Swish Appeal: All Posts by Elizabeth CraftonBasketball is basketball.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49391/swish-fave.png2016-09-14T00:30:02-04:00https://www.swishappeal.com/authors/elizabeth-crafton/rss2016-09-14T00:30:02-04:002016-09-14T00:30:02-04:00Rookie stepping up
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<figcaption>Chris Poss - Swish Appeal</figcaption>
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<p>Unfortunately for Atlanta, they fell at home to the San Antonio Stars. A bright spot however for the Dream, is the solid play the team received from their rookie, Bria Holmes. </p> <p id="ncFJ3B"><strong>Atlanta, GA —</strong> The second-to-last home game during the regular season for the Dream started off rocky, to say the least. </p>
<p id="UnzMQj">Looking at the starting lineup, two familiar names not on the list: seven-year veteran Angel McCoughtry. Serving a suspension by the WNBA for technical fouls, McCoughtry was unavailable for the game. Veteran Sancho Lyttle, who has over a decade of WNBA play under her belt, has been battling a foot injury since July and also didn’t suit up. </p>
<p id="yhesoV">The lineup for Tuesday night’s game included Layshia Clarendon, who is in her fourth season, Tiffany Hayes, in her fifth season, Elizabeth Williams, in her second season, and two newcomers to the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream: Rachel Hollivay and Bria Holmes.</p>
<p id="wNOF0P">Two rookies starting could be a concern, but this was rookie Holmes’ seventh start in the last nine games. During the game, she proved why she had been chosen. </p>
<p id="eX4lIv">According to Atlanta head coach Michael Cooper, Holmes “has been great for the last 5 or 6 games, so this was another chance for her to get going.”</p>
<p id="ezqoWZ">Poor scoring in the first quarter, combined with almost consistent rebounding by San Antonio’s Jayne Appel-Marinelli, led the Dream struggling to score, as it resulted in a 15-3 deficit. </p>
<p id="hsu7GE">While the technical foul by the Stars’ Haley Peters on Tiffany Hayes was the first story of the second quarter, the valiant rebounding efforts by Hayes and Holmes rebounding led to more offensive opportunities. </p>
<p id="SQGDcE">And who scored twice consecutively to decrease the Stars’ lead to six right before halftime? Rookie Bria Holmes. </p>
<p id="um6a6F">She started off the third with a bang, too. </p>
<p id="SYiyQt">The comeback continued, and with 5:20 to go in the third, Atlanta held its first lead of the game. </p>
<p id="7WRNLo">Holmes led all Dream scorers at the end of the third, and Elizabeth Williams reached double digits in rebounds – matching Stars’ Appel-Marinelli’s 11. The Dream were only up a point with a score of 48-47, and everyone was anticipating an exciting final quarter. </p>
<p id="3BGNoQ">And both teams delivered. There was a lot of back and forth, with several lead changes in the fourth, but Stars’ recent Olympic medalist Astou Ndour nailed her third three-pointer of the game in the last 35 seconds. </p>
<p id="4e3HMl">And while the Stars won their seventh game of the season, tonight, it was all about Holmes. From the start to the very last second, the Dream pulled together a much better performance than expected. </p>
<p id="zDNw97">And a lot of it was due to Holmes, leading all Atlanta scorers with 20 points. </p>
<p id="1qmWrw">“It [being a starter] actually means a lot to me. Going out every night and just giving it my all and doing what I have to do to help my teammates out and tonight was one of those nights that we were down a couple of our stars and I had to step up and show that I can play on this squad,” Holmes said after the game. </p>
<p id="mhMx4Q">What are her hopes through the last regular season game and the start of the playoffs? “To be consistent and keep my confidence up.” </p>
<p id="yM9CPY">With Holmes’ performance tonight and recent play recently, Atlanta’s confidence has to be up, too. </p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/9/14/12909988/atlanta-rookie-bria-holmesElizabeth Crafton2016-07-23T00:44:04-04:002016-07-23T00:44:04-04:00Setting individual records
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<p>What a night it was for reserve Reshanda Gray of the Atlanta Dream. Not only did her team get the victory, she was the one who led them and filled the stat sheet for her career-highs in points, rebounds and minutes played. </p> <p></p>
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<p><b>Atlanta, GA --</b> Reshanda Gray's first career double-double with the Dream came as Atlanta took on the Dallas Wings at the McCamish Pavilion on Georgia Tech's campus on Friday Night. Gray finished with 22 points and <span>10</span> rebounds while playing 28 minutes -<span>€”</span> all being her career highs.</p>
