On the surface, it looks like the Atlanta Dream’s 2023 season was a resounding success. Led by three All-Stars in Allisha Gray, Cheyenne Parker and Rhyne Howard, Atlanta finished the season fifth in the standings, earning a playoff berth for the first time since 2018.
Dig slightly deeper, however, and a murkier assessment emerges. Despite the trio of All-Stars and trip to the playoffs, the Dream were under .500 at 19-21. Over the second half of the season, in particular, they fumbled away more than a few winnable games before getting swept by the Dallas Wings in the first round of the playoffs.
Here’s more on what went right, what went wrong and what’s next for Atlanta:
What went right?
During the 2023 offseason, Atlanta aggressively pursued a trade for Allisha Gray, sending future draft capital to the Dallas Wings in exchange for the Georgia native. Gray quickly proved more than worth the cost. She played the best ball of her career as she earned her first All-Star honor. In her third season in Atlanta, and ninth overall, Cheyenne Parker also turned in the best season of her…
