Brittney Griner and the Atlanta Dream reinforced their status as strong championship contenders with a commanding 79-63 win against the Golden State Valkyries on Sunday. The Dream improved to a 21-12 record, holding the second-best position in the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/basketball/wnba/”>WNBA, having won seven of their last eight games and eight of their last ten, demonstrating momentum late in the season.
Returning from a neck injury, Griner came off the bench—an unusual role for the 10-time WNBA All-Star who has never before appeared as a substitute in her 12-year professional career. Restricted to limited minutes in her four games since August 10, she contributed eight points on 4-of-7 shooting and grabbed six rebounds over 15 minutes of play on Sunday.
Following the game at Chase Center, Griner shared a striking Instagram post from her in-game action, capturing the mixed emotions her performance elicited from fans and critics alike.
Get a whole lot of love, get a lilâ bit of hate ð¥±,
—Brittney Griner, Atlanta Dream star
Golden State Valkyries Struggle to Sustain Winning Streak
The Valkyries, coming off a historic and dominant 90-59 victory over the Chicago Sky on Friday that marked them as the most successful first-year expansion team in WNBA history, found it difficult to maintain their winning form against Atlanta. The two teams were level at 25-25 by halftime, but the Dream outpaced Golden State by a combined 16 points in the second half, especially with a decisive third quarter.
At 18-16, the Valkyries hold a narrow margin above the playoff bubble, standing just one-and-a-half games ahead of the Seattle Storm for the league’s eighth and final postseason spot. The standings remain tight, with the Storm, Los Angeles Sparks, and Washington Mystics all clustered within half a game, making every remaining matchup critical for playoff qualification.
The Valkyries are scheduled to face Griner’s former team, the Phoenix Mercury, at the Chase Center on Monday night in what promises to be a pivotal game for their playoff aspirations. Currently, Golden State trails the Indiana Fever by just half a game for the sixth seed, putting additional pressure on their remaining contests.
Impact on Season and Playoff Prospects
The Dream’s win also secured the regular season series against the Valkyries, 2-1. Atlanta won the opening game 90-81 on July 7, lost a close second meeting 77-75 on July 27, and now clinched the latest showdown with authority. Should the playoffs start today, the two teams would face off in the first round with Atlanta as the No. 2 seed and Golden State as the No. 7 seed.
This matchup adds another layer of intrigue to the postseason picture as Brittney Griner’s WNBA comeback impact continues to be felt, not only in the Dream’s improved record but also in the way she elevates the team’s presence on the court despite ongoing minutes management after her injury.
As the Dream push deeper into a playoff run, and the Valkyries fight to secure their place in the postseason, the coming weeks will be critical in defining the competitive landscape of the WNBA’s final stretch.