Atlanta Dream Crush Connecticut Sun 79-55 in Dominant WNBA Showdown

On May 25, 2025, the Atlanta Dream (3-2) delivered a resounding 79-55 victory over the Connecticut Sun (0-4) at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, in front of 3,265 fans. The game, officiated by Jeff Wooten, Biniam Maru, and Gerda Gatling, lasted 1 hour and 53 minutes and showcased Atlanta’s balanced attack and rebounding prowess, led by Nia Coffey’s double-double and Allisha Gray’s all-around performance. The Sun, struggling offensively, shot a dismal 31.3% from the field, marking their fourth straight loss to start the 2025 WNBA season. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the player stats and key moments from this lopsided matchup.

Match Summary

• Sport: Basketball (WNBA)
• Date: May 25, 2025
• Location: Gateway Center Arena, College Park, Georgia
• Attendance: 3,265
• Matchup: Connecticut Sun vs Atlanta Dream Match Player Stats
• Final Score: Atlanta Dream 79 – Connecticut Sun 55
• Win/Loss Records Post-Game:
  • Atlanta Dream: Improved to 3–2
  • Connecticut Sun: Fell to 0–4
• Game Duration: 1 hour, 53 minutes
• Officials: Jeff Wooten, Biniam Maru, Gerda Gatling

Game Overview

Atlanta dominated from the outset, overcoming an early 5-point deficit to lead by as many as 24 points in the second half. The Dream outrebounded the Sun 52-34, including a 12-6 edge in offensive rebounds, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities. Atlanta’s 10-for-35 shooting from three-point range and 20 assists on 29 made field goals highlighted their offensive efficiency, while their defense held Connecticut to 21-of-67 shooting and forced 9 turnovers. The Sun’s 24 points in the paint and 4-for-15 three-point shooting underscored their offensive struggles, as they failed to find rhythm under new head coach Rachid Meziane. Atlanta, under first-year coach Karl Smesko, improved to 2-1 at home, while the Sun fell to 0-2 on the road.

Connecticut Sun: Key Performances

Offensive Highlights

The Sun’s offense was stifled, shooting 31.3% from the field and 26.7% from three, with only 14 assists on 21 made field goals. Key performers included:

• Marina Mabrey (G): Mabrey led the Sun with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 4-of-14 from the field and 2-of-7 from three in 34 minutes. Her +29 fantasy points (FPTS) and double-double were a bright spot, but her -17 plus/minus reflected the team’s struggles.
• Tina Charles (C): Charles added 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 assists, shooting 5-of-20 from the field (0-of-1 from three) in 30 minutes. Her 22 FPTS were marred by 3 turnovers and a -22 plus/minus, as Atlanta’s interior defense limited her efficiency.
• Olivia Nelson-Ododa (F): Nelson-Ododa contributed 11 points and 5 rebounds, shooting 4-of-7 from the field and 3-of-6 from the free-throw line in 21 minutes. She added 2 blocks but had a -19 plus/minus and 1 turnover, finishing with 17 FPTS.
• Bria Hartley (G): Hartley, off the bench, scored 7 points on 2-of-9 shooting (1-of-3 from three) with 2 steals in 19 minutes, posting 11 FPTS but a -10 plus/minus.
• Kariata Diaby (C): Diaby added 5 points and 2 rebounds, shooting 2-of-3 from the field and 1-of-1 from the free-throw line in 11 minutes, with 8 FPTS and a -1 plus/minus.
• Jacy Sheldon (G): Sheldon scored 4 points on 2-of-3 shooting with 2 assists and 1 block in 23 minutes, but committed 2 fouls and had a -16 plus/minus, finishing with 9 FPTS.
• Saniya Rivers (G): Rivers struggled, scoring 2 points on 1-of-5 shooting with 2 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 turnovers in 28 minutes, posting 8 FPTS and a -14 plus/minus.
• Aneesah Morrow (F): Morrow scored 3 points on 1-of-4 shooting (1-of-1 from three) with 7 rebounds in 11 minutes, earning 9 FPTS but a -8 plus/minus.
• Robyn Parks (F), Haley Peters (F), Rayah Marshall (F): These players combined for 0 points, with Parks and Peters each playing 12 and 8 minutes, respectively, and Marshall logging 2 minutes. They contributed minimal stats, with Parks adding 1 steal and 1 rebound (2 FPTS, -7 plus/minus).

