D’Tigress star, Ezinne Kalu, made a notable entrance into the WNBA on Thursday, debuting for the Atlanta Dream in a crucial 78-67 victory over the New York Liberty at the Barclays Center.
This win secured the Dream’s place in the playoffs, clinching the final available spot.
Kalu, 32, who had an exceptional run with Nigeria during the 2024 Paris Olympics, was pivotal in the second half, supporting a historic performance by Tina Charles. Charles shattered two WNBA records in a single night, becoming the league’s all-time leader in both rebounds and double-doubles.
The Dream signed Kalu to a seven-day contract just days before her debut, a strategic move allowed when teams need temporary reinforcements due to player absences caused by injuries, illnesses, or other reasons.
With the stakes high for Atlanta, needing a win to secure their postseason berth, and Liberty having already sealed the top spot, the Dream approached the game with determination.
Charles made history early in the game, surpassing Sylvia Fowles’ career rebounding record of 4,006 boards, finishing the night with a new record of 4,014 rebounds.
In a pre-game ceremony, Charles was inducted into the city’s Basketball Hall of Fame alongside nine other legends, with her Dream teammates showing their support during the announcement.
Charles remains a dominant force in the WNBA, being the only player to amass over 7,000 points and 4,000 rebounds in her career. She currently ranks second in all-time scoring, trailing only the legendary Diana Taurasi.
“We came here with our bags packed. We knew we would take care of business,” Charles stated during the post-game press conference, as reported on the Atlanta Dream’s official website.
With this win, the Dream secured the eighth seed and now face a daunting postseason challenge against the Liberty.
The two teams will meet again in the first round of the playoffs, which kicks off Sunday in New York. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night, also in New York, with a potential third game set to take place in Atlanta if required.
Under head coach Tanisha Wright, the Dream are making their second consecutive playoff appearance. Last season, they faced the Dallas Wings in a first-round matchup.
This is the first time the team has qualified for back-to-back postseasons since 2013 and 2014. Since 2010, the Dream have reached the WNBA Finals three times and have made seven appearances in the Conference Finals.
The 2024 WNBA Playoffs will begin on September 22, featuring the league’s top eight teams in a best-of-three series format.
The winners will progress to a best-of-five semifinal, and those victorious in the semifinals will move on to the WNBA Finals, also a best-of-five series, where the champion will be crowned.
