The 2025 Atlanta Dream season was the 18th season for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association, and their first season under head coach, Karl Smesko.
The Dream started the season with a road loss to Washington 90–94 before defeating Indiana 91–90 on the road. They would lose the home rematch to Indiana before ending May on a four game winning streak. The highlight of the streak was a 79–55 defeat of Connecticut. The streak ended in the first game of June where they lost at Connecticut to begin Commissioner's Cup play. They would win their next three Commissioner's Cup games, including a thirty-three point victory over Washington. They lost their final Cup game 81–86 to New York to finish 3–2 and not qualify for the Final. They finished June 3–2, defeating Washington, Chicago, and New York. They lost the only two games they played against the Western Conference in the month, against Dallas and Minnesota, the latter coming in overtime. The Dream continued to play .500 basketball as they went 2–3 in their final games before the All-Star Break. They suffered a one-point loss to Seattle and a six-point loss to New York over that stretch. However, in the same streak they defeated Chicago by thirty-nine points. After the All-Star Break they went 3–2 to finish July with a 5–5 overall record. They lost to Las Vegas and Golden State over that stretch, while defeating Phoenix, Minnesota, and Dallas. The Dream went on a five-game winning streak to begin August before losing the 2025 WNBA Canada game to Seattle. They won four of their next six games in August to finish the month 9–3. Their losses were both to Las Vegas over this stretch. They also earned a two-point win over Minnesota. The Dream finished September 5–0, defeating Connecticut three times and Los Angeles twice.
The Dream's 30–14 regular season recorded earned them the third seed in the 2025 WNBA playoffs, their highest seed since 2018. The Dream were matched with the sixth-seed Indiana in the first round. The Dream won the first game convincingly, 80–68 at home. The series moved to Indiana for game two, which the Fever won 77–60. Game three returned to Atlanta and was the closest game of the series. The Dream led by seven points at halftime, but could not convert that lead into victory, as they lost 85–87 to be eliminated from the Playoffs.
Draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College/Club Outcome Ref. 2 18 Te-Hina Paopao G South Carolina Signed rookie contract April 18Made opening day roster 3 36 Taylor Thierry F Ohio State
Transactions
Front office and coaching DateDetails Ref. October 2, 2024 Fired head coach, Tanisha Wright November 13, 2024 Hired Karl Smesko as head coach January 6, 2025 Hired LaToya Sanders and Brandi Poole as assistant coaches Promoted Brooklyn Cartwright to assistant general manager March 17, 2025 Hired Hannah Kronick Spencer as Vice President of Marketing and Consumer Insights Hired Kaila Pettis as Senior Director of Brand and Creative March 31, 2025 Hired Chelsea Lyles and Camryn Brown as assistant coaches April 24, 2025 Promoted Katie Buria to Head Athletic Trainer Hired Taylor Javey as an assistant athletic trainer Hired Shannon Jackson as a strength and conditioning coach Promoted Parker Sizemore to Data Analyst and Performance Coordinator Promoted Sydney Durrah to Senior Manager of Basketball Systems and Player Content Operations Hired Sheahen Dowling as special assistant to the head coach August 14, 2025 Hired Traci Messier as Vice President of Communications and External Affairs
Free agency Re-signed Player Date Notes Ref. Maya Caldwell January 18, 2025 Training camp contract
Additions Player Date Notes Former Team Ref. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough February 1 One-year deal Washington Mystics Brittney Griner Phoenix Mercury Brionna Jones Connecticut Sun Holly Winterburn February 5 Training camp contract Beşiktaş HDI Sigorta Ashley Joens March 6 Athinaikos AS Vurona Maria Gakdeng April 17 North Carolina Tar Heels Emani Jefferson Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Te-Hina Paopao April 18 Rookie contract(2025 draft pick – No. 18) South Carolina Gamecocks Taylor Thierry Rookie contract(2025 draft pick – No. 36) Ohio State Buckeyes DeYona Gaston April 27 Training camp contract Auburn Tigers Shyanne Sellers May 5 Awarded off waivers Golden State Valkyries Kamiah Smalls August 1 7-day contract Galatasaray August 8 Sika Koné August 15 Rest of season contract Free agent
