The Atlanta Dream (26-14) dominated the Connecticut Sun (10-30) 93-76 on Monday afternoon in Mohegan Sun Arena. Rhyne Howard, who would end up winning Player of the Week honors, led the Dream with 23 points.
The Dream started Te-Hina Paopao, Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Naz Hillmon, and Brionna Jones. With this lineup, the Dream have a record of 4-1 this season.
“I was trying to give myself grace and let the game come to me and not force anything,” Jordin Canada began after the match. “My main focus was just defense, trying to make sure I was doing my job, pushing the pace. And then the second half, just try to be more aggressive, and once I got comfortable, I just carried on as normal.”
Canada shot 100% from the free-throw line (3-3) and made an assist, a steal, and a blocked shot. On top of that, she led the Dream off the bench with 15 points, marking her return from an eight-game injury absence.
The WNBA announced that Rhyne Howard has been named the Kia WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played August 25–30. This marks Howard’s first weekly honor of the 2025 season and the second of her career. Howard was involved in two key plays to cap off a successful night against the Sun: scoring on a fast break after stealing the ball in the third quarter, and scoring five points in the fourth (a layup and three-pointer) to hold their lead.
Allisha Gray and Naz Hillmon finished with 17 points apiece. Gray grabbed 5 rebounds and an assist, after going a perfect 11-11 from the line. Hillmon nabbed 6 rebounds and assists, and matched her season-high with 5 three-pointers. It was her fourth game with 15+ points.
As for the playoffs, the first round remains a best-of-three series but will shift to a 1-1-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1 and 3 and the lower seed hosting Game 2. The semifinals will be played as a best-of-five series, while the WNBA Finals expand to a best-of-seven series using a 2-2-1-1-1 format, with the higher seed hosting Games 1, 2, 5, and 7. The postseason begins September 14, following the conclusion of the regular season on September 11, and could run as late as October 19 with a decisive Game 7 of the Finals.
The Dream can get comfortable with a three-game homespan over the next six days, with their next opponent, the Los Angeles Sparks, arriving on Wednesday, Sept. 3. The game will tip off at 7:30 PM/ET.
-Jon Jones
Photos: NBAE (Brian Babineau)
Related
