PHOTOS: Dream rally falls short in home opener

Sports

PHOTOS: Dream rally falls short in home opener

Despite a major fourth-quarter rally, the Atlanta Dream lost their home opener to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday at State Farm Arena.

Atlanta Dream center Madina Okot, right, shoots against Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith, left, and center A'ja Wilson (22) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) shoots against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson (22), guard Jackie Young (0) and forward NaLyssa Smith (3) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese reacts during player intros before the start of a WNBA game against the Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao reacts during player intros before the start of a WNBA game against the Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko reacts during the second half of a WNBA game against the Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream forward Naz Hillmon (00) drives to the basket against Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, left, catches a pass against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, right, during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) dribbles during the second half of a WNBA game against the Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) shoots against Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (3) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada (3) and forward Angel Reese (5) react during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) fights for a rebound against Las Vegas Aces guard Chennedy Carter, left, and Las Vegas Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (32) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada (3) shoots against Las Vegas Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, center, during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray (15) fights for a loose ball against Las Vegas Aces forward Stephanie Talbot, left, during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) dribbles against Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream center Madina Okot (11) shoots against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young (0) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Fans react during the second half of a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

A general view of the the arena during the second half of a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Fans react during the second half of a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Fans react during the second half of a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Fans react during the second half of a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

A general view of the the arena during the second half of a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens reacts during the second half of a WNBA game against the Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream forward Naz Hillmon (00) fight for a loose ball against Las Vegas Aces guard Jackie Young, right, during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao, left, loses the ball against Las Vegas Aces forward Stephanie Talbot, right, during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao, left, loses the ball against Las Vegas Aces forward Stephanie Talbot, right, during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, left, grabs an offensive rebound against Las Vegas Aces forward Stephanie Talbot, center, guard Jewell Loyd (24) and guard Chelsea Gray (12) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, center, grabs an offensive rebound against Las Vegas Aces guard Jewell Loyd (24) and guard Chelsea Gray (12) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (2) drives to the basket against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, right, during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Fans react during the second half of a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese, right, passes the ball against Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson, left, and forward Stephanie Talbot, center, during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Fans react during the second half of a WNBA game between the Atlanta Dream and Las Vegas Aces at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream forward Angel Reese reacts during the first half against the Aces on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream guard Jordin Canada (right) shoots against Aces guard Chennedy Carter on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream guard Jordin Canada (right) drives to the basket against Aces guard Chennedy Carter on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream guard Allisha Gray (center) shoots over Aces guard Chelsea Gray during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream forward Angel Reese (center) shoots against Aces guard Chelsea Gray (left) and forward NaLyssa Smith during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream forward Angel Reese (left) fights for a rebound against Aces forward NaLyssa Smith on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream guard Allisha Gray (center) shoots against Aces forward NaLyssa Smith (left) during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream guard Allisha Gray (left) shoots against Aces forward Stephanie Talbot during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream guard Jordin Canada (left) shoots against Aces forward Brianna Turner (right) during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream forward Angel Reese (right) drives to the basket past Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream forward Angel Reese (left) shoots against Aces forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (right) shots against Aces center A'ja Wilson (left) during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream forward Angel Reese (center) reacts with center Madina Okot during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream forward Angel Reese reacts during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao (center bottom) fights for a loose ball against forward Stephanie Talbot (left) and guard Jackie Young (center top) during the first half Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream guard Allisha Gray shoots during pregame warmups before the start of their game against the Aces Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream forward Angel Reese reacts during pregame warmups before the start of their game against the Aces on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

Dream forward Angel Reese shoots during pregame warmups before their game against the Aces on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

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Credit: Colin Hubbard

Atlanta Dream center Madina Okot, right, shoots against Las Vegas Aces forward NaLyssa Smith, left, and center A'ja Wilson (22) during the second half of a WNBA game at State Farm Arena on Sunday, May 17, 2026, in Atlanta. (Colin Hubbard for the AJC)

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