Allisha Gray delivered the decisive shot in the closing seconds, turning Atlanta’s 81-80 deficit into an 82-81 victory over Dallas. Her late pull-up settled a matchup between two winning WNBA clubs and gave Atlanta another important result in the regular-season playoff race.

What happened

Atlanta needed one final answer after Dallas moved in front 81-80. Gray supplied it, creating the last lead change with a pull-up that put Atlanta ahead by the final one-point margin.

The finish left no room for separation between the teams. USA Network carried the ATL-DAL matchup, which ended with Atlanta completing the late turnaround and Dallas taking a narrow loss despite holding the lead in the closing seconds.

Why it matters

Atlanta entered the game at 16-10 and five games over .500. The victory pushed its record to 17-10 and tightened the distance between two clubs carrying winning records into the latter portion of the regular-season playoff race.

Gray’s latest decisive moment also followed a significant individual milestone. Ten days earlier, Gray reached fifth on Atlanta's all-time scoring list, adding historical context to her role in another Atlanta win.

For Dallas, the result changed an opportunity to preserve greater separation into an 18-10 record. The one-point defeat underscored how quickly a close game can affect the space between winning teams competing for playoff position.

By the numbers

Atlanta improved from 16-10 to 17-10 with the victory, while Dallas fell to 18-10. The teams finished only one point apart, with Gray’s pull-up accounting for the final shift from an 81-80 Dallas lead to an 82-81 Atlanta win.

The closing sequence was the defining numerical snapshot: a one-point deficit became a one-point victory. In a game decided by the smallest possible margin, Atlanta’s execution in the final seconds determined the outcome.

What to watch next

Atlanta’s next close finish will test whether the team can repeat the late-game execution it showed against Dallas. Gray’s ability to produce the decisive basket gave Atlanta a model for handling another possession with the result in the balance.

The larger question is whether this narrow win can help Atlanta maintain momentum as the playoff race develops. With Dallas still at 18 wins and Atlanta now at 17, future results will continue to shape the separation between the two winning clubs.