Tensions have been high between Trae Young and Patrick Beverley after comments made by the latter on his podcast, igniting a rivalry that has taken over the last few days. Young’s performances and leadership in Atlanta have drawn scrutiny. With two consecutive years missing the playoffs on top of this off-court drama, the pressure he faces is amplified going into next season as the city’s marquee basketball player.

With that backdrop, the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream ended their season on Wednesday night with an 85-87 loss to the Indiana Fever in a decisive Game 3. Despite having home-court advantage, the Dream fell to a late 7-0 run from Indiana, marking yet another playoff exit for Atlanta, which has not won a playoff series since 2016. Allisha Gray and Jordin Canada led scoring for the Dream with 19 and 18 points each, but the team missed multiple free throws down the stretch, and their high amount of personal fouls led to them dropping the game.

Trae Young reflected on this loss on X, posting: “Ughhh😓 I know this was a tough way to lose but We gonna bounce back!! @AtlantaDream.” His message captured the sentiment of both fans and players: the frustration of defeat and the resolve to move forward, trying not to be deterred by setbacks on the court.

While Atlanta shot a solid 50% from the field, Indiana’s significant free-throw line advantage (17-24 vs the Dream’s 5/11) highlighted their ability to capitalize on fouls, which ended up being decisive in their win. The Fever overcame an absence of many key contributors, including Caitlin Clark, Sophie Cunningham, and Aari McDonald, and relied on an energetic, young core to secure the upset.

The Dream’s narrow defeat highlights a wider pattern of frustration for Atlanta basketball. Apart from the Dream’s playoff series loss-streak, the Hawks have had a long pattern of unsuccessful campaigns and postseason choke-jobs.

Whether it be the 60-win Hawks foiled by LeBron’s Cavs in 2015, or just last year, when Atlanta lost to both the Orlando Magic and the underdog Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament, the city’s “playoff curse” has long held them back from major postseason success.

Trae Young faces the pressure of leading this franchise to success, especially in a top-heavy Eastern Conference, historically led by powerhouses like the Cavaliers, Celtics, Heat and Sixers.

Patrick Beverley’s provocative remarks, added to the Dream’s playoff exit, has cast a shadow over Young’s upcoming season. While his comments are clearly hyperbolic, his comments feed into the perception of Atlanta as a challenging environment for players, coaches and management alike.

For Beverley, the blame lies squarely on Trae’s shoulders – he’s the team’s leader, and so, ultimately responsible for their continual disappointment. For Young, this combination of beef and heartbreak makes the city’s playoff curse feel particularly personal this season.

The Patrick Beverley – Trae Young Battle

Patrick Beverley didn’t hold back in his latest takedown of Trae Young. He declared, “Everyone that sees Trae Young gets fired… no one has coach killer, like, no one has.” He sees Young as the source of the Hawks‘ instability, the main reason why there remains a revolving door of players, coaches and executives. Coming from a veteran with multiple playoff trips under his belt, his words aren’t just sharp, but carry the weight of a wider conversation about Trae’s play on the court.

Young previously fired back at Beverley after hearing his comments in a 10-minute video, posted on both X and YouTube.

“You talk about me not winning, but you ain’t done nothing either without stars on your team,” Young stated, drawing a clear line between him and Beverley – Pat was just a supporting piece, whereas Trae is the engine of the offense.

This isn’t just defending his name, but Young asserting his value in the face of someone he sees as criticizing him without any ground to stand on.

This back-and-forth has drawn attention to a lingering battle of perception. Beverly leans on his playoff experience, pointing out that his resume proves that he knows winning culture, but Young points to his own willingness to shoulder the burden.

Their feud has turned into a wider conversation about what leadership looks like. Is it scrappy, gritty defense, or elite playmaking and shot-creation?