Image Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Dream vs Sun: Brittney Griner Drops 17 Points as Atlanta Takes Down Connecticut to Wrap Regular Season on Six-Game Winning Streak

The Dream is now in contention with Las Vegas for second seed.

Image Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Brittney Griner posted 17 points off bench to lead the Atlanta Dream to a significant 88-72 win over the Connecticut Sun in their last regular-season game of the 2025 WNBA season. With this, the Dream completed their 30th win of the 2025 season and set a new franchise record for the most regular-season wins in their history. Griner grabbed four rebounds, and passed Swin Cash to occupy the 16th spot on the All-time rebounds list with 2,522.

Rhyne Howard scored 15 points, four rebounds, and four assists for the Dream. She shot 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and etched her name in the franchise’s history. Howard is now the only Dream player to make 100 three-pointers in a season. Moreover, she is the ninth player in the history of the league to reach 100+ 3pm in a season. In addition to them, Brionna Jones and Allisha Gray posted 13 points each, while Nia Coffey poured in 10 points as Atlanta recorded its sixth straight win.

Brittney Griner and Rhyne Howard were influential in the @AtlantaDream's win over the Sun, 88-72 💪

✔️ Griner dropped 17 PTS, 4 REB & 4 BLKS
✔️ Howard recorded 15 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST, 3 3PM & 3 STL

Howard became the 9th player to reach 100+ 3PM in a season. She also set the… pic.twitter.com/SLkVCsYGS7
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 11, 2025

It was truly a memorable night for Atlanta, and the franchise couldn’t have asked for a better way to head into the playoffs. Apart from stunning performances by the players, Dream also sold out 42 straight regular season games this year.

On the Sun’s side, Marina Mabrey took charge of scoring and posted 22 points, one rebound, and five assists. Saniya Rivers posted 16 points, three rebounds, and five assists, while Aneesah Morrow chipped in 11 points and 10 rebounds. In addition to them, Tina Charles, the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award, scored nine points, one rebound, and two assists. She also set a new scoring record by passing DeWanna Bonner with 699 points, the most Connecticut franchise history in a season.

Connecticut Sun’s Tina Charles Earns Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award pic.twitter.com/kwgMnucibj
— WNBA Communications (@WNBAComms) September 10, 2025

Atlanta Dream Maintain Early Dominance Over Connecticut Sun

The Atlanta Dream entered the game with full force and established dominance over the Connecticut Sun right away. They closed the opening quarter on a 17-2 run and entered the second period with a 31-13 lead. In the opening quarter, the Dream shot 64.7% from the field, including 4 of 8 from beyond the arc, while the Sun was 5-of-15 (33.3%) overall. Atlanta led Connecticut 20-15 in the second quarter and built a 51-28 lead at halftime.

NUMBAH 2 TO THE RIM! 🔥#DoItForTheDream pic.twitter.com/ABW7uMNOgx
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) September 10, 2025

The Sun aimed to bounce back in the second half and went on a 16-4 run to narrow the gap to 63-54. However, the Dream closed the game by scoring six of the last eight points and secured a 71-58 lead. In the final quarter, Atlanta outscored Connecticut 17-14 to coast to victory and finish the game with an 88-72 win. The Karl Smesko team shot 33 of 61 from the field and 10 of 27 from beyond the arc while holding the rivals to 26/73 shooting from the field and only 3/20 from the three-point range.

The Dream can secure the No. 2 seed in the playoffs if the Las Vegas Aces (29-14) lose to the Los Angeles Sparks on Thursday.

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Atlanta Dream

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Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.