The Atlanta Dream ended their regular season in dominant fashion, showcasing thekind of form that fuels championship aspirations. Closing the year with decisive wins over the Sparks and the Sun, Atlanta used its final stretch as the perfect warm-up for the playoffs. For the first time all season, the team is close to full health and players are fully embracing their roles. Naz Hillmon, who began the year on the margins of the rotation, has earned her place in the starting lineup. Brittney Griner, now coming off the bench, has found a rhythm she calls her “little bit of a cheat sheet”—and she used it to lead the Dream in scoring for the first time this season with 17 points. Everything is falling into place for a serious postseason push.
Atlanta capped its historic regular season with an 88–72 win over the Connecticut Sun, a victory that moved the Dream to 30–14 overall and gave them the best win percentage in franchise history at .682. They doubled their win total from last year, finished 17–6 at home and 14–8 on the road, and ended September undefeated at 5–0. With their six-game winning streak, they carry more momentum into the playoffs than any Dream team before them. The 2025 season series with the Sun ended 4–1, narrowing Atlanta’s all-time gap with Connecticut to 33–34.
The team’s balance and depth were evident from the opening minutes. The Dream’s starting lineup of Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Brionna Jones improved to 5–1 when on the floor together. Paopao set the tone immediately with a steal and an assist to Hillmon, while Jones added early free throws to open the scoring. Howard drained a three, Paopao scored at the rim, and Gray knocked down her first shot from deep. Off the bench, Nia Coffey and Jordin Canada delivered interior baskets to help Atlanta pull away, while Howard and Coffey ended the quarter with consecutive threes off defensive steals. By the end of the first period, the Dream led 31–13 after a 13–2 run—exactly the kind of punch they’ve been delivering down the stretch of the season.
Hillmon’s rise to prominence showed again in the second quarter. Jones found her inside for a quick touch, then hit free throws to stretch the lead to 20. Gray buried her second triple, and Griner’s four points in the paint highlighted her growing impact off the bench. Coffey closed the half with her second three-pointer, reaching double figures in under ten minutes. Atlanta entered halftime with a 51–28 lead, fueled by 83% shooting at the free-throw line and nearly 60% finishing in the paint.
Griner’s “cheat sheet” approach paid off in the third quarter. Gray hit another three to open the half, Paopao drove to the rim, and Griner powered inside to keep the Sun at bay. Paopao added another steal and bucket, while Jones scored off her feed to maintain the cushion. Atlanta entered the fourth quarter with a 71–58 advantage.
Howard, whose steady brilliance mirrors the team’s own growth, opened the final frame with her third three-pointer and followed it up with a steal and layup. Hillmon added her first triple of the night, and Maya Caldwell sealed the win with a late three off the bench. By the end, the Dream had nine made threes and a balanced stat line to match their narrative of depth and flexibility.
The individual milestones underscored just how potent and well-rounded this roster has become. Howard’s 15 points included nine from beyond the arc, making her the first Dream player and just the ninth in WNBA history to hit 100 threes in a season. Griner’s 17 points and four blocks moved her past Swin Cash for 16th place on the all-time rebounds list. Brionna Jones added 13 points and seven rebounds to finish the season as the WNBA’s offensive rebounding leader (136) and fifth all-time for a single season. Naz Hillmon, now entrenched in the starting five, closed as Atlanta’s leader in defensive rebounds. Nia Coffey delivered 10 points, three rebounds, and two blocks in just ten minutes, while Maya Caldwell led the team in boards with nine. Paopao’s six points and six assists marked her 15th start and sixth time leading the Dream in dimes.
The Dream’s postseason could start just as the regular season began—with the Indiana Fever. Indiana is on a three-game winning streak and appears to be peaking at the right time. Playoff seeding hinges on tomorrow night’s 10 p.m. EST showdown between the Aces and the Sparks. The Aces, riding one of the longest winning streaks in league history, are favored, but the Sparks have enough talent to spoil their run. All eyes will be on that matchup to see who Atlanta draws in the opening round.
If the Dream maintain the same focus, health, and chemistry they’ve built over the last month, everything is in place for a championship run. This team’s combination of star power, lineup balance, and postseason-ready momentum makes them as dangerous as any squad in the league.
All photos provided by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images and the Atlanta Dream