The Sun left 4 runners on base, went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position, and scored just 7 points in the fourth quarter, highlighting their offensive woes.

Defensive Highlights

• Team Defense: The Sun recorded 4 steals and 3 blocks but allowed 38 points in the paint and 8 fast-break points. They struggled to contain Atlanta’s rebounding (52-34 deficit) and second-chance points.

Kicking

• Team Kicking: The Sun went 9-for-14 (64.3%) from the free-throw line, with Nelson-Ododa (3-of-6) and Mabrey (2-of-2) leading attempts.

Atlanta Dream: Key Performances

Offensive Highlights

Atlanta’s offense was efficient, shooting 40.8% from the field and 28.6% from three, with 20 assists and a 52-34 rebounding edge. Standout performers included:

• Nia Coffey (F): Coffey led with a double-double, scoring 18 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, with 4 assists on 6-of-13 shooting (3-of-7 from three) and 3-of-4 from the free-throw line in 26 minutes. Her 35 FPTS and +9 plus/minus underscored her impact.
• Allisha Gray (G): Gray matched Coffey’s 18 points, adding 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 1 steal on 6-of-11 shooting (2-of-4 from three) and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line in 33 minutes. Her 31 FPTS and +20 plus/minus highlighted her all-around dominance, consistent with her recent 20+ point streak noted on X.
• Maya Caldwell (G): Caldwell contributed 12 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals, shooting 5-of-14 (2-of-7 from three) in 36 minutes. Her 28 FPTS and +17 plus/minus reflected her playmaking role.
• Rhyne Howard (G): Howard scored 11 points with 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block, shooting 4-of-17 (1-of-10 from three) in 31 minutes. Despite shooting struggles, she posted 23 FPTS and a +9 plus/minus.
• Brionna Jones (C): Jones added 8 points and 9 rebounds, shooting 3-of-5 (0-of-1 from three) and 2-of-2 from the free-throw line in 27 minutes, with 15 FPTS and a +17 plus/minus.
• Naz Hillmon (F): Hillmon, off the bench, scored 7 points and grabbed 9 rebounds with 3 assists, shooting 3-of-6 (1-of-3 from three) in 29 minutes. Her 23 FPTS and +27 plus/minus highlighted her impact, building on her recent double-double performances noted on X.
• Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (G): Walker-Kimbrough scored 5 points with 4 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 block, shooting 2-of-4 (1-of-2 from three) in 15 minutes, posting 11 FPTS and a +16 plus/minus.
• Taylor Thierry (G): Thierry played 3 minutes, going 0-for-1 with no points, 0 FPTS, and a +5 plus/minus.

Atlanta went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, leveraging their 12 offensive rebounds for 14 second-chance points and scoring 38 points in the paint.

Defensive Highlights

• Team Defense: Atlanta recorded 4 steals and 5 blocks, with Hillmon (2 blocks), Howard (1 block), and Caldwell (1 block) leading the way. They held Connecticut to 31.3% shooting and forced 9 turnovers, converting them into 10 points.

Kicking

• Team Kicking: Atlanta went 11-for-14 (78.6%) from the free-throw line, with Gray (4-of-5) and Coffey (3-of-4) leading attempts.

