Jordin Canada Takes Over Fourth Quarter as Dream Sweep Mystics

Jordin Canada scored 13 of her 19 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, according to the Atlanta Dream, and finished with 11 assists, seven rebounds, and three steals.

Atlanta beat the Washington Mystics 93-75 at CareFirst Arena in Washington to sweep the best-of-three first-round series. The No. 4 seed Dream advance to the WNBA semifinals for the first time since 2018. It is the franchise's first playoff series win since 2016.

Dream coach Karl Smesko said Atlanta came out of Game 1 with a list of several things it could do better, and the players were locked into them.

"Great win for us. Great to advance," Smesko said. "Washington's had an amazing season. They're extraordinarily well coached and super physical, but I'm really proud of our team, how they responded, particularly in the second half, and it's good to be advancing."

Atlanta never trailed. Washington outrebounded the Dream 42-27, with 12 offensive rebounds, but committed 19 turnovers that Atlanta turned into 23 points. The Dream had 11 fast-break points to none for the Mystics.

By the Dream's count, Atlanta built a 13-point lead in the first half before Washington cut it to 41-35 at halftime. Atlanta shot 34.4% before the break, according to the team.

Fouls piled up in the third quarter. Angel Reese picked up her third with 8:30 left and her fourth at 6:16, both times with Atlanta up eight. Canada went to the bench with her fourth foul at 3:53, trying to defend Kiki Iriafen, with the Dream ahead by 10.

With both out, Rhyne Howard attacked the basket and scored five straight points for a 15-point lead. Washington answered with an 8-0 run that made it 63-56, and Canada checked back in with 1:43 left. Howard was called for her fourth foul with 44 seconds to go. The Dream led 65-58 after three quarters.

Howard picked up her fifth on Washington's first possession of the fourth and stayed in with Atlanta up five. Two Mystics offensive rebounds kept a possession alive, and it ended in a layup that cut the lead to three.

Atlanta then scored 13 straight points. Reese made a layup, Naz Hillmon scored four, Reese made two free throws, Howard hit a long jumper, and Canada made a 3-pointer for a 16-point lead with 6:42 left, according to the Dream.

Smesko talks about managing emotions and valuing possessions, Canada said, and the Dream have taken that to another level this season.

"We definitely see the maturity in our team," Canada said. "I think last year we would get big leads and then we would lose them, and then we would lose the game. I think this season we really put an emphasis on making sure we're doing the things that we need to do to close out games. Obviously, basketball is a game of runs. A team is going to make their run, but we have to be poised."

"Coach talks about managing our emotions and valuing possessions, and I think we have taken that to another level this season," Canada continued. "Obviously, we have the chemistry of playing together for a few years, but I think this year, being able to finish out games, has been something that I've seen in the difference in our team."

Canada shot 6-of-16 from the field and 4-of-8 from 3-point range with one turnover in 35 minutes.

Allisha Gray led Atlanta with 22 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, and had four steals. Howard finished with 15 points on 4-of-8 shooting and went 5-of-5 at the line before fouling out.

Reese had 15 points, seven rebounds, and three blocks and was assessed a technical with 4:08 left. Hillmon scored 10.

Canada sees the floor and pushes the pace, in Gray's view.

"JC hit a lot of big baskets for us tonight," Gray said. "I just love playing with JC. She just sees the floor so well, she pushes the pace. I mean, she's really, really our engine, so we go as she goes. But she played so great tonight, especially in that fourth quarter. We needed big buckets. She was down and ready with her threes, and she just played so well. It's nice. I'm so proud of her."

Early on, Canada was missing shots and got a little frustrated, Smesko said.

"She was fantastic down the stretch," Smesko explained. "I think she got off to a slow start. She was missing some shots, and she got a little frustrated. She had time to regroup, and that's the kind of competitor she is. It gets to the fourth quarter, and we need some key baskets, and she's knocking down threes, getting to the rim, moving the ball to open teammates. She just came up huge for us, and I'm really proud of her."

Sonia Citron scored 25 points for Washington and went 10-of-11 at the line. Iriafen had 15 points and 16 rebounds.

Atlanta won Game 1 at home 92-77 on Sunday behind DeWanna Bonner's 11-point third quarter. The Dream went 30-14 in the regular season.

Next up is the No. 8 New York Liberty, who swept the top-seeded Minnesota Lynx.

Game 1 of the best-of-five semifinals is Sunday at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The tip-off time and network have not been announced. The Dream host Games 1, 2, and, if necessary, 5.