<p>When entering the locker room, the enthusiasm and praise from her fellow teammates was extraordinary. Every Dream player was pointing, leading each member of the media to Reshanda's seat. It was clear that the rest of her team noticed Gray's outstanding <span>performance,</span> and the whole Dream locker room was all smiles.</p>
<p>Gray has only been in the WNBA two years, being drafted by the Minnesota Lynx in 2015. She spent her college career playing for California's Golden Bears, helping her team reach its first NCAA Final Four in 2013. Gray <span>was also named</span> as the Pac-12 Player of the Year by the league's head coaches her senior year.</p>
<p>Ironically, her time at California ignited her performance today against the Wings.</p>
<p>Coming off the bench, Gray had nine points alone in the first <span>quarter,</span> and continued scoring until she had reached the 22-point mark and racked up seven rebounds by the end of the third quarter.</p>
<p>"Today actually, my college posted a ‘Flashback Friday' video of my highlights and that <span>really</span> put that motor under <span>me,</span> and I just got my mojo back -€” and I was like, <span>‘I'm</span> going to go until someone stops <span>me,'</span>" Gray said.</p>
<p>Dream forward Angel McCoughtry had seen her teammate's highlights, too. "I went up to her and asked her, ‘Man did you see those highlights? <span>You're</span> a beast!' I told her that she needs to watch those highlights before every game. I think they just really reminded her of her old self, and it <span>really</span> sparked her game tonight."</p>
<p>Atlanta Dream's head coach Michael Cooper was proud of Reshanda's performance coming off of the bench.</p>
<p>"Sometimes it takes our <span>own</span> film to get us fired up a little <span>bit,</span> and I think she did that extremely well," Cooper said. "But you know what, <span>I've</span> never questioned Rashanda's energy, her enthusiasm for the game, and her camaraderie with her teammates.</p>
<p>"And those are three things that are intangibles that it takes for an individual to be on <span>a special team</span>, and for a special team to be a championship team. <span>She</span> brings those, and I <span>didn't</span> expect anything less from <span>her</span>. I am glad that she looked at her videos, though," <span>he</span> continued.</p>
<p>When Gray <span>was asked</span> about a particular moment she knew she was going to have a good <span>night; she</span> <span>simply</span> said, "It was just something when I got out there that I realized. When my name <span>was called</span>, I was ready. <span>I'm</span> always ready, and every game I try to leave it all on the floor."</p>
<p>Going into a long break, Gray said that her and her team "really wanted to go out with a good one." According to Cooper, the win was <span>really</span> special for him as well.</p>
<p>The team will have a month to recover, rest, and are hoping to come out strong <span>in order to</span> turn the next nine games of the season into victories.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/7/23/12261678/reshanda-gray-cal-flashback-videoElizabeth Crafton2016-07-17T22:30:03-04:002016-07-17T22:30:03-04:00Clarendon gives her all
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<p>There was one player for the Dream that stuck out in their upset over the Los Angeles Sparks -- Layshia Clarendon. She was all over the court, doing whatever she could to help the Dream win and that is just what happened. </p> <p></p>
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<p><b>Atlanta, GA --</b> While <span>it's</span> important to step up and make shots, get rebounds, and contribute to your team with statistics, <span>it's, even more,</span> <span>key</span> to <span>have</span> the heart and passion when you step onto the court. <span>That's</span> what Atlanta Dream guard Layshia Clarendon brought on Sunday, as the Dream took down the Los Angeles Sparks at home, <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/wnba/2016/7/17/12209210/atlanta-dream-denies-sparks-history">91-74</a>.</p>
<p><span>"I'm</span> going to play my heart out on this court, and <span>that's</span> all you can ask for," Clarendon said immediately following the victory <span>by</span> the Dream.</p>
<p>The Sparks entered today's game with the goal to break the WNBA record <span>of</span> the best start <span>in</span> a season, as they were tied with the Houston Comets for best record at 20-1 and hadn't lost since June 21<sup>st</sup> against the Minnesota Lynx at home. However, Clarendon and her teammates <span>didn't</span> want to be the ones that handed that record to the Sparks.</p>
