The Atlanta Dream wrapped up their 2025 regular season in style, closing out with an 88-72 win over the Connecticut Sun and locking in their 30th victory of the year — a brand-new franchise record. With that, the Dream doubled their win total from last season, secured the best win percentage in team history (.682), and rolled into the postseason on a six-game winning streak.
Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Brionna Jones got the start, improving to 5-1 with that lineup. Atlanta now sits just one game under .500 all-time against Connecticut (33-34), and with this win, they sealed the 2025 series, 4-1. The Dream also went undefeated in September, finishing the regular season 17-6 at home and 14-8 on the road.
Karl Smesko continues to make history of his own. With the victory, he notched his 30th win, giving him the best debut season by a head coach in WNBA history.
Brittney Griner paced the team with 17 points and four blocks, while also passing Swin Cash for 16th place on the WNBA’s all-time rebounding list. Rhyne Howard added 15 points, four boards, and four assists, drilling three triples along the way. With those shots, Howard became just the ninth player in WNBA history — and the first in Dream history — to hit 100 threes in a single season.
Brionna Jones stayed steady with 13 points and seven rebounds, officially closing the regular season as the league’s leader in offensive boards. Nia Coffey came off the bench and made the most of her 10 minutes, hitting double figures with 10 points, three rebounds, and two blocks. Maya Caldwell controlled the glass with nine rebounds to go with three points and two assists, marking the first time she’s led the team in boards this year. Paopao rounded things out with six points, six assists, and three rebounds, hitting her stride as a steady hand in the starting lineup.
The Dream stormed out of the gate with a 31-13 lead after the first quarter, fueled by hot shooting from Howard, Gray, and Coffey. By halftime, the advantage stretched to 51-28, with Atlanta clicking on both ends of the floor. Connecticut battled back in the third, but the Dream never let the lead slip away, and Howard, Griner, and Caldwell finished things off in the fourth to secure the win.
With the regular season in the books, the Dream enter the playoffs hotter than ever, owning their best season in franchise history and a clear sense of momentum. This team isn’t just dreaming anymore — they’re ready to chase a championship.
