When the WNBA went on break Aug. 31 for the FIBA Women’s World Cup, the Atlanta Dream were playing as well as nearly any team in the league.
With four regular-season games remaining, Atlanta (26-14) will be out to continue that momentum. The Dream, who are tied with the Indiana Fever for the No. 4 seed in the league standings, will host the Connecticut Sun (10-30) in College Park, Ga., on Thursday night.
Atlanta finished August by winning five of its last six games, including an 89-81 victory over the WNBA-leading Minnesota Lynx on Aug. 30.
The Dream have enjoyed the continued production from veterans Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, who lead the team with 19.3 and 18.3 points per game, respectively. The story of the year, though, has been offseason addition Angel Reese.
Already one of the most prolific rebounders in league history, the 24-year-old set the WNBA single-season record with her 29th double-double in Atlanta’s most recent game. So far, the price of two first-round draft picks sent to the Chicago Sky in April appears to have been well worth it.
“Angel has just had an incredible amount of double-doubles this season, obviously record-breaking,” Dream head coach Karl Smesko said. “It’s incredibly impressive.”
Atlanta added a reinforcement on Aug. 27 when 17-year veteran DeWanna Bonner signed with the team after the Phoenix Mercury bought out her contract. The six-time All-Star, 39, averaged 10.6 points in 37 games with Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Connecticut is preparing to wind down its last week before relocating to Houston and rebranding as the Comets in 2027. In the midst of their second straight 30-loss season, the Sun will finish their time in Connecticut by missing the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since failing to make the playoffs from 2013-16.
Head coach Rachid Meziane’s team has dropped nine straight road games, last earning a win away from home on July 17.
“We want to make our fanbase proud,” Meziane said. “We need to fight. We have to prepare ourselves to give our best to finish this season the best way.”
Brittney Griner, a nine-time All-Star center, is averaging 13.2 points and 5.8 rebounds in her first season in Connecticut.
–Field Level Media