<p>"I think we had a little bit of a chip on our shoulder because they were trying to set the record on us tonight -€” so we were kind of like, <span>‘we're</span> not going to be the team on the wrong side of <span>history,’"</span> Clarendon said. "We kind of had that feeling during warm-ups that everyone was just locked in and ready to battle."</p>
<p>A California native, Clarendon spent her college career playing for the University of California, Berkeley. During her 2012-€”2013 season, she became a leader of the team and received national recognition for her abilities, including a place as a finalist for the Senior Class Award.</p>
<p>Clarendon's time at the Bears included a <span>first-ever</span> trip to the Final Four and according to former head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, she was always "vocal <span>in terms of</span> helping us achieve those goals."</p>
<p>Clarendon was selected in the first round, ninth overall in the 2013 WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever and joined the Atlanta Dream this past season. According to her, <span>it's</span> been a slower process than one would imagine. When asked about the journey so far, however, she broke into a huge smile.</p>
<p><span>"It's</span> been awesome. I <span>kind of</span> take the growth mindset to where every mistake is a process. <span>I'm</span> human, I make mistakes, but how do <span>I</span> learn from that and how do I get better. Even since my rookie year, <span>it's</span> been how do I grow every year. I saw my mistakes; I would look up my stats online.</p>
<p>"My second and third year I decided <span>to not go overseas,</span> so I <span>really</span> had that whole offseason to break down my game, watch <span>film</span>, and see what my weaknesses were so I worked on that a ton, "she said.</p>
<p>According to the Dream Head Coach Michael Cooper, "Getting her (Layshia) was a blessing in disguise. Indiana was <span>kind of</span> backlogged in <span>guards,</span> and they called us and I <span>was</span> very shocked. One thing that you have to love about that young lady is that she can play that physical game; she <span>doesn't</span> mind getting banged on and stuff like that.</p>
<p><span>"She's</span> doing everything that we ask her to do, <span>she's</span> a great defensive player, <span>she</span>'s a great rebounder, and <span>she's</span> slowly but surely learning the point guard traits full-time."</p>
<p>Clarendon, who tied with Angel McCoughtry <span>in terms of</span> points in Sunday's matchup, led in field goal percentage making half her shots. However, she was able to contribute defensively as well with eight rebounds and with Elizabeth Williams' 12, the Dream were able to dominate the defensive side of the ball on top of being able to shine offensively.</p>
<p>It <span>was announced</span> at the beginning of the game that forward Sancho Lyttle would be out of the game, done for the season, but Clarendon and the rest of the Dream stepped up and played with incredible energy.</p>
<p>Consistently making plays throughout the first half, Clarendon shined in the third quarter as a three-pointer, floating bank jump shot, and a contested fast break, layup all contributed to the Dream being able to lead the Sparks by as much as 16 points.</p>
<p>According to McCoughtry, "I told the team, this could be the game that could be the turn-around for the season. If we can beat them (Sparks), we can beat anybody in this league. I hope that the girls take this and build their confidence so we can move forward, contend in this league and do some damage."</p>
<p>After the Dream returns from their away game against the Minnesota Lynx, they <span>continue</span> play at the Hank McCamish Pavilion on Georgia Tech's campus on Friday against the Dallas Wings at 7:30 pm. After a domination of the top team in the WNBA at home, the Dream hope to keep the momentum and positive energy.</p>
<p>Going into the next game, Clarendon believes that <span>it's</span> not just stats that matter.</p>
<p><span>"It's</span> just those little <span>things; I</span> think the intangibles that we brought weren't the main shots. They were the energy, the effort, the togetherness, the hustle, the heart. Those are the things that you <span>can't</span> <span>teach,</span> that you just have to bring from within every night."</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/7/17/12209702/clarendon-heart-atlanta-dreamElizabeth Crafton2016-07-03T21:06:16-04:002016-07-03T21:06:16-04:00Trouble in Atlanta?
