Atlanta Dream vs Connecticut Sun: Injury Report, Starting 5, Prediction and More on Tonight’s WNBA Preview

Did you know the court will practically look like it’s on fire tonight? Not because of a brawl, but because the Atlanta Dream vs Connecticut Sun clash brings two franchises whose colors scream heat, flames and blaze everywhere you look. Moreover, it’s as symmetrical as it gets because the Dream are sitting pretty as the third-best team in the league, while the Sun are stuck as the third-worst. And thirdly, September basketball rarely feels this decisive, but the stakes for Connecticut and Atlanta couldn’t be clearer as the Dream sits comfortably at 28-14. It’s definitely interesting, so let us break it down for you…

Atlanta Dream vs Connecticut Sun: Where to Watch?

• Date: Monday, 8th September 2025
• Time: 7:30 PM Eastern Time (ET)
• Venue: The Gateway Center Arena, College Park, Georgia
• Streaming services: WNBA League Pass, FUBO
• Cable services: NBA TV, FanDuel Sports Network – North

Injury Report

Atlanta Dream

Connecticut Sun

Predicted Starting Lineup

Atlanta Dream

• Brionna Jones (#24): 27.0 MIN, 12.9 PTS, 7.4 REB, 2.2 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.9 BLK
• Naz Hillmon (#0): 25.3 MIN, 8.5 PTS, 6.2 REB, 2.4 AST, 0.4 STL, 0.5 BLK
• Jordin Canada (#3): 28.8 MIN, 11.7 PTS, 3.3 REB, 5.7 AST, 1.7 STL, 0.3 BLK
• Rhyne Howard (#10): 35.2 MIN, 17.5 PTS, 4.5 REB, 4.6 AST, 1.5 STL, 0.8 BLK
• Te-Hina Paopao (#2): 16.4 MIN, 5.8 PTS, 1.6 REB, 2.3 AST, 0.4 STL, 0.2 BLK

Note: Since Jordin Canada is listed as “probable,” if she isn’t cleared, Brittney Griner (#42) will suit up in place of her: 20.9 MIN, 9.6 PTS, 4.4 REB, 0.9 AST, 0.1 STL, 1.1 BLK

Connecticut Sun

• Aneesah Morrow (#24): 18.3 MIN, 7.4 PTS, 6.6 REB, 0.5 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.4 BLK
• Tina Charles (#31): 28.7 MIN, 16.6 PTS, 6.0 REB, 1.7 AST, 0.8 STL, 0.5 BLK
• Lindsay Allen (#15): 11.8 MIN, 2.1 PTS, 2.3 REB, 2.0 AST, 0.4 STL, 0.1 BLK
• Marina Mabrey (#3): 31.4 MIN, 14.4 PTS, 4.3 REB, 4.0 AST, 0.7 STL, 0.3 BLK
• Saniya Rivers: 25.8 MIN, 8.5 PTS, 2.8 REB, 2.7 AST, 1.5 STL, 0.9 BLK

How the Atlanta Dream vs Connecticut Sun Game Might Go Down…

The ESPN predictor makes no secret of it: Atlanta holds an 88.0% chance to take this one, leaving Connecticut with just 11.9%.

Atlanta’s confidence starts with Rhyne Howard, fresh off a 37-point showcase that re-announced her as one of the league’s true bucket-getters. Pair that with Allisha Gray’s 18.6 points per game and Jordin Canada’s playmaking, and the Dream’s offense hums at 84.2 points per night, good for third in the league. They’ve been streaking, winning four straight and seven of their last ten, showing not just talent but rhythm.

For Connecticut, Tina Charles is still grinding out double-digit nights. She is averaging 16.6 points and 6 boards, but she’s fighting uphill without enough consistent support. Injuries to Olivia Nelson-Ododa and Leila Lacan have stripped away their depth, leaving the Sun vulnerable in the paint and thin in the backcourt. Their 76.3 points per game just don’t stack up against Atlanta’s firepower, especially when paired with one of the league’s worst point differentials at –9.6.

The regular-season series tilts 2-1 to Atlanta, with one more chance for Connecticut to fight back. But all signs: form, health, and depth only point toward the Dream continuing their surge. Expect Howard and Gray to dictate pace, and ESPN’s line of 88.0% Atlanta, 11.9% Connecticut feels about right.