Fansided

WNBA Season Preview 2019: Every team’s best case scenario

By Miles Wray

UNCASVILLE, CT - MAY 14: Kia Nurse #5 of the New York Liberty shares a laugh with Teresa Weatherspoon before the game against the Atlanta Dream on May 14, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT - MAY 14: Kia Nurse #5 of the New York Liberty shares a laugh with Teresa Weatherspoon before the game against the Atlanta Dream on May 14, 2019 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MAY 9: Angel McCoughtry #35 of the Atlanta Dream poses for a portrait during WNBA Media Day on May 9, 2019 at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MAY 9: Angel McCoughtry #35 of the Atlanta Dream poses for a portrait during WNBA Media Day on May 9, 2019 at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Tier 2: The pack of dark horses with legitimate championship upside

This pack of five teams could go in any direction. With the right connection of chemistry and luck, any of them could make a run at becoming a finalist or champion. Of course, there isn’t actually room for five different teams to be that deep in the mix: at least a few of these high-stakes experiments will eventually go awry.

Atlanta Dream: Angel McCoughtry is fully healthy by the start of the playoffs

In 2018, first-year head coach Nikki Collen immediately established herself as one of the brightest minds in the game, creating an identity for the Dream that was all about a league-best defense. The Dream were almost title favorites heading into August last year: they were well-positioned for the No. 2 seed in the playoffs, and they were the only team in the league to tame the No. 1 seed Seattle Storm, beating them in the season series 2-1. The season-ending injury to Angel McCoughtry before the playoffs started seemed to end those title hopes — but it still took the Mystics all five games in the semifinals to defeat the Dream. The timetable for McCoughtry’s return is still unclear, but it will define the Dream’s season. Without her, Atlanta is a tough playoff spoiler. With her, the Dream could get all the way to the mountaintop.