Subtractions / unsigned Player Date Reason New Team Ref. Maite Cazorla January 16, 2022 Suspended contract – expired — Ezinne Kalu October 2, 2024 Free agency – unrestricted Zhejiang Golden Bulls Iliana Rupert December 6, 2024 Expansion draft Golden State Valkyries Danielle Robinson January 1, 2025 Retired N/A Lorela Cubaj January 15, 2025 Free agency – reserved(qualifying offer extended) Not signed – retained rights Laeticia Amihere February 1, 2025 Waived Golden State Valkyries Tina Charles February 2, 2025 Free agency – uncoreable unrestricted Connecticut Sun Cheyenne Parker-Tyus February 6, 2025 Free agency – unrestricted Las Vegas Aces Holly Winterburn April 7, 2025 Suspended contract – full season N/A – retained rights DeYona Gaston May 5, 2025 Waived — Maria Gakdeng May 8, 2025 — Emani Jefferson — Ashley Joens May 10, 2025 — Shyanne SellersMay 12, 2025— Haley JonesMay 14, 2025 Dallas Wings Aerial Powers June 10, 2025 Free agency – unrestricted Golden State Valkyries Kamiah Smalls August 13, 2025 Released —
Roster
Depth chart Pos.StarterBench PG Jordin Canada Te-Hina Paopao SG Allisha Gray Maya CaldwellShatori Walker-Kimbrough SF Rhyne Howard Nia Coffey PF Brionna Jones Naz Hillmon C Brittney Griner
Schedule Preseason
| 1 | May 7 | @ Washington | W 80–70 | Brittney Griner (16) | Brittney Griner (10) | Te-Hina Paopao (4) | CareFirst Arena4,200 | 1–0 |- | 2 | May 10 | Indiana | L 76–81 | Te-Hina Paopao (14) | Allisha Gray (6) | Allisha Gray (4) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 1–1
Regular season
| 1 | May 16 | @ Washington | L 90–94 | Allisha Gray (25) | Brionna Jones (10) | Allisha Gray (7) | CareFirst Arena4,200 | 0–1
| 2 | May 20 | @ Indiana | W 91–90 | Brittney Griner (21) | Brionna Jones (13) | Allisha Gray (6) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse16,269 | 1–1
| 3 | May 22 | Indiana | L 76–81 | Rhyne Howard (24) | Brionna Jones (11) | Jones, Paopao (3) | State Farm Arena17,044 | 1–2 |- | 4 | May 24 | Dallas | W 83–75 | Allisha Gray (27) | Brionna Jones (15) | Rhyne Howard (10) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 2–2 |- | 5 | May 25 | Connecticut | W 79–55 | Nia Coffey (18) | Nia Coffey (11) | Maya Caldwell (6) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 3–2 |- | 6 | May 27 | @ Los Angeles | W 88–82 | Allisha Gray (25) | Rhyne Howard (9) | Rhyne Howard (7) | Crypto.com Arena10,797 | 4–2 |- | 7 | May 30 | @ Seattle | W 94–87 | Rhyne Howard (33) | Naz Hillmon (7) | Rhyne Howard (5) | Climate Pledge Arena9,666 | 5–2
| style="background:#FED8B1"| 8 | June 6 | @ Connecticut | L 76–84 | Brittney Griner (18) | Brittney Griner (6) | Rhyne Howard (6) | Mohegan Sun Arena8,078 | 5–3 |- | style="background:#FED8B1"| 9 | June 10 | Indiana | W 77–58 | Allisha Gray (23) | Brionna Jones (10) | Canada, Hillmon, Howard (5) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 6–3 |- | style="background:#FED8B1"| 10 | June 13 | Chicago | W 88–70 | Rhyne Howard (36) | Brionna Jones (11) | Jordin Canada (8) | Gateway Center Arena3,296 | 7–3 |- | style="background:#FED8B1"| 11 | June 15 | @ Washington | W 89–56 | Allisha Gray (32) | Naz Hillmon (11) | Hillmon, Paopao (5) | CareFirst Arena4,200 | 8–3 |- | style="background:#FED8B1"| 12 | June 17 | @ New York | L 81–86 | Te-Hina Paopao (16) | Hillmon, Howard (7) | Rhyne Howard (9) | Barclays Center15,149 | 8–4 |- | 13 | June 20 | Washington | W 92–91 | Allisha Gray (18) | Brittney Griner (7) | Howard, Jones (6) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 9–4 |- | 14 | June 22 | Chicago | W 93–80 | Rhyne Howard (22) | Brionna Jones (11) | Gray, Hillmon (4) | Gateway Center Arena3,283 | 10–4 |- | 15 | June 24 | @ Dallas | L 55–68 | Rhyne Howard (23) | Rhyne Howard (8) | Naz Hillmon (3) | College Park Center6,251 | 10–5 |- | 16 | June 27 | Minnesota | L 92–96 (OT) | Brionna Jones (18) | Gray, Hillmon, Jones (8) | Rhyne Howard (8) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 10–6 |- | 17 | June 29 | New York | W 90–81 | Brionna Jones (21) | Allisha Gray (9) | Jordin Canada (8) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 11–6
