The Atlanta Dream have been one of the WNBA’s most consistent teams this season, sitting third in the league and second in the Eastern Conference standings. On Sunday, they welcomed back six-time All-Star Brittney Griner, who returned from a neck injury. Head coach Karl Smesko was quick to praise her performance.
“I thought BG was great,” Smesko said after the game. “She was moving great. She looked really good out there. Defensively, she was excellent. She was controlling the point. I thought it was a really good first game back for her.”
Griner had missed three straight games before the matchup against the Phoenix Mercury, which the Dream won 74–66. In 13 minutes of action, she tallied two points, two rebounds, and one assist.
Now in her first season with the Dream, Griner is aiming to help lead Atlanta to a WNBA title alongside stars Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. Despite dealing with several injuries and setbacks this year, the Dream remain well-positioned for a playoff berth.
Still, while her presence has boosted the team, the 6-foot-9 center is enduring one of the least productive seasons of her 12-year career. Through 26 games—25 of them starts—Griner is averaging career lows of 10.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks in 22.9 minutes per game.
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Atlanta suffers another major blow
Unfortunately for Atlanta, the night also brought bad news late in the third quarter when starting guard Jordin Canada suffered a non-contact leg injury. The two-time All-Defensive selection had to be carried off the court and appeared to be in significant pain.
The team is being coy, officially labeling her as “day-to-day” while awaiting further tests. If she’s out for an extended period, it could be a major setback for the Dream’s offense.
