NFLBy: Nick Andre
The WNBA season has arrived. To tell the truth, this is the best time of the year. The weather is transitioning to summer with hot temperatures. We also get to witness the best women’s basketball players compete on a nightly basis. Heading into this WNBA season, there are a few teams who have big expectations to perform well. One of those teams is the Atlanta Dream as they look to remain in playoff contention.
Dream fans would call last year a failure. That is ironic to say considering they found a way to sneak into the playoffs. However, the Dream regressed in 2024 compared to the year before. They barely snuck into the playoffs and were swept in the first round by the future champion New York Liberty. Due to last year’s failures, the Dream front office made adjustments by bringing in a new head coach along with new talent.
The Dream were one of the standout teams during free agency this off-season. Their biggest signing was acquiring former WNBA champion Brittney Griner from the Phoenix Mercury. Certainly, it hurt the Dream as they had to say goodbye to both Tina Charles and Cheyenne Parker-Tyus, who both left in free agency. Luckily, what better player to replace your two frontcourt talents with one of the best centers in the WNBA?
It was time for a change for Brittney Griner. She gave her blood, sweat, and tears to the Mercury organization which resulted in a Hall of Fame tenure. However, with the various changes that took place with the team, it was time for Griner to say goodbye. What better place to revamp your career than in Atlanta? Griner is joining a young and fun team that plays at a high level and wants to improve moving forward.
I get it. This isn’t prime Brittney Griner who helped the Mercury win a championship in 2014. Some people will tell you that she has become a shell of herself in recent years. I’m here to tell you that I disagree. Sure, Griner isn’t the same dominant force that she was in the past. However, she still provides qualities that can help this team succeed.
What a Dream fan will see this season is a much improved Brittney Griner on the offensive end. Throughout her career, Griner has always been an excellent offensive talent. She’s great at positioning herself to score around the rim while also stepping out and knocking down mid-range shots. However, Dream head coach Karl Smesko is looking to challenge Griner on the offensive end. One of the ways is to space the floor and knock down three-point shots.
We’ve seen Griner occasionally make three-pointers in the past. However, she’s never had a season where she’s averaged one attempt per game. As I said, this will be a new challenge for Griner moving forward. Her ability to knock down perimeter shots will open up the floor by stretching the defense outside of the paint alongside creating driving lanes and opportunities for players to cut to the rim.
During the preseason, Griner showed comfort in knocking down the three-ball. In the Dream’s win over the Washington Mystics, she made both of her three-point attempts as she finished with 16 points. Playing next to dynamic players like Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, and others will allow Griner open opportunities to shoot. Griner can be utilized as a spot-up shooter while also playing in the pick-and-pop to get open looks.
As the season progresses, the opposing team’s defenses will have to respect the shooting of Brittney Griner. For years, their game plan was to limit easy opportunities for her inside the paint. Adding a three-point shot will make Griner more of a matchup nightmare as she will torch defenders in multiple ways.
