 44 games, which is 10 more than that of 2018, the Dream’s performance remains commendable, particularly in recent weeks.

Dream’s 20-win seasons

Season	Wins	Final result
2025	24	TBD
2018	23	Lost in semifinals
2011	20	Lost in Finals

In the offseason, the Dream embraced change, hiring coach Karl Smesko and signing prominent players Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to strengthen their frontcourt. Their exceptional season has exceeded expectations, placing them in contention for a playoff spot as August comes to a close.

Notably, this latest win against the reigning champions highlighted their ability to perform effectively with players not typically aligned with Smesko’s heavy 3-point strategy.

Through launched 38 3-pointers, despite only converting 10, they topped the Liberty by 12 points from beyond the arc and collected 17 offensive rebounds, generating 21 points from these efforts. With only five turnovers, their efficiency was apparent.

Despite their lower free throw attempts, they still outperformed the Liberty at the line by two, underscoring their competency and tactical resilience throughout the match. Their functional strategy and robust defense helped them to lead by as many as 26 points before concluding the game with a 14-point lead.

Dream’s Effective Gameplay

The Dream possesses the second-best offensive rating in the league (106.6) yet ranks seventh in both field goal and three-point percentages. They excel by adhering to Smesko’s strategy of maximizing three-point attempts, rebounding, reaching the free-throw line, and minimizing turnovers.

Looking ahead, the Dream’s path in the playoffs remains uncertain, but their current performance, along with an easier remaining schedule, puts them in favorable standing. The Las Vegas Aces are the only highly competitive team remaining on their schedule, along with the Dallas Wings, Los Angeles Sparks, and the Connecticut Sun.

“The @AtlantaDream take down New York, 78–62, and move to 24–13… their most wins in a season EVER! Sit Courtside From Anywhere With @metaquest. pic.twitter.com/fgKcFFmAuR” — WNBA (@WNBA) August 23, 2025