Karl Smesko

The only downside for Atlanta was the loss of Ali Shagray, who left the game in the second quarter with a left hand injury and was ruled out of the rest of the game.

Dream coach Carl Smesko didn't have an update on Shagray's status in his post-game press conference, so we'll keep you posted when we hear more.

The Dream and the Liberty meet again on Wednesday night for game two.

[transition sound] More WNBA, and before we get to the result of game one of the Valkyries-Aces series, we have to take a moment to talk about Val's Wings game three from Friday night.

if you get a, you know, some shooting out of Pau Pau, great.

But, like, I think Carl Smesko's gonna run with the six that he trusts for as long as possible and just like-

Yeah

... hope that they have enough to get the job done, um, you know, with the sprinkling in of the other guards.

She joined us the other day on NBA Today, and she said, "You know what? I think no matter what, the Defensive Player of the Year, whether it's me, whether it's Ryan, whoever it is, resides in Atlanta." So I know that she views this as sort of the work that all of you have put in collectively.

Before I let you go, Leesh, 'cause I know you got some, some playoffs to, to look ahead to and to continue to get prepared for, it's Carl Smesko's birthday.

It is.

I heard there was some half short, half court shot competition going on.

If it ask and you shall receive, Chiney.

Ooh, let's go.

Carl Smesko.

Nothing-

So last year Atlanta has this great year.

I really believe in Carl Smesko.

I think he's a terrific coach.

He makes great adjustments, and he has brought out the best in that team, particularly Alysha Gray.

It was very fun to see her to be able to do that.

And Dewana Bonner, I think is like, I was a little surprised Carl Smesko didn't put Dewana in the starting lineup.

I know like he has his five that he's been running with really all season long, but it's just like, there's no one on the mystics in their rotation that can legitimately cover dewana bonner and the type of player that she is like they had to put shakira also on her and shakira did fine um but like you want shakira austin guarding the paint you don't want her having to be spread out taking these like deep steph curry caitlyn clark sabrina and sq3s that dewana was attempting over and over and over again right so like and that was just like a small minutia thing for it um brought it up with the fever good I'm bringing up with the Mystics turnovers Mystics had 23 turnovers in this game I I found it very interesting because a lot of the critical turnovers were not from Georgia Amor which has been a player that a lot of Mystics fans have been very vocal about and how she's been able to contribute to this team but it was like costly turnovers by Shakira Austin.

That turnover bug popped back up.

Man, I think one thing we have to shut out is this, man.

Carl Smesko, and like, it's basically like they played that highball screen.

And like that highball screen with Gray, and especially now with Reese, has been killer, man.

Now, you know, Angel Reese had that mishap against the, you know, the Fever with the infamous blown layup.

And I think that Washington's youth, although it's been super fun to watch, I'm hoping that Atlanta's veteran presence from folks like Jordan Canada, Dewana Bonner.

I also think that Coach Smesko's coaching staff can be a big help to Atlanta, although they have not gone deep in a WNBA postseason.

They have tons of experience with March Madness games while he was coaching at the college level, so he understands the pressure and importance of a postseason matchup.

And I hope that he can make the adjustments required to help Atlanta get their open shots and play well on defense like they have been doing over the last couple weeks on this five-game winning streak.