Dream hopes extra rest pays off | WNBA Finals Notebook

ATLANTA — No time was wasted for Atlanta after the Dream's Game 2 loss to Seattle in the best-of-three WNBA Finals. The team left KeyArena quickly to board a redeye flight home.

Once there, the team practiced Wednesday morning and was not to gather again until the shoot-around Thursday before Game 3.

The Storm reviewed game film on Wednesday, but did not practice.

"The logic behind taking that redeye was we don't usually calm down after a game anyway," Dream coach Marynell Meadors said. "We might as well get on the flight and get back to Atlanta, get home and get to our surroundings. I hope it's going to work out really well for us."

Atlanta plays a super-quick, up-tempo game, but has been limited to an average 80.5 points in the Finals. The Dream averaged 95.5 points in four games leading to the title series.

The extended rest in a familiar environment could benefit Atlanta. The Wednesday practice session was done at 10 a.m., giving players the remainder of the day to themselves.

Off the mark

Rigorous practices are always followed by free-throw shooting for Seattle, so it was odd to see the team miss 10 against Atlanta on Tuesday. The Storm missed six in the fourth quarter.

None were bigger than the two forward Swin Cash left short with 2.2 seconds remaining. Given Sue Bird's late heroics in Game 1, there was a brief thought Atlanta could turn it into a miracle finish, but it didn't.

Cash finished with 19 points and three assists, and played solid defense on Dream All-Star Angel McCoughtry.

"I had a million things running through my mind, making sure to match up on defense and I didn't really lock in," Cash said. "I know if I would have got the same two shots, I would have done it a little bit differently. It's not always perfect."

Taking flight

Storm reserve Abby Bishop traveled with the team to Atlanta.

Bishop suffered a concussion at practice on Monday and did not dress for Tuesday's game.

"I just remember getting hit in my head, right on my temple," said Bishop of the contact with a male practice player. "I opened my eyes and saw stars and the girls were all around me. This is the first time it's happened.

"I feel heaps better, a little like I'm in space, but better."

Did you know ...

• The Storm hasn't lost a game since Aug. 15 at Washington, accumulating an overall nine-game win streak.

• The Dream was 5-1 against Western Conference teams at home. The sole loss was to the Storm on Aug. 10.

• Dream players wear the names of Children's Healthcare patients on their arms as part of the organization's seasonlong "Armed with a Dream" initiative.

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com