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<p>The Phoenix Mercury have come a long way since the beginning of the year where they struggled to get victories. The script has changed and now the Atlanta Dream find themselves struggling to get wins. Brittney Griner showed up big time for the Mercury with a triple double and kept the Dream on their losing streak, now at six straight loses. </p> <p></p>
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<p><b>Atlanta, GA --</b> The Atlanta Dream (8-9) took on the Phoenix Mercury (8-10) at 6 pm on Sunday at home in Atlanta after a three-game losing streak on the road against San Antonio, Seattle, and Los Angeles. The Mercury have had <span>an equal</span> number of wins versus losses since struggling throughout the first four games of the season.</p>
<p>An early bad jumper and bad pass from forward Angel <span>McCoughtry,</span> led to an easy layup opportunity for center Brittney Griner, who currently leads the WNBA in blocks. However, McCoughtry responded with a nice layup under pressure, followed by a long jumper that kept the Dream rolling. Turnovers by Phoenix kept the game even until a wide-open three by guard Diana Taurasi gave the Mercury the lead.</p>
<p>The Dream's Tiffany Hayes responded with a three of her own, followed by an assist to set up a wide-open layup by McCoughtry to force the Mercury to take its first timeout. Unsuccessful possessions by Phoenix and good shooting by the Dream, allowed Atlanta to have a seven-point lead at the end of the first, 27-20.</p>
<p>Griner returned in the second quarter after she found herself in foul trouble early in the game, and made an impact drawing fouls by the Dream. A <span>three-pointer</span> by Mercury's DeWanna Bonner and bad possessions by the Dream, allowed the Mercury to take the lead, but a three by Layshia Clarendon and a jumper by McCoughtry, gave the Dream some momentum.</p>
<p>However, good shooting and defense by the Mercury allowed them to maintain the lead at the half, 50-44. The Mercury's Griner has a season-high of 27 points, and she racked up 19 total at the half already. Griner would end up having the first triple-double in the WNBA since 2014, and only the sixth player to have one. According to McCoughtry, that was simply "why they won." The Mercury had three players with double-digit points at the half: Candace Dupree, Griner, and Taurasi.</p>
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<b>RELATED</b>: <a href="http://www.swishappeal.com/2016/7/3/12092106/griner-starting-to-turn-it-on">After rough start to season, Griner "starting to turn it on"</a>
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<p>Elizabeth Williams kicked off the third quarter with consecutive baskets, and a basket by Clarendon with a foul, put the Dream within one point, 52-51. A Bria Holmes' <span>three-pointer</span> and <span>jumper</span> by Sancho Lyttle, allowed Atlanta to regain the lead and force a timeout by the Mercury.</p>
<p>Tiffany Hayes drew a foul on Griner, increasing the Dream's lead by four and sent Griner to the bench with her fourth foul. Another three-point play by Hayes after the Mercury's Sonja Petrovic fouled, gave the Dream the lead heading into the fourth quarter, 70-65.</p>
<p>Hayes' determination to get to the free throw line, making all of her eight <span>attempts,</span> and McCoughtry's consecutive shots kept the Dream's offense scoring in the first few minutes of the final quarter. Griner's eighth block of the game came with four minutes remaining, and two free throws by Bonner gave the Mercury the opportunity to tie it back up.</p>
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<p>"Movement, playing defense first, and getting stops. The zone helped us to congest them without fouling and then we can get out and run. Every time we move the ball on offense, good things happen," said Mercury Head Coach Sandy Brondello.</p>
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<p>A clean three-pointer by Bonner was met by a response by Hayes, whose layup put the Dream within one point with two minutes to go. Hayes' 26 points marked her 12<sup>th</sup> double-digit point game of the season.</p>
<p>According to Dream Head Coach Michael Cooper, "She's been aggressive. Getting the ball to the basket. You probably would have seen a lot more points from her had Griner not been there, because she alters and changes a lot of things offensively, but I'm just proud of that."</p>
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<p>A wide-open three by Phoenix's Lindsey Harding increased the Mercury's lead, and the Dream couldn't respond with less than a minute remaining.</p>
<p>"When we can hold them to under six points and have a run like that, especially in the fourth quarter, you know they came out hot in the third quarter and we kind of didn't respond well. But that fourth quarter we really turned it on, locked down, played a little zone, and I think that was able to help us get out and run a little bit," said Mercury's leading scorer Brittney Griner.</p>
<p>The Mercury secured the win with a score 95-87.</p>
