Atlanta pulls away in the second half as Connecticut falls 103-59 in its first game following the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup break.
After nearly three weeks away from WNBA action, the Connecticut Sun returned to the court Thursday night looking to close out the regular season on a strong note. Instead, the Sun faced a difficult test against one of the league’s top teams, falling 103-59 to the Atlanta Dream at Gateway Center Arena. The loss moved Connecticut to 10-31 on the season, while Atlanta improved to 27-14.
The matchup marked the WNBA’s return following the 2026 FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup, giving both teams a chance to get back into a regular-season rhythm with only a handful of games remaining. Connecticut entered the game having last played on August 30, while Atlanta had also been off since Aug. 30. The long break provided time for players to rest and compete internationally, but Thursday’s game quickly became a challenge for the Sun as Atlanta established control.
Connecticut stayed within striking distance during the opening half. The Sun trailed 22-17 after the first quarter and entered halftime down 45-35, keeping the deficit manageable through the first 20 minutes. Olivia Nelson-Ododa provided a spark offensively, scoring 13 points and grabbing four rebounds. She was the only Connecticut player to finish in double figures.
The game changed coming out of halftime. Atlanta opened up the third quarter with an offensive surge, outscoring Connecticut 31-11 and turning a 10-point halftime advantage into a commanding 76-46 lead entering the fourth. The Dream continued to add to its lead in the final period, ultimately reaching the 103-point mark while holding Connecticut to just 13 points in the fourth quarter.
Angel Reese was at the center of Atlanta’s offensive attack. The former LSU standout finished with 30 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 11-of-14 from the field in less than 25 minutes. The performance gave Reese her 30th double-double of the season, extending the WNBA single-season record she had already established.
Reese was not the only Dream player making history. Rhyne Howard hit her 129th three-pointer of the season with 6:45 remaining in the fourth quarter, setting a new WNBA single-season record for made three-pointers. Howard finished the night with 10 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals, contributing across the stat sheet even as her shooting night was relatively quiet.
For Connecticut, Saniya Rivers continued to make an impact in multiple areas. Rivers finished with nine points, nine rebounds and three blocks, leading the Sun defensively while nearly recording a double-double. Ashlon Jackson and Raegan Beers also contributed nine points apiece, with Beers adding two blocks.
The loss was a difficult way to begin the final stretch of the season, but the Sun have little time to dwell on it. Connecticut returns home on Sunday, Sept. 20, to host the Minnesota Lynx at Mohegan Sun Arena for Homecoming Night. The matchup represents the final meeting between the two franchises this season, with Minnesota entering the game at 31-10.
With the regular season nearing its conclusion, Connecticut will have just a few more opportunities to build momentum and evaluate its young core. The Sun’s remaining schedule includes games against Minnesota, Washington and Toronto, giving the team a chance to finish the season with meaningful competition and continue developing the pieces of its roster.
The Atlanta loss showed the challenge of immediately returning to WNBA play after a lengthy international break, particularly against a Dream team entering the final stretch with postseason aspirations. For Connecticut, the focus now shifts to the next game and the opportunity to respond as the Sun continue through the final week of the regular season.
