Olivia Miles discusses how she’s preparing for first WNBA playoffs
Olivia Miles shares how she’s preparing for her first WNBA playoff experience, leaning on veteran teammates for guidance as she adjusts to postseason intensity.
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ATLANTA ― The No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream will host the No. 5 seed Washington Mystics in the first round of the 2026 WNBA Playoffs on Sunday, Sept. 27, at State Farm Arena (7 p.m. ET, Prime Video).
Washington arrives in Atlanta after winning nine of its last 11 matchups, including four straight before the playoffs. The Mystics’ 28 wins this season, a franchise-best, include a recent decisive victory over the Indiana Fever that helped them keep momentum approaching their first playoff appearance since 2023. Washington finished the season with the second-ranked defense (103.3 rating).
Atlanta opens the first round at home after winning home-court advantage following two victories against New York. The Dream finished the season 9-1, including five straight victories that sealed the franchise’s second straight 30-win season. Like Washington, Atlanta has a top-ranked defense (103.5 rating, third in the WNBA). In 2025, the Fever upset the Dream, 2-1, in the first round.
Washington took the 2026 regular-season series against Atlanta 2-1 and owns the all-time regular-season head-to-head record, 36-33. The Dream hold the all-time edge in the playoffs, 6-4.
USA TODAY Sports is providing full coverage of Sunday’s WNBA playoff matchup between the Mystics and Dream. Follow along for live updates:
Playoff DeWanna Bonner is officially here. Bonner hit a ginormous 3-pointer from easily 30-plus feet out to extend Atlanta’s lead to five. Bonner then secured a steal to give Atlanta momentum. Moments later, she had another one.It’s 52-45, Dream at the 4:10 mark of the third. Atlanta says, “game on.”
Dream star Angel Reese is now in foul trouble vs. the Mystics. Just two minutes into the third frame, Reese picked up her third and fourth fouls. She’ll likely have to sit a while. There are still seven minutes remaining and an entire fourth quarter.
We are back up and running as the Dream host the Mystics in Atlanta. Second-half basketball is underway.
The Dream opened with a 7-0 run in the period’s opening minutes to take the lead 43-41 with just under nine minutes in the quarter.
The Mystics are giving the Dream all they can handle. They have a five-point lead, and it feels like it could be more. Every time Atlanta gets close, Washington comes back with more shots. It’s a strang sight for a Dream team that averages 91 points per game. Credit to Washington’s stout defense. It’s forced a lot of tough shots that didn’t fall.
The Mystics are shooting 45% from the field, while Atlanta is shooting 28%. The thing keeping Atlanta close? It’s defense. Atlanta has nine steals and has forced 12 turnovers. Rhyne Howard (12 points) and Allisha Gray (10 points) lead all scorers, but seven different Mystics have scored.
The Atlanta Dream are trying everything they can to cut the Mystics’ lead heading into halftime. The Dream are up 13-10 in the period, and it’s 36-32 with three minutes remaining in the period. If offense is what you came for, it’s here, but this is not a high-scoring affair.
Each team has three blocks, and the Dream have a staggering six steals.
The Mystics are up 16-12 in paints scored in the paint. They are winning the battle versus Atlanta, who is one of the league’s top-scoring teams in the painted area. It’s 36-28, Mystics at 5:49 of the second quarter, and Madina Okot, who is 6-foot-6, just checked in to help with Washington’s size.
Atlanta is struggling to contain Washington’s bigs, but Kiki Iriafen in foul trouble could change that. The Mystics forward picked up her third foul at the 8:49 mark of the second quarter.
The Mystics are not playing around. They have started hot in Atlanta. The young core has is a blistering 5-of-6 from deep to Atlanta’s one triple. Washington is also shooting nearly 53% from the field to the Dream’s 32%.
Something to keep an eye on: Washington has six different players who have scored, but also has six turnovers as it maintains control in the first.
Dream guard Rhyne Howard leads all scorers with 10 points. Allisha Gray and Washington guard Sonia Citron are right behind with eight points.
Angel Reese barely lasted a quarter with her mask before she discarded it at the five-minute mark of the first. We’ll see how it affects her game not having it.
It’s 14-5, Mystics at the 5:14 mark of the first quarter as Washington has cashed in from deep. The Mystics have nailed three triples from behind the line.
“Ref, you suck” cheers are reigning down from State Farm Arena as Jordin Canada took some contact and landed on her lower back. No foul was called.
The Mystics are not afraid of the moment. They are crashing the paint and using ball movement to get Atlanta off balance. They lead 8-3 with 6:58 remaining.
However, Kiki Iriafen just picked up her second foul about three minutes into the ballgame.
The Mystics and Dream are off and running at State Farm Arena. Dream won the tipoff. Rhyne Howard cashed the game’s first points, a bounce-in 3-ball.
Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream are rolling, but so are Shakira Austin and the Mystics. Can Washington stop them?
Here’s a preview of Mystics vs. Dream ahead of Sunday’s game.
Dream star Angel Reese is wearing a mask in pre-game warm-ups. It remains unclear if Reese will wear it in-game.
Here’s more on her facial injury and how it happened.
Washington Mystics vs. Atlanta Dream first-round schedule
- Sunday, Sept. 27: Game 1 | 7 p.m. ET (Prime Video) | State Farm Arena
- Wednesday, Sept. 30: Game 2 | 7 p.m. ET (ESPN) | CareFirst Arena
- Friday, Oct. 2: Game 3 (if necessary) | TBD | State Farm Arena
2026 WNBA playoffs officials
The 20 referees assigned to the postseason include 17 on-court officials and three alternates. Here are the game officials assigned to the 2026 WNBA playoffs:
No. 4 seed Atlanta Dream roster
Head coach: Karl Smesko
No. 5 seed Washington Mystics roster
Head coach: Sydney Johnson
What TV channel is Mystics vs. Dream on today?
Prime Video will broadcast Sunday’s WNBA playoff game between the Mystics and Dream.
What time is Mystics vs. Dream?
- Date: Sunday, Sept. 27
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Location: State Farm Arena (Atlanta)
The Mystics and Dream play at 7 p.m. ET in the 2026 WNBA playoffs on Sunday, Sept. 27, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. Michael Grady is handling play-by-play duties. LaChina Robinson and WNBA Hall of Famer Candace Parker will be the analysts. Kayla Grey is on the sidelines.