Latest news with #BrittneyGriner
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9 hours ago
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Dream's Brittney Griner gets real on passing Lisa Leslie with latest milestone
The post Dream's Brittney Griner gets real on passing Lisa Leslie with latest milestone appeared first on ClutchPoints. All it took was one incredible block in the final moments of the fourth quarter of the Atlanta Dream's game against the Chicago Sky for Brittney Griner to further solidify her place among WNBA legends. With just 4:38 remaining in Friday's game, she thwarted Kamilla Cardoso's attempt at a second-chance layup, marking a significant milestone in her remarkable career that started with the Phoenix Mercury and now continues with the Dream. Advertisement That block was Griner's 823rd career rejection, officially moving her past Sparks legend Lisa Leslie into second place on the league's all-time list. Now, only Margo Dydek's 877 blocks stand between Griner and the top spot. Discussing her place in WNBA history after the game, Griner was honored to surpass Leslie, whom she considered an all-time great. 'Honestly, a lot of the accolades or stats don't mean that much to me,' Griner said via The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. 'But if there's one that does, it's the blocked shots. So to surpass Lisa, one of the all-time greats, is truly an honor. I'm proud to be in that second place. That one meant a lot to me. I'm thrilled about it. But I still have a few more to go before I catch Margo. So, the chase continues.' Griner finished the game with seven points, four rebounds, and three blocks. While her scoring was modest, her defensive presence was clear, which she has always prioritized. Advertisement 'I want to prevent the other team from scoring and make it tough for them to drive to the basket. When they see me coming, they often choose to go the other way or take a bad shot,' she explained. 'That's always been a major focus for me. Defense is what wins championships. You won't always shoot well, so defense is everything.' Before the game, Griner received her gold medal ring for helping Team USA win at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The moment was significant to her. 'Yeah, getting the ring tonight was special for me,' she said. 'I've mentioned it before, but my situation made me uncertain about even being in the U.S. at that time, let alone representing my country again. So that meant the world to me. My dad has represented our country abroad before, and that's something significant for my family and me. Being able to do it here, surrounded by my teammates and family, was truly a special experience.' While Griner hit an impressive milestone, Rhyne Howard stole the spotlight for the Dream on the scoreboard. She scored 36 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, and provided 4 assists, all while sinking a franchise-record nine three-pointers, tying a WNBA single-game record in the process. Advertisement On a night filled with achievements, Atlanta's impressive 88-70 victory over the Sky featured both Dream history and excitement. Related: Rhyne Howard drops 'dangerous' take on Dream's potential for remainder of season Related: Dream's Rhyne Howard goes off for WNBA record, career-highs in gritty win over Sky
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9 hours ago
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Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner joyfully reunite before Liberty-Dream clash
The post Natasha Cloud, Brittney Griner joyfully reunite before Liberty-Dream clash appeared first on ClutchPoints. The New York Liberty and Atlanta Dream both have serious ambitions this season, and earning a win in Tuesday's showdown should bring them a little closer to fulfilling them. On this night, the defending champions reigned supreme, pulling out an 86-81 home victory. Advertisement But before charging into battle in the Barclays Center, two ex-teammates gleefully reconnected on the court. Liberty guard Natasha Cloud leaped up to hug Dream center Brittney Griner, via Atlanta's official X account. Although the two former champions played only one season together on the Phoenix Mercury, they clearly formed a special bond. Griner and Cloud are each hoping for a better conclusion to the WNBA campaign, following a first-round playoffs exit at the hands of the Minnesota Lynx last year. The former is a Mercury legend who helped the franchise win a championship in 2014, but she felt it was time to move on after a decade-plus in The Desert. Cloud is also enjoying her new environment, serving a key role on a Liberty squad that currently owns the second-best record in the league. Coincidentally, both talents recently achieved huge milestones. Griner passed WNBA trailblazer Lisa Leslie for the second-most blocks ever, and Cloud jumped into ninth on the all-time assists list. They are putting those exquisite