Dream Stay Hot, Knock Off Sun Behind Balanced Attack

The Atlanta Dream are rolling, and they showed it again with a 93-76 road win over the Connecticut Sun on Monday afternoon. With the victory, Atlanta improved to 4-1 this season when starting Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Brionna Jones, while also grabbing a 2-1 edge in the season series against Connecticut. The Dream now sit just two games shy of tying the WNBA record for most wins by a first-year head coach, with Karl Smesko’s 26th victory equaling Becky Hammon’s mark from 2022. Only Michael Cooper’s 28 wins in 2000 remain ahead of him.

Atlanta’s free-throw shooting was nearly flawless, going 23-for-24 from the stripe (95.8%) for its second-best percentage of the season. Gray was the anchor at the line, hitting a career-high 11 free throws on 11 attempts, finishing with 17 points, five rebounds, and an assist. It was her 29th game this season scoring 15 or more points. Hillmon delivered her best all-around outing of the year, matching her season-high with five made threes on the way to 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Atlanta is now 4-0 when she scores 15 or more.

Howard once again led the scoring charge, dropping 23 points with four rebounds and three assists. It was her third straight game as the Dream’s top scorer and the 13th time this year she’s paced the team offensively. Jones was steady inside with 10 points and 11 rebounds for her 11th double-double of the season, while also setting a new franchise record with her 131st offensive rebound, surpassing Erika de Souza. Canada made her long-awaited return from injury in style, scoring 15 points with a block and a steal, sparking Atlanta’s second-half surge.

The game had its swings early, but Atlanta’s late push sealed it. After trailing at halftime, Howard and Hillmon fueled a third-quarter rally, capped off by Canada’s clutch and-one in the closing seconds of the frame to give the Dream a 67-66 lead. From there, Atlanta turned it up. Jones powered inside, Canada scored in transition, and Howard buried her fourth triple to help the Dream break the game wide open. Hillmon’s fifth three-pointer of the night and Howard’s finishing layups slammed the door on Connecticut as Atlanta closed strong to secure the 17-point win.

The Dream’s balance stood out, with five players in double figures—Howard (23), Hillmon (17), Gray (17), Canada (15), and Jones (10). It was a full-team effort that sent Atlanta to its 26th win of the season and added another layer to what has already been a record-breaking campaign.

Next up, the Dream return home to face the Los Sparks on Wednesday night at Gateway Center Arena. Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m.