| 18 | July 3 | Seattle | L 79–80 | Jordin Canada (25) | Allisha Gray (11) | Jordin Canada (5) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 11–7 |- | 19 | July 7 | Golden State | W 90–81 | Allisha Gray (24) | Brionna Jones (8) | Jordin Canada (9) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 12–7 |- | 20 | July 11 | @ Indiana | L 82–99 | Jordin Canada (30) | Brittney Griner (8) | Jordin Canada (8) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse16,966 | 12–8 |- | 21 | July 13 | @ New York | L 72–79 | Allisha Gray (16) | Brittney Griner (10) | Jordin Canada (6) | Barclays Center17,265 | 12–9 |- | 22 | July 16 | @ Chicago | W 86–49 | Brittney Griner (15) | Brionna Jones (9) | Jordin Canada (8) | Wintrust Arena9,025 | 13–9 |- align=center |colspan=9 bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Game |- | 23 | July 22 | @ Las Vegas | L 72–87 | Allisha Gray (24) | Allisha Gray (8) | Jordin Canada (6) | Michelob Ultra Arena10,361 | 13–10 |- | 24 | July 23 | @ Phoenix | W 90–79 | Allisha Gray (28) | Brittney Griner (8) | Canada, Gray (6) | PHX Arena11,850 | 14–10 |- | 25 | July 27 | @ Minnesota | W 90–86 | Brittney Griner (22) | Naz Hillmon (9) | Te-Hina Paopao (4) | Target Center8,788 | 15–10 |- | 26 | July 29 | Golden State | L 75–77 | Jordin Canada (21) | Naz Hillmon (8) | Jordin Canada (8) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 15–11 |- | 27 | July 30 | @ Dallas | W 88–85 | Naz Hillmon (21) | Te-Hina Paopao (8) | Allisha Gray (7) | College Park Center5,228 | 16–11
| 28 | August 1 | Phoenix | W 95–72 | Allisha Gray (26) | Naz Hillmon (9) | Jordin Canada (11) | Gateway Center Arena3,283 | 17–11 |- | 29 | August 3 | Washington | W 99–83 | Brionna Jones (23) | Naz Hillmon (13) | Jordin Canada (9) | Gateway Center Arena3,315 | 18–11 |- | 30 | August 7 | @ Chicago | W 86–65 | Allisha Gray (25) | Naz Hillmon (11) | Jordin Canada (6) | Wintrust Arena7,221 | 19–11 |- | 31 | August 10 | @ Phoenix | W 74–66 | Allisha Gray (17) | Naz Hillmon (13) | Allisha Gray (5) | PHX Arena13,953 | 20–11 |- | 32 | August 13 | @ Seattle | W 85–75 | Rhyne Howard (25) | Allisha Gray (11) | Rhyne Howard (7) | Climate Pledge Arena10,687 | 21–11 |- | bgcolor=#febffc| 33 | August 15 | Seattle | L 78–80 | Rhyne Howard (21) | Brionna Jones (10) | Allisha Gray (4) | Rogers Arena15,892 | 21–12 |- | 34 | August 17 | @ Golden State | W 79–63 | Rhyne Howard (14) | Brionna Jones (9) | Rhyne Howard (6) | Chase Center18,064 | 22–12 |- | 35 | August 19 | @ Las Vegas | L 72–74 | Rhyne Howard (19) | Brittney Griner (8) | Rhyne Howard (6) | Michelob Ultra Arena10,420 | 22–13 |- | 36 | August 21 | Minnesota | W 75–73 | Allisha Gray (27) | Naz Hillmon (9) | Te-Hina Paopao (4) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 23–13 |- | 37 | August 23 | New York | W 78–62 | Allisha Gray (19) | Hillmon, Howard, Jones (8) | Rhyne Howard (6) | Gateway Center Arena3,305 | 24–13 |- | 38 | August 27 | Las Vegas | L 75–81 | Howard, Jones (19) | Naz Hillmon (15) | Rhyne Howard (7) | Gateway Center Arena3,326 | 24–14 |- | 39 | August 29 | Dallas | W 100–78 | Rhyne Howard (24) | Te-Hina Paopao (6) | Te-Hina Paopao (8) | Gateway Center Arena3,268 | 25–14
| 40 | September 1 | @ Connecticut | W 93–76 | Rhyne Howard (23) | Brionna Jones (11) | Naz Hillmon (6) | Mohegan Sun Arena8,081 | 26–14 |- | 41 | September 3 | Los Angeles | W 86–75 | Rhyne Howard (19) | Brionna Jones (13) | Jordin Canada (10) | Gateway Center Arena3,265 | 27–14 |- | 42 | September 5 | Los Angeles | W 104–85 | Rhyne Howard (37) | Hillmon, Jones (9) | Jordin Canada (8) | Gateway Center Arena3,314 | 28–14 |- | 43 | September 8 | Connecticut | W 87–62 | Rhyne Howard (18) | Allisha Gray (6) | Canada, Howard (6)