individual skills to good use on their new squads. Griner is averaging 1.4 rejections with the Dream, while Cloud posts 6.1 assists per contest. Advertisement Neither player is producing a ton of offense at this point of their respective careers, which was also the case in this latest matchup, but they can bring invaluable defensive intensity. Based on where New York (10-1) and Atlanta (8-4) currently sit in the WNBA hierarchy, these additions are already paying dividends. Though, Phoenix is doing just fine in its own right. The revamped Mercury are 8-4, now tied with the Dream for fourth place. Despite weathering significant offseason departures, the squad is in prime playoff position. It will be interesting to see where these three franchises wind up when it is all said and done. Related: Liberty get major Jonquel Jones injury update for Dream clash Related: Natasha Cloud surpasses WNBA legend despite loss to Fever
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9 hours ago
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Liberty's Breanna Stewart shatters WNBA record in performance vs. Mercury
The post Liberty's Breanna Stewart shatters WNBA record in performance vs. Mercury appeared first on ClutchPoints. Breanna Stewart made WNBA history during Thursday's matchup between the New York Liberty and Phoenix Mercury. Advertisement In 37 minutes of action, Stewart finished with a stat line of 35 points, three rebounds, three steals, and two assists. She shot 11-of-17 from the field, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc, and 10-of-11 from the free-throw line. Stewart made history in the process, per StatMuse. She broke a tie with Brittney Griner and A'ja Wilson for the most 30-point games on 60% shooting from the field in WNBA history. What's next for Breanna Stewart, Liberty John Jones-Imagn Images Despite Breanna Stewart's historic efforts, the Liberty were unable to get past the Mercury in an 89-81 loss. New York had a 65-64 lead going into the fourth quarter. However, Phoenix outscored them 25-16 in the last 10 minutes to stun the hosts and secure the road win. The Liberty lost Jonquel Jones due to injury, leaving the squad short by one starter as the Mercury took advantage. Advertisement New York struggled with Phoenix's physicality on the glass, losing the rebounding battle 42-32. The hosts also failed to protect the ball, committing 19 turnovers as they proved to be costly down the stretch. Only two players scored in double-digits on New York's behalf, including Stewart. Sabrina Ionescu had a rough shooting night against the Mercury's defense. She had 16 points, six rebounds, six assists, and three steals but shot 3-of-16 overall, including 1-of-10 from downtown. Natasha Clous came next with eight points and 10 assists, while Nyara Sabally provided seven points and seven rebounds. New York fell to 10-2 on the season, holding the top spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are two games above the Atlanta Dream and 3.5 games above the Indiana Fever. The Mercury will look to bounce back in their next matchup, being on the road. They face the Seattle Storm on June 22 at 7 p.m. ET. Related: Liberty's Jonquel Jones suffers injury scare vs. Mercury Related: How Nyara Sabally's EuroBasket decision is already paying off for the Liberty
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10 hours ago
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Mercury Campaigns WNBA Star's Case For the MVP Award
Mercury Campaigns WNBA Star's Case For the MVP Award originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Phoenix Mercury star Alyssa Thomas has accomplished a lot in the WNBA. However, two accolades are still missing in her resume: a championship and an MVP award. This season, Thomas is playing for a new team and has a chance of winning both in her first year. Advertisement The Mercury are in a good position with a 10-4 record. The team's performance has been a surprise, especially since Diana Taurasi retired and Brittney Griner was traded. Phoenix has a new star trio with Thomas, Kahleah Copper and Satou Sabally. Given that Thomas has the most experience, she has set a standard that the entire team has followed. Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas shoots a free throw against the New York Jones-Imagn Images On Thursday, Thomas played an important role in Mercury's 89-81 victory over the New York Liberty. Against the defending champions, she kept her double-double streak alive. The former Connecticut Sun forward had 18 points and 15 rebounds and seven assists in the box score. Advertisement After recording her fifth-straight double-double, the Mercury campaigned for Thomas to be in the MVP conversations. "FIFTH CONSECUTIVE DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR THE ENGINE 🔥" the Mercury posted. "SIXTH double-double of the season in only NINE games played. "If you don't mention Alyssa Thomas, it's not an MVP conversation." In the recent WNBA MVP odds by DraftKings sportsbook, Thomas isn't part of the top three players favored to win the award. Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier, Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark and Liberty's Breanna Stewart are the top-three favorites to win. With her continued streak of scoring, rebounding and passing, there's a chance the WNBA will eventually notice Thomas. The five-time All-Star is averaging 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 9.3 assists. She's proven to be an important piece in the Mercury's success as they try to contend for the championship this year. Advertisement Related: WNBA Sends Message to Mercury Rookie's Career Night vs. Liberty This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
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2 days ago
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How to watch Atlanta Dream games: Allisha Gray, Brittney Griner lead WNBA 2025 sleeper squad
While the Hawks and Falcons are in offseason mode and the Braves have stumbled well below .500, locals should lock in with the upstart Atlanta Dream. Star additions Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones have remade the interior defense. Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard are balling around the perimeter. And the 2025 team has won eight of its first dozen games, a huge relief after six consecutive losing seasons. Welcome to Atlanta, where the players play. Advertisement Here's the thing, though … tracking WNBA broadcast rotations, streaming changes and those maddening blackout rules can undercut the impeccable vibes. Accordingly, we'll use this space to review the remaining national TV schedule and explain how to access the regional games. First, make sure to follow the Dream and the WNBA on . Senior writer Chantel Jennings is an integral voice in women's basketball. Sabreena Merchant and Ben Pickman each cover the W with passion, from power rankings and bench observations to in-depth feature reporting on key players. How to stream Atlanta Dream broadcasts in market Fubo (try for free) Fubo is a cable-cutting streaming platform that offers local and national channels, along with add-on sports packages. Any regional game on Gray Media can be streamed with Fubo, along with the national ones on ESPN, ABC, CBS, ION and NBA TV. Advertisement What you need to watch these games: the 'pro' plan is $84.99 per month, with an additional charge for 4K Ultra HD WPCH/PSN (Gray Media) Every team has a regional sports network, or an RSN, that carries local matchups. Aside from the nationally televised action, all Dream games are on WPCH (Peachtree TV) and PSN (Peachtree Sports Network). Angel Gray is back on play-by-play for her fifth straight season. She was previously the voice of the Los Angeles Sparks and called some prime-time women's hoops on ESPN. Gray hails from Stone Mountain, Ga., approximately 25 miles from the team's College Park venue and even closer to State Farm Arena in the city proper. Tabitha Turner-Wilkins, a former four-year letterer at Georgia Tech, holds down color commentary and analysis. The effervescent Autumn Johnson reports back to them from the sidelines. Advertisement What you need to watch these games: Fubo, DirecTV Stream (starting at $84.99 monthly), or YouTube TV (starting at $82.99 monthly) How to watch the regional broadcasts on cable or satellite Peachtree is available on Dish Network and DirecTV as channel 17. Xfinity and Spectrum carry it as channel 7. Better still, these games can be watched free over the air at 17.1 (WPCH) and 17.2 (PSN). What you need to watch these games: a broadcast antenna or a cable provider with WPCH / PSN Remaining regional games: June 24 at Dallas Wings July 3 vs. Seattle Storm July 7 vs. Golden State Valkyries July 13 at New York Liberty Advertisement July 16 at Chicago Sky July 29 vs. Golden State Valkyries Aug. 21 vs. Minnesota Lynx Sept. 1 at Connecticut Sun Sept. 3 vs. Los Angeles Sparks Sept. 5 vs. Los Angeles Sparks Sept. 8 vs. Connecticut Sun Sept. 10 at Connecticut Sun How to stream out-of-market games WNBA League Pass is the painless answer for all Dream fans outside of the designated Atlanta territory. A subscription covers every out-of-market regional broadcast for the regular season. Blackout restrictions are still in effect (sadly), but local fans can replay a game the following day. Nationally televised matchups are also blacked out on the app. Advertisement What you need to watch these games: WNBA League Pass ($12.99/month or $34.99 for the 2025 season) How to watch the national TV games ESPN Ryan Ruocco is the primary play-by-play anchor for ESPN's WNBA programming. His call is punchy and controlled, and his love for the game bleeds through the screen. Ruocco has sharpened his product with the MLB's New York Yankees and the NBA's Brooklyn Nets, and he's narrated some of the modern classics in women's March Madness. His signature refrain, 'you