Key Moments and Scoring Summary

• 1st Quarter (ATL 21, CONN 16):
  • 9:06: Mabrey’s 3-pointer gave the Sun a 3-0 lead (+3% WPA).
  • 8:38: Coffey’s 2-pointer cut the lead to 3-2 (-1% WPA).
  • 7:59: Sheldon’s layup put the Sun up 5-2 (+2% WPA).
  • 5:09: Gray’s layup and free throw gave Atlanta a 9-7 lead (+4% WPA).
  • 1:56: Hillmon’s 3-pointer extended Atlanta’s lead to 17-14 (+3% WPA).
  • 0:39: Hartley’s two free throws made it 19-16 (-2% WPA).
  • 0:23: Hillmon’s layup closed the quarter at 21-16 (+2% WPA).
• 2nd Quarter (ATL 16, CONN 17, ATL 37-33 at halftime):
  • 9:14: Diaby’s layup and free throw gave the Sun a 21-19 lead (+3% WPA).
  • 8:09: Hartley’s 3-pointer put the Sun ahead 22-21 (+3% WPA).
  • 6:40: Jones’s layup tied it at 25-25 (0% WPA).
  • 5:21: Charles’s jumper gave the Sun a 28-27 lead (+3% WPA).
  • 4:26: Gray’s 3-pointer put Atlanta up 32-28 (+4% WPA).
  • 1:03: Morrow’s 3-pointer cut the lead to 34-33 (-2% WPA).
  • 0:52: Coffey’s 3-pointer made it 37-33 (+3% WPA).
• 3rd Quarter (ATL 26, CONN 15, ATL 63-48):
  • 7:33: Nelson-Ododa’s layup made it 43-37 (-2% WPA).
  • 4:26: Gray’s layup pushed Atlanta’s lead to 48-43 (+3% WPA).
  • 0:00: Atlanta’s 8-0 run, capped by Howard’s layup, extended the lead to 63-48 (+5% WPA).
• 4th Quarter (ATL 16, CONN 7):
  • 7:22: Coffey’s 3-pointer made it 68-50 (+2% WPA).
  • 3:40: Caldwell’s jumper pushed the lead to 75-53 (+1% WPA).
  • 0:00: Atlanta closed with a 79-55 final, as the Sun failed to score in the final minutes.

Win Probability and Top Plays

According to Basketball-Reference, Atlanta led for 33:08 compared to the Sun’s 5:34, with 7 lead changes and 1 tie (1:18). Key plays by Win Probability Added (WPA) included:

• Coffey’s 3-pointer (2nd, 0:52): +3% WPA, securing a 37-33 halftime lead.
• Gray’s 3-pointer (2nd, 4:26): +4% WPA, giving Atlanta a 32-28 lead.
• Hillmon’s 3-pointer (1st, 1:56): +3% WPA, sparking Atlanta’s momentum.
• Sun’s scoring drought (4th, final 3:20): +5% WPA for Atlanta, sealing the 24-point win.

Atlanta’s win probability reached 100% by the fourth quarter, as the Sun’s offense collapsed, scoring just 7 points in the final frame.

Analysis and Takeaways

Atlanta’s victory was a masterclass in rebounding and defensive intensity. Their 52-34 rebounding edge, including 12 offensive rebounds, led to 14 second-chance points, overwhelming the Sun’s frontcourt. Coffey’s double-double and Gray’s 18 points, paired with their recent hot streaks noted on X, underscored Atlanta’s depth under Smesko’s system. Caldwell’s 6 assists and Hillmon’s 9 rebounds off the bench highlighted the Dream’s balanced attack, with their 10-of-35 three-point shooting proving effective despite a modest percentage.The Sun’s 0-4 start exposed early-season struggles under Meziane. Mabrey’s double-double and Nelson-Ododa’s efficient scoring were positives, but Charles’s 5-of-20 shooting and the team’s 31.3% field goal percentage reflected offensive disconnect. The Sun’s 9 turnovers and 0-for-7 RISP performance, combined with allowing 38 points in the paint, highlighted defensive lapses. Their 26.2% three-point shooting (5.3 makes per game) and -12.0 net rating entering the game, as noted by StatMuse, foreshadowed their struggles.

Conclusion

The Atlanta Dream’s 79-55 rout of the Connecticut Sun on May 25, 2025, was a statement win, showcasing their rebounding dominance and balanced scoring. Nia Coffey’s 18 points and 11 rebounds, paired with Allisha Gray’s 18 points and Maya Caldwell’s playmaking, powered Atlanta to a 3-2 record. The Sun, falling to 0-4, struggled with poor shooting and defensive breakdowns, with Marina Mabrey’s double-double a lone highlight. This game, marked by Atlanta’s 24-point lead and relentless third-quarter surge, sets the stage for their continued push in the Eastern Conference, while the Sun face an uphill battle to reverse their early-season slide.