Howard Powers Dream Past Sun in Commissioner’s Cup Opener

The Atlanta Dream took on the Connecticut Sun in their first game of the 2026 Commissioner’s Cup. Brittney Griner, who scored her 6,000th career point, returned to Gateway Center after playing with the Dream last season. Connecticut’s Leïla Lacan provided a spark for the Sun in their previous game as the team secured its second win of the season.

In the first quarter, all but four Sun players had scored by the six minute mark. The Dream found early success behind Rhyne Howard, who had five points at the 5:20 mark. Howard continued her dominant play, knocking down a three pointer to give Atlanta a 13-11 lead with 4:39 remaining in the quarter. Madina Okot entered the game and brought a strong defensive presence, though her block on Griner was called a foul.

After the game was tied at 13-13, Howard hit her third three pointer of the quarter, giving her 11 points. The Dream extended their lead to 23-18 following an Angel Reese layup. Sun rookie Nell Angloma got on the scoreboard with a drive to the basket, cutting the deficit to 23-20.

At the end of the first quarter, the Sun held a 25-24 lead. Atlanta shot 44 percent from the field, while Connecticut shot 50 percent. The Sun attempted just three three pointers compared to Atlanta’s 10 attempts. The Dream connected on 50 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.

Atlanta gained momentum early in the second quarter, outscoring Connecticut 6-3 and regaining the lead at 30-28 with 7:02 remaining. After another tie at 32, Allisha Gray hit a key three pointer to put the Dream back in front.

Angel Reese and Naz Hillmon each picked up their third foul with less than five minutes remaining in the half. The Dream continued to find success from long range, with Gray knocking down the team’s eighth three pointer at the 2:37 mark, giving her 16 points. At the same point in the game, Aneesah Morrow and Reese each had seven rebounds.

Saniyah Rivers hit a big three pointer late in the half to give the Dream a 50-49 advantage. Atlanta took a 50-49 lead into halftime.

To start the second half, the Sun went on a 6-0 run. Reese stopped the run with a shot in the paint. Canada followed with a bucket of her own, bringing the score to 55-54.

The Sun attempted three 3-pointers in the first half of the third period, nearly half of their total from the first half when they attempted seven. After an Olivia Nelson-Ododa basket, the Sun took their biggest lead of the game at five. Howard hit her sixth three pointer of the game to cut the deficit to 63-61.

Okot picked up her fifth foul of the game with 1:15 remaining in the period. Reese hit her first three pointer of the season, and after a late quarter run, the Dream regained the lead, taking a 68-65 advantage into the fourth quarter.

The intensity carried into the final period when Griner and Reese got tangled on a play. Griner was assessed a flagrant foul. The Dream built their biggest lead of the game with less than six minutes remaining, going ahead 75-65.

Morrow stopped the run with an and-one opportunity. She missed the free throw but followed it up on the next Sun possession with a drive to the basket where she was fouled. She converted both free throws to cut the deficit to 75-69.

With four minutes remaining, Morrow recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Reese also had a double-double at that point with 12 points and 12 rebounds.

After being held to just five points in the second half, Howard hit a pivotal three pointer to push the Dream’s lead to double digits for the first time in the game. Morrow answered with a 3-pointer to cut the lead back to 11.

With 90 seconds remaining, the Dream led 88-74, and Canada sealed the victory with a three pointer to extend Atlanta’s lead to 91-74. Howard ended the game with a game high 36 points. The Dream improved to 1-0 in this year’s Commissioner’s Cup play.

The Dream head back on the road to face the Indiana Fever on Thursday, June 4, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.