bet!,' gets Caitlin Clark fired up. UConn legend Rebecca Lobo does color commentary. She played center for the Huskies during their first perfect season and 1995 national title crowning. The Hall of Famer suited up for the inaugural New York Liberty campaign in 1997 and played for the Connecticut Sun, plus the now-defunct Houston Comets and Springfield Spirit. Holly Rowe is the lead sideline reporter; she talks to players and coaches after the final buzzer. Advertisement The network's second team features Pam Ward, LaChina Robinson and the Dream's own Angel Gray. Hello again, fateful friend! Some games will be broadcast on ESPN3, a live streaming platform within ESPN's digital products (the app, the website, etc.). What you need to watch these games: a TV plan with ESPN or an ESPN+ standalone subscription, which includes ABC games (starting at $11.99 per month or $119.99 annually) Dream games on ESPN (and ESPN+): June 22 vs. Chicago Sky (ESPN3) June 29 vs. New York Liberty (ESPN3) July 22 at Las Vegas Aces July 30 at Dallas Wings (ESPN3) Aug. 3 vs. Washington Mystics (ESPN3) Advertisement Aug. 13 at Seattle Storm (ESPN3) ABC There are a record 13 regular-season WNBA games on ABC this season, plus the 2025 All-Star Game. Conference finals and Finals play will be split between ABC and ESPN, which share the same ownership in Disney. The aforementioned ESPN talents are on the mic here, too. The ABC/ESPN pregame programming is called 'WNBA Countdown,' and it's a thoroughly radiant affair. Women's hoops expert Elle Duncan is the host. Alongside her is Chiney Ogwumike, the two-time WNBA All-Star who played for Connecticut and Los Angeles. It'll be especially fun when ABC or ESPN gets a Seattle game this summer — Chiney's sister, Nneka, now plays for the Storm after a decorated career with the Sparks. Advertisement Rounding out the 'big three' is Andraya Carter. She shone during the 2024 NCAA championship broadcast and was among the last players to sign with Tennessee coach Pat Summitt. Other recurring personalities are Malika Andrews (host of 'NBA Today'), Monica McNutt (studio for the NBA's New York Knicks) and Carolyn Peck (Hall of Fame coach with a national title at Purdue). What you need to watch these games: a broadcast antenna or a TV/streaming plan that includes ABC Dream games on ABC (and ESPN+): none remaining CBS/CBS Sports Network For the second straight year, CBS is showing eight regular-season WNBA matchups. This channel's 2024 rookie duel between Caitlin Clark's Fever and Angel Reese's Sky was the league's most-watched game in 23 years. CBS Sports will have an additional dozen broadcasts. Commentators include Lisa Byington (voice of the Sky and the Milwaukee Bucks) and Jordan Kent (a three-sport collegiate athlete who played in the NFL and previously did play-by-play for the Portland Trail Blazers). Advertisement What you need to watch these games: a TV or streaming plan with CBS or a Paramount+ standalone subscription (starting at $7.99/month) Dream games on CBS/CBS Sports Network: July 23 at Phoenix Mercury (CBSSN) Aug. 23 vs. New York Liberty ION The Scripps network features Friday night doubleheaders to kick off each summer weekend. ION also has a WNBA studio show set in Atlanta. Cable vet Larry Smith is the host, and Peachtree reporter Autumn Johnson shows up here as well, alongside fellow analyst Meghan McKeown Wallace. The Dream have a lot of ION broadcasts coming up, and fittingly, most of them are at home. Advertisement What you need to watch these games: a broadcast antenna or a TV/streaming plan that includes ION through ABC Dream games on ION: June 20 vs. Washington Mystics June 27 vs. Minnesota Lynx July 11 at Indiana Fever Aug. 1 vs. Phoenix Mercury Aug. 15 vs. Seattle Storm (Rogers Arena in Vancouver, B.C.) Aug. 29 vs. Dallas Wings Sept. 5 vs. Los Angeles Sparks Prime Video Amazon's streaming services host several WNBA broadcasts as it expands into the sports multiverse. Prime Video also has the July 1 final of the in-season Commissioner's Cup. What you need to watch these games: an Amazon Prime subscription (which starts at $14.99 per month or $139 annually) Advertisement Dream games on Prime Video: Aug. 7 at Chicago Sky NBA TV In a cross-promotion, the NBA's in-house channel simulcasts WNBA showcases throughout 2025. What you need to watch these games: a TV/streaming plan with NBA TV or WNBA League Pass Dream games on NBA TV: July 27 at Minnesota Lynx Aug. 10 at Phoenix Mercury Aug. 17 at Golden State Valkyries Aug. 19 at Las Vegas Aces Aug. 27 vs. Las Vegas Aces Franchise leaderboard Minutes — Angel McCoughtry with 8,235 Points — Angel McCoughtry with 5,468 Rebounds — Sancho Lyttle with 1,877 Assists — Angel McCoughtry with 860 Steals — Angel McCoughtry with 597 Blocks — Elizabeth Williams with 331 Advertisement Made 3s — Tiffany Hayes with 325 Streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Atlanta Dream, WNBA, Sports Betting, Fubo Partnership 2025 The Athletic Media Company
