WNBA Game Preview: Phoenix Mercury (16-10) vs. Atlanta Dream (16-11)

Game Details

Date: Friday, August 1, 2025

Time: 7:30 PM ET

Venue: Gateway Center Arena, College Park, GA

Broadcast: ION, WNBA League Pass

Season Series: Atlanta leads 1–0

Team Overview & Momentum

Phoenix Mercury (16–10)

Conference Standing: 3rd in Western Conference

Recent Form: Lost 4 of last 5 games

Last Game: Lost to Indiana Fever 107–101

Key Players:

Alyssa Thomas: 32 points, 15 rebounds, 7 assists vs. Fever; averaging 18.4 PPG, 9.2 APG, 8.3 RPG

Satou Sabally: 17.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG

Kahleah Copper: 15.9 PPG, 4.3 RPG

Strengths:

83.8 points per game (4th in WNBA)

9.6 made 3-pointers per game (2nd in WNBA)

Injury Report: No major injuries listed

Atlanta Dream (16–11)

Conference Standing: 4th in Eastern Conference

Recent Form: Won 3 of last 4 games

Last Game: Beat Dallas Wings 88–85

Key Players:

Allisha Gray: 18.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.9 APG

Naz Hillmon: Averaging 8.0 PPG off the bench; scored season-high 21 vs. Wings

Brittney Griner: 17 points, 8 rebounds vs. Mercury in last meeting

Strengths:

3rd in offensive efficiency

League-best defensive rebounding rate

Injury Report: Rhyne Howard (knee) – out

Head-to-Head Matchup

Date	Result	Location
July 23	Dream 90–79	Phoenix
August 1	TBD	Atlanta

Win Probability: Mercury 58.7%, Dream 41.3

Key Stat: Dream outscored Mercury 42–24 in the paint last meeting

Key Storylines

Griner’s Homecoming: Brittney Griner faces her former team again after 11 seasons in Phoenix. She was dominant in the first meeting and could be a matchup nightmare for Mercury’s undersized frontcourt.

Thomas’ Triple-Threat Impact: Alyssa Thomas is averaging 26.3 points over her last 3 games and remains the Mercury’s engine on both ends.

Dream’s Depth Without Howard: Despite Rhyne Howard’s absence, Atlanta has surged thanks to Gray’s scoring and Hillmon’s bench production.

Rebounding Battle: Atlanta leads the league in defensive rebounding, which could neutralize Phoenix’s second-chance scoring.