The Brittney Griner-led Atlanta Dream have had an up-and-down start to their 2025 WNBA season, currently holding a 2-2 record after a hard-fought 83-75 victory over the Dallas Wings. Griner has been the anchor for the Dream, averaging 14.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game, leading by example on both ends of the floor. But just as they gear up for a tough clash against the Connecticut Sun, bad news has started to pile up for Atlanta.
According to the latest injury report, the Atlanta Dream will be without two key pieces in their backcourt—Te-Hina Paopao and Jordin Canada. Paopao, the exciting rookie, suffered a facial injury in the first quarter of the game against the Wings and was forced to exit after just six minutes on the floor. She went 0-for-2 before leaving the game and didn’t return. It’s an unfortunate setback for the young guard, who had been averaging 24 minutes over her first three WNBA games– contributing 7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game.
Adding to the Dream’s woes, Jordin Canada remains out with a right knee injury she sustained during a preseason win over the Washington Mystics. The veteran floor general has already been ruled out for at least two weeks. Canada was a steady presence for Atlanta last season, averaging 10.6 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. Her absence leaves a major void in the Dream’s rotation, both in leadership and production.
The mounting injuries are testing the Dream’s depth, forcing Coach Karl Smesko to lean on less experienced players and shuffle lineups to keep the team competitive. Without Jordin Canada’s playmaking and Te-Hina Paopao’s spark off the bench, Atlanta’s backcourt is stretched thin, and it’s up to players like Maya Caldwell and Allisha Gray to step up in bigger roles.
But their injury issues don’t stop there!
It’s now official–Brittney Griner has been ruled out of the game against the Connecticut Sun with a left knee injury. The news comes as a surprise, especially after the star center was seen participating in pre-game shootarounds. Her absence is a major blow for the Dream, who will now have to take the floor without their top interior presence. Atlanta will roll out a starting lineup of Rhyne Howard, Alisha Gray, Maya Caldwell, Nia Coffey, and Brionna Jones, hoping to make up for Griner’s absence with the options they have.
Brittney Griner (knee) ruled out Sunday.
— Underdog WNBA (@UnderdogWNBA) May 25, 2025
While it’s definitely a setback that Brittney Griner won’t be suiting up tonight, the bigger story lately has been the controversy swirling around her interactions with referees. It seems Griner just can’t stay out of the spotlight. Let’s take a closer look at what’s been going on.
Brittney Griner confronts the referees
Brittney Griner found herself in hot water after a fiery exchange with the officials during the game against the Dallas Wings. The veteran center, who has been one of the better players since entering the league in 2013, was visibly frustrated with a late foul call in the first half.
Phoenix Mercury center Brittney Griner (42) celebrates a basket against the Indiana Fever during the third quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on June 30, 2024.
Just as she was getting set for a routine on-court interview with CBS, Griner spotted the officiating crew of Jeff Smith, Eric Brewton, and Tyler Mirkovich walking off the floor. Without hesitation, she approached them and, according to reports, let her emotions spill out: “Be f—— better,” she allegedly said before returning to fulfill her interview duties.
The controversy stemmed from Griner’s frustration with a late foul call that didn’t sit well with her. With just 1:30 left before halftime, the three-time Olympic gold medalist was hit with an offensive foul, and she clearly didn’t agree with the decision. However, after the game, Griner addressed the situation and offered an apology during the postgame press conference, simply saying, “I’m sorry, y’all.”
Without key players like Griner, Canada, and Paopao, the Atlanta Dream face an uphill battle against a hungry Connecticut Sun team still looking for their first win of the season after a string of close losses. It’s going to take a big effort from the rest of the roster if Atlanta hopes to pull this one off. Stay tuned to see who rises to the occasion!
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