In their previous meeting, a literal power outage delayed the game—and a figurative one cost the Atlanta Dream the win, as they collapsed in overtime against the Minnesota Lynx. That night, the lights went out in more ways than one. But on Sunday, the Dream returned to Minnesota and rewrote the narrative, ending the Lynx’s unbeaten run at Target Center and matching their 2024 win total—with 15 games still to go.
Atlanta’s 82–75 win over Minnesota wasn’t just another notch in the win column—it was a statement. This team, plagued by inconsistency and late-game struggles all season, showed poise, toughness, and balance in a place no team had conquered since September 2024.
Brittney Griner Shines Bright
The star of the night was unquestionably Brittney Griner. Coming off an emotional return to Phoenix, she looked rejuvenated and locked in. Griner dropped a season-high 22 points, including 17 in the first half alone—her most in any half this year. She shot 6-of-8 from the field in the opening 20 minutes and grabbed a team-best 5 rebounds, pacing Atlanta to a 46–32 halftime lead.
She continued to be a force in the second half, looking fluid and creative around the rim, and served as the emotional and physical anchor the Dream needed to pull off the upset.
Contributions Across the Board
The Dream started Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Maya Caldwell, Brionna Jones, and Brittney Griner—a lineup that is now 3-2 on the season. This group came out swinging, with all five starters scoring in the opening quarter. Atlanta shot 60% from three-point range in the first, establishing early control.
Canada finished with 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, notching her fourth game with 15+ points and continuing a strong scoring stretch with double figures in eight of the last ten games. Gray, though quieter than usual, still added 12 points, including timely buckets in the second half.
From the bench, Shatori Walker-Kimbrough was flawless—literally. She shot a perfect 5-of-5 from the field, scoring 12 points, with 9 of those coming in the second half. Her third-quarter surge helped stabilize the team just when Minnesota seemed ready to steal momentum.
Rookie Naz Hillmon also stepped up with a team-high 9 rebounds, while Brionna Jones chipped in 7 points and reached a personal milestone, surpassing 1,200 career rebounds.
Locking Down the Lynx
Atlanta’s defense set the tone. The Dream racked up a season-high 12 steals and held Minnesota’s sharpshooter Kayla McBride to just 4 points on a cold shooting night. Their defensive strategy focused on crowding Napheesa Collier, and while she got her numbers, it came with heavy effort and limited efficiency.
The Dream’s ability to rotate fresh defenders and disrupt Minnesota’s perimeter game was critical. They contested shots, dominated the glass, and limited second-chance points—doing everything they failed to do in their last meeting.
With this win, Atlanta now sits at 15-10, the same number of victories they tallied all last season—only this time, they’ve done it in just 25 games. Perhaps more importantly, they’ve proven they can close out big games, even on the road, even against elite teams.
They return home to face the Valkyrie on Tuesday, hungry to build on this breakthrough moment and show that this version of the Dream is built to finish.
