Washington Mystics at Atlanta Dream

Mystics-Dream Preview

While the Atlanta Dream have finally won a contest in August, consistently winning games still remains an issue for the short-handed Washington Mystics.

The Dream look to win back-to-back games for the first time this season while trying to avoid a second defeat to the Mystics over the span of a week on Wednesday night at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Atlanta (3-11) is coming off its biggest win of the season, 78-75 on Sunday against a Minnesota Lynx squad that's been among the most competitive inside the "wubble."

Betnijah Laney had 16 points with 10 assists and eight rebounds, while Monique Billings also scored 16 and pulled down 13 boards as the Dream halted a 10-game losing streak by outscoring Minnesota 48-34 in the second half.

Though Atlanta is a rebuilding franchise and the playoffs likely won't be in the cards in 2020, a victory like Sunday's is a major confidence builder as the Dream play without injured star rookie Chennedy Carter (17.0 points per game).

"I think this team was always going to be in a growth mode," coach Nicki Collen told the Dream's official website. "We knew it was going to be a process, we always expected to be our better basketball late. We're getting better because our players are learning (about) each other."

Laney has been playing strong of late, averaging 22 points and 9 assists in the last three contests. She enjoyed the biggest offensive game of her career with 35 points on 14-of-24 shooting during last Wednesday's 98-91 loss to Washington. Teammate Courtney Williams hit 13 of her 22 shots and finished with 30 as the Dream shot 55.7 percent.

However, the Mystics made half of their 70 shot attempts and 12 3-pointers to prevail. Unfortunately for Washington (4-9), that's its only victory over the last 10 games.

Minus injured big names like Elena Delle Donne (back), Aerial Powers and Emma Meesseman, Washington fell short of victory in Sunday's 88-87 loss to Phoenix. The Mystics went 14 of 27 from 3-point range, but could not overcome 34 points from WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, who fueled a 12-2 fourth-quarter run for the Mercury.

"We fought to the end," forward Tianna Hawkins, who had a season-high 19 points, told The Washington Post. "The biggest thing is we've got to continue to get better each game."

Stella Johnson's 25 points and six 3-pointers led Washington against the Dream last week. Teammate Myisha Hines-Allen scored 23 in that contest.

Regular Season Series

WSH leads series 2-0