<p>Moving forward, Cooper added, "You've got to stay positive. Now is not the time to get negative, because we're still in the playoff hunt. We'll look at tape, kind of make our adjustments here and there; I'm not going to be as bold as Pat Riley but I think we're going to win this next game."</p>
<p>The Atlanta Dream will resume play at home on Tuesday at 7 pm against the Seattle Storm.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/2016/7/3/12091906/brittney-griner-monster-triple-doubleElizabeth Crafton2016-06-22T16:06:06-04:002016-06-22T16:06:06-04:00Battle of the top 2 in the East
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<p>It looked like the New York Liberty were going to take the win on the road, but then Meighan Simmons hit the only Dream three to take the game into overtime. After an even first overtime, the Liberty created separation in the second one and didn't look back. Tina Charles was one rebound shy of a triple double with 23 points, 10 assist and 9 rebounds. </p> <p></p>
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<p><b>Atlanta, GA --</b> The Atlanta Dream (8-5) played the New York Liberty (9-4) at noon on Wednesday, in a battle for the best record in the Eastern Conference. The Liberty came to Atlanta off of a four-game winning streak, while the last consistent winning streak for the Dream ended at the beginning of May.</p>
<p><span>And the</span> Liberty left Atlanta with another notch to their streak, as they won in double overtime, 90-79.</p>
<p>"I thought we executed well. Tanisha [Wright] runs a show out there <span>tightly; we</span> made a <span>couple</span> shots when we needed to, and we got it done," Liberty Head Coach <span>Bill Laimbeer</span> said.</p>
<p>Returning to the Dream's starting lineup was forward Sancho Lyttle, who missed four games while competing for Spain's team at the 2016 FIBA Olympic qualifier in France. Lyttle averaged 15.7 points per game and led Spain to an Olympic bid.</p>
<p>The first points went to the Liberty, but center Elizabeth <span>Williams,</span> put the first four points on the board for the Dream and Lyttle's effort kept the game close early in the first quarter.</p>
<p>Williams led all scorers for the Dream in the first with six points, but the Dream struggled from the three-point line, not hitting any out of the six attempts made. After the first, the Liberty led, 17-12.</p>
<p>The second quarter began with a good start for the Dream with a <span>Matee</span> <span>Ajayon</span> steal followed by a Tiffany Hayes layup. Hayes continued the momentum on offense and put Atlanta up 18-17.</p>
<p>After two consecutive turnovers by the Liberty, a much-needed three-point play after a foul by Liberty's Brittany Boyd, allowed the Dream to maintain the lead going into halftime, 37-36.</p>
<p>There was poor shooting by both teams in the first few minutes into the third, but free throws and a rebound by Angel McCoughtry kept the Dream on top. Williams and Hayes were still leading the team with 12 points each, but McCoughtry's <span>recent</span> buckets <span>kept</span> her not far behind with 10.</p>
<p>However, the Dream fell behind with missed shots, their three-point range painfully reaching 0-10. They were down four at the end of the third, the score, 51-55.</p>
<p>Unsuccessful offensive possessions continued for the Dream increasing the lead to nine, the biggest of the game. Buckets by McCoughtry and Layshia Clarendon cut the lead to three, and the first three made in the game by rookie Meighan <span>Simmons,</span> tied it up. The Liberty were unable to answer, and the game <span>was headed</span> to overtime with a 3-0 record for the Dream.</p>
<p>The Dream's offense <span>struggled,</span> until a jumper came from Lyttle, and a steal by Hayes with nine seconds to go led to a fast break layup to tie the game with 5.8 seconds left in overtime. A missed shot by Liberty's Tina Charles, resulted in the <span>game</span> going into second overtime with a score tied at 76.</p>
<p>Consecutive made shots by the Liberty gave them an early seven-point lead, and the struggle continued for the Dream with missed shots. The Liberty kept the momentum on offense and ended with a victory, 90-79.</p>
<p>"I messed up a little <span>bit,</span> and <span>that's</span> why we went into second overtime. <span>But I</span> was just happy we were able to knock down shots, get rebounds, get stops, <span>that's</span> what we try to do. We've been in this position multiple times, so <span>I'm</span> happy we were able to get this done," said Tina Charles, who led all Liberty players with 23 points.</p>
<p>According to Dream Head Coach Michael Cooper, "We just caught a team that's red hot <span>at this point in time</span>. <span>But I</span> <span>really</span> love the fight that our players took to them.</p>
<p>"I just think they wanted it a little bit more than us. <span>That's</span> the fight that this league provides. That on any given night, no matter where you play, a team can win. <span>That's</span> what they did today."</p>
<p>The Dream <span>continue</span> play at San Antonio on Saturday at 8 p.m.</p>
https://www.swishappeal.com/wnba/2016/6/22/12005288/charles-pushes-liberty-5-straightElizabeth Crafton