The Atlanta Dream Defeat Los Angeles Sparks 75-73

ATLANTA, GA -- The Atlanta Dream defeated the Los Angeles Sparks 75-73 this weekend to improve to 3-1 in the young season. The Dream were led by Tiffany Hayes, who finished with 24 points. The Sparks lost their second consecutive game.

Atlanta showed offensive balance before a home crowd at McCamish Pavilion on Georgia Tech's campus. Atlanta had a season-high four players in double figures.

Dream Coach Michael Cooper said that although they won, his team has to do a better job offensively. “This is the first time I’ve ever been coaching where we got three shot clock violations in a row, so that tells you that we have to rely a lot on our defense.”

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The Sparks' star player, Candace Parker, only managed six points in the loss, a fact that Cooper said he would attribute to the Dream's defenders. “I would like to think our defense had something to do with that, but you’d have to ask (Parker).”

The game's top scorer was the Sparks' Chelsea Gray, who finished with a career-high 25 points, including 16 in the last stanza.

Hayes said that Atlanta was able to hang on for the victory because the team rallied together in the fourth quarter, where they were outscored 29-24. “It was a great win. I really appreciate my teammates and how we all stuck together until the end.”

Hayes said that the Sparks, the defending WNBA champions, didn't intimidate Atlanta at all. “They lace up their sneakers just like we lace up ours, so we just stuck to our game plan and went into the game and handled our business.”

Los Angeles Sparks Coach Agler said she takes blame for the loss. “We have to get better. Our expectations are not high. We’re not going to make any excuses.”

Image via Mary Holt