Allisha Gray poured in 28 points and Brittney Griner added 17 points and eight rebounds against her former team as the Atlanta Dream defeated the Phoenix Mercury 90-79 on Wednesday night.
The night marked a poignant homecoming for Griner, who spent 11 seasons in Phoenix and helped lead the Mercury to the 2014 WNBA championship and the 2021 WNBA Finals. Before tipoff, the Mercury honored Griner with a tribute video highlighting her years of impact on and off the court in Phoenix. The emotional moment left Griner visibly moved, soaking in the love from the crowd and former teammates, including longtime friend Diana Taurasi, who sat courtside during the tribute.
Gray delivered another strong performance for Atlanta, scoring her 10th 20-point game of the season. She knocked down 10 of 16 shots and gave the Dream a comfortable 84-71 lead with just over three minutes remaining. Phoenix showed late life with back-to-back 3-pointers from Sami Whitcomb, cutting the deficit to seven, but Griner responded with a bucket in the paint to push Atlanta’s lead to 86-77 and seal the win.
Jordin Canada added 14 points and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough chipped in 11 for the Dream (14-10), who won for just the second time in five games. Atlanta was without Rhyne Howard, their second-leading scorer, due to injury.
Phoenix (15-8) saw the return of Satou Sabally and Kahleah Copper to the starting lineup after both missed time since July 3. Sabally scored 13, Copper added 10, and DeWanna Bonner led the Mercury with 18 points. Alyssa Thomas contributed across the board with seven points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.
Despite a cold shooting night—just 29.7% from the field and 3 of 15 from beyond the arc—Phoenix kept things close early, thanks in part to making all nine of their first-half free throws. Gray’s 13 first-half points helped Atlanta to a 39-34 edge at the break.
But the night belonged to Griner’s return—one marked not only by a win, but by heartfelt appreciation from the city that watched her grow into a WNBA icon.
