Earlier this season, Angel Reese spoke highly of the chemistry the Atlanta Dream built following a four-game winning streak. “In June, we look so great. I’m just wondering what we’re going to look like in October and September.” Well, the now Defensive Player of the Year and the rest of the Dream are just one win away from reaching the franchise’s first WNBA Finals in 13 years.

And while the headlines are currently attached to the New York Liberty’s reset timeout controversy that occurred in the dying seconds of the Dream’s 101-98 overtime victory, WNBA reporter Stephanie Ready believes the Dream could go all the way if their chemistry continues to blossom in the ongoing playoffs.

“The Dream has something that is like lightning in a bottle. It’s that chemistry factor. And I’ve always said over all these years that chemistry is one of the most underrated aspects of a championship team. It’s something that you cannot quantify. It does not show up in the stat sheet. You can’t find it in the box score.” Stephanie Ready said in a clip from Yahoo Sports Daily on X.

“And unless you’ve been on a championship team, you really don’t understand what it feels like and the importance of it. It is something that takes you over the hump, right? It’s when you face adversity, and even if you’re inexperienced, because you’re fighting for — and we’ve heard Angel Reese say this, right? You’re fighting, and you’re playing for your sisters. When you truly mean it, and it’s not just a company line, that’s when your team goes to the next level.”

The Dream’s chemistry factor can be credited to head coach Karl Smesko’s genius. Hired on November 13, 2024, ahead of the 2025 season, the Dream finished with a 30-win regular-season record for the first time in franchise history. And while they were knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Fever, it felt like they were missing an ingredient that would propel them to new heights.

That came in the form of Angel Reese, who Smesko said would “fit in great” with the team back in April. And that was instantly the case, as the third-year pro built a solid frontcourt foundation with Naz Hillmon early in the regular season. 16 games and the four-game win streak later, Smesko himself pointed out the chemistry between the two.

“Well, they work great together. They look for each other. They understand how to work together as bigs to make sure there’s space, and that if somebody you know drives, the other one can cut, look for opportunities, whether it be post-high-low or just post-ups.” Smesko said about Reese and Hillmon’s synergy back in June.

And that foundation between the two has travelled to the playoffs as well. Following Hillmon’s 12 points, eight rebounds, and five assists showcase in Game 2 of the semifinals against the Liberty, Reese took to X to give Hillmon her flowers.

“My thunder twin always right there when you need her,” Reese wrote.

Game 2 was another example of the Dream’s excellent chemistry. With the Dream’s regular-season top scorer Allisha Gray out with an injury to her shooting hand (left), Hillmon urged the whole team to contribute and fill the scoring gaps in Gray’s absence, a player who guarantees a certain amount of points for the team.

“Knowing that Lish will be out, it hurts, it sucks. I know how much she would want to be on the floor with us. We know how much we use her offensively and defensively. But that next woman up mentality is for everybody.”

“Not just the players coming off the bench or whoever’s going to fill in her role, nobody’s going to be able to do what Allisha Gray does. We all know that, but we can all put a little bit more on our plate, and that’s what our mentality is,” Hillmon said.

And that was exactly the case at State Farm Arena, as a total of six players from the Dream scored in double digits in Allisha Gray’s absence. Notably, reserve Isobel Borlase lit up the court with 11 points in 14 minutes, while DeWanna Bonner’s experience came in handy with 10 points, four rebounds, and three assists.

While the Dream’s chemistry has been established, another aspect head coach Smesko has excelled with his players is the increase in shooting from outside the arc.

Karl Smesko is helping the Dream become elite three-point shooters

In Game 2 of the semifinals against the Liberty, the Dream shot 12-of-30 from outside the arc. From that 40%, Jordin Canada went 3-for-6, Naz Hillmon went 1-for-6, and Reese went 1-for-2. Before the arrival of Smesko, none of these players even attempted to try shooting three-pointers.

Taking Naz Hillmon as an example, the 26-year-old’s 1-for-6 scoring effort in a single game matched the total number of three-pointers she took in her three seasons in the WNBA before Smesko arrived in Atlanta. Under his coaching, Hillmon has now shot 105-of-335 regular-season attempts, which makes a 31.3% scoring efficiency, quite a decent upgrade considering where she has come from.

And while DPOY Angel Reese has a long way to go with her three-point scoring under 20% this regular season, she is now attempting 1.3 shots from outside the arc per game, compared to 0.6 before Smesko.

Three-point shooting is nowhere near the Atlanta Dream’s biggest strengths, but the fact that Smesko has added another element to his players’ game has made the team more versatile, to say the least.

Game 3 will be at the Barclays Center, and the highly experienced Liberty, led by two-time MVP Breanna Stewart, will be going all out to turn the series in their favor. But with the Dream’s immense depth, team chemistry, and the fact that they are one win away from reaching the WNBA Finals, it will be easier said than done.

The Atlanta Dream have won four of the five encounters against the New York Liberty this season and will be looking forward to giving them the same treatment they gave to the Washington Mystics in the first round: a sweep.