Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream are steadily becoming a serious contender to win the WNBA championship as they sit at No. 4, just behind defending champions Las Vegas Aces. And after the World Cup break, you would think that head coach Karl Smesko’s side would be fully fresh to prepare for the business end of the season. However, the team has suffered the opposite fate, as All-Star center Brionna Jones is out for the remainder of the season with an injury.
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“The Atlanta Dream announced today that center Brionna Jones will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after sustaining a left leg injury against the Connecticut Sun on August 13. Jones is expected to make a full recovery.”
The Dream announced Thursday, as reported by ESPN’s Holly Rowe on X.
This comes ahead of the Dream’s matchup with the Sun, the same team against which Jones picked up a left leg injury at the Mohegan Sun Arena last month on August 13, 2026. The mishap occurred in the second quarter, when Jones slid over to assist in defending Nell Angloma, who was about to drive to the basket. The two met each other in the paint, as Jones successfully blocked the shot before Angloma could get it off.
Jones immediately began hopping as soon as she landed after blocking the shot. And that was the end of her season with the Dream, as Jones went back to the locker room at the 8:56 mark after playing just four minutes, finishing with one rebound, one assist, and one block.
Just three days before she sustained the injury against the Sun, Atlanta Dream Karl Smesko revealed that they were being cautious about the WNBA veteran’s time on the hardwood.
“She’s coming off an injury and a surgery and a rehab and hadn’t played for a really long time. So, we are being kind of conservative with bringing her along, but she’s doing well. We’re hoping to be able to progress her to more time on the court.”
Smesko was referring to the meniscus tear on February 6 while playing in Europe for the USK Praha in Czechia. That injury took a toll on Jones’s 2026 WNBA regular season as she had to wait almost half the season before making her debut on July 17, barely a week ahead of the 2026 All-Star Game.
Now, with this current injury putting an end to her season, Jones’s final stats stand at 9.3 points on 52.9% shooting and 6.1 rebounds. Although those stats may not look impressive when taking an entire season into context, it’s crucial to note that she played only 9 games before getting sidelined for good.
That means Jones’s absence will be a big miss for the Dream and their frontcourt. The franchise already made adjustments, signing DeWanna Bonner ahead of the World Cup break for some much-needed experience in the playoffs. Moreover, No. 13 overall pick Madina Okot has absorbed Jones’ minutes since her injury as well.
The Dream frontcourt will now rely on Angel Reese even more than before, who has become the main pillar in the Dream’s defense. Reese is currently the best rebounder in the league, averaging 12.4 per game. She has also levelled up in steals, ranking third in the league with 1.8 per game. Reese’s defensive efforts are visible to all, which is probably the reason she is one of the favorites to win the Defensive Player of the Year award.
The Atlanta Dream’s current record stands at 26-14, with four games left to play. They are currently fourth in the standings, one place above Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever. With two upcoming games against the New York Liberty, the Dream’s frontcourt depth will be tested significantly, but it will also give Karl Smesko a chance to build a solid defense ahead of the playoffs.