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Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Atlanta Dream off to hot start under new coach Karl Smesko and play of Allisha Gray
Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko looks on during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Thursday, May, 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) attempts a shot against Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull, center, in the second half of an WNBA basketball game, Thursday, May, 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) attempts a shot in the second half of an WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Thursday, May, 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) attempts a shot in the second half of an WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Thursday, May, 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko looks on during the first half of a WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Thursday, May, 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) attempts a shot against Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull, center, in the second half of an WNBA basketball game, Thursday, May, 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) attempts a shot in the second half of an WNBA basketball game against the Indiana Fever, Thursday, May, 22, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) NEW YORK (AP) — The Atlanta Dream made a lot of moves in the offseason, hiring Karl Smesko from Florida Gulf Coast and bringing in Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to complement Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. So far the moves have paid off as the Dream have the third best record in the league behind Minnesota and New York. Atlanta (8-3) is off to one of the franchise's best marks through 11 games since coming into the league as an expansion team in 2008. The 2016 team also won eight of its first 11 games but then went on to drop its next six games. Advertisement Gray has flourished in Smesko's system, shooting a career-high 51% from the field including 42% from behind the 3-point line. She earned the league's Eastern Conference Player of the Month for May. 'I think it's the offense and just finding my shots,' Gray said. 'I feel like Karl puts in an offense and the way he pays attention to the details and really helps me. Tells me if I'm open shoot the ball. Instills that confidence in me, that's been a big part of my success.' Griner came to the team as a free agent after spending the first 11 seasons with Phoenix after the Mercury drafted her No. 1 in 2013. With so much talent around her she doesn't feel like she has to shoulder the load every night for the Dream to win. In a 33-point victory over Washington on Sunday, she took just four shots. The game before, a rout of Chicago, the 6-foot-8 star took only three shot attempts. 'Before you know if I only took three shots in the game it's a loss. Here you look up and we're beating a team by 25,' she said at practice Monday. 'It just takes so much pressure off of me.' Advertisement Power poll rankings New York and Minnesota both suffered their first losses of the season last week and the Lynx passed the Liberty for the top spot in the poll. Atlanta moved up to third with Phoenix and Seattle the next two. Indiana was sixth with Golden State behind them. Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Washington were next. Chicago, Connecticut and Dallas rounded out the poll. Paint the line orange The WNBA launched a new initiative last week aiming to bring the women's professional game closer to communities by painting the official WNBA 3-point line on park basketball courts across the country. It was debuted in New York on Thursday at a park in Brooklyn. Advertisement 'I'm excited about what this initiative means in terms of access and representation,' said WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin, who grew up in New York. 'I think it's just further evidence of the way that we want to be able to connect with young girls who are inspired by the WNBA.' Player of the week Gray earned Player of the Week honors for the second time this season. The Dream wing averaged 23.3 points, six rebounds and 4.3 assists to help the team go 3-0 on the week. Other players receiving consideration were Napheesa Collier of Minnesota, Sabrina Ionescu of New York, Caitlin Clark of Indiana and Satou Sabally of Phoenix. Game of the week Advertisement Indiana at Las Vegas, Sunday. With Clark back in the lineup, the Fever continue a western trip in Las Vegas. It's unclear if A'ja Wilson will be back for the game as the Aces' star is in concussion protocol. ___ AP WNBA:
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cronenworth hits go-ahead homer in 7th to power Padres past Braves, 5-3
Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies hits an RBI double in the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach delivers in the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) connects the ball for a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) San Diego Padres' Manny Machado hits a double in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) San Diego Padres' Manny Machado hits a double in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves' Ozzie Albies hits an RBI double in the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach delivers in the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) connects the ball for a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres on Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) San Diego Padres' Manny Machado hits a double in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, May 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard) ATLANTA (AP) — Jake Cronenworth hit a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning for the second of San Diego's three long balls, helping the Padres beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Sunday to win the three-game series. Gavin Sheets and Manny Machado homered for San Diego, which ended a six-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory in Friday night. Advertisement By winning two of three in the series, the Padres received a boost after placing right-hander Michael King on the 15-day disabled list before the game with inflammation in his right shoulder. Ronald Acuña Jr. had a double and a walk with two strikeouts for the Braves after hitting long home runs in each of his first two games of the season. Acuña, the 2023 NL MVP, was activated from the injured list Friday almost a year after he tore his left ACL. Atlanta right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (3-4) matched his career high with 11 strikeouts while giving up four runs, two earned, in seven innings. Atlanta led 3-1 through five innings. Advertisement Key moment After a fielding error by Braves third baseman Austin Riley on Luis Arreaz's grounder, Sheets' two-run homer off Schwellenbach in the sixth tied it at 3. Key stat Padres right-hander Dylan Cease earned his seventh no-decision after giving up three runs in five innings with eight strikeouts. Cease, from Milton near Atlanta, has lost his last three decisions since his only win on April 2 against Cleveland. Jeremiah Estrada (2-3) pitched a scoreless sixth and Robert Suarez recorded the final three outs for his 17th save. Up next The Padres will open a three-game home series against the Marlins on Monday. The Braves are off on Monday before opening a three-game series at Philadelphia on Tuesday night. ___ AP MLB:
