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What's next for the Dream? Finals loss starts WNBA offseason plans
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- What's next for the Dream? Finals loss starts WNBA offseason plans
SAN FRANCISCO ― The Atlanta Dream 's title push is over after a 68-65 loss to the Golden State Valkyries in Game 7 of the WNBA Finals on Saturday, Oct. 31, at the Chase Center.
Under head coach Karl Smesko , the Dream achieved consecutive 30-win seasons over the last two years and secured the No. 4 seed during this year's playoffs. Atlanta also had a top-ranked defense, finishing third overall in defensive rating (103.5) and first in steals (9.1 per game).
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The Dream opened the 2026 playoffs with a sweep in the first round over the Washington Mystics and followed it up with a semifinal sweep of the New York Liberty . The sweeps were part of a 10-game win streak Atlanta rode to the WNBA Finals. Golden State ended the Dream's winning streak with a Game 1 win during the title series and later walked away with its first championship.
With the Dream season ending, what's next? Here's what's on the horizon for Atlanta:
Will Angel Reese and Dream's core return in 2027?
In April, the Atlanta Dream traded for forward Angel Reese, adding her to the team's current core of Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, Brionna Jones and 2025 Sixth Player of the Year Naz Hillmon.
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Prior to Reese's arrival, Gray (three years, $3,700,000) and Howard (three years, $3,375,000) were extended. Jones (three years, $3,075,000) and Hillmon (three years, $2,550,000) also re-signed on three-year deals while Canada came back on a two-year contract. Gray, Howard, Jones and Hillmon are all under contract through the 2028 season. Canada (two years, $1,300,000) is under contract for next year, but will be a free agent again after the end of the 2027 season.
Reese, who just finished her third season, is on her rookie deal and is under contract through the 2027 season. Per Spotrac , Reese's 2026 salary was $350,692. In 2027, it's expected to be $396,282. However, because the Dream forward was named to the 2026 All-WNBA second team , she is eligible for a maximum contract in her fourth year under the league's new Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract (EPIC) provision.
"Bringing in somebody like Angel is special for us because she could be exactly what we are missing," Howard said in April. "Everybody else is obviously gonna do their part … to make sure that we're all on the same page, we're on the same train. We wanna win. We wanna win championships. We wanna do it for a long time."
What's going on with the health of Dream forward Brionna Jones?
Earlier this year, Brionna Jones signed a three-year deal to remain with Atlanta through 2028. However, this season, Jones made her 2026 debut on July 17 and played nine games after having offseason surgery on her right knee. In her return, she averaged 8.2 points on 51.9% shooting, 5.9 rebounds and two assists.
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On Sept. 17, Jones was ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 WNBA season with a left leg injury. The Dream announced that the 30-year-old forward is expected to make a full recovery.
On Aug. 13, the four-time WNBA All-Star left a game at Mohegan Sun early. In the second quarter, Jones slid over to help with defending Nell Angloma. Jones met Angloma in the paint and blocked her shot before Angloma could get it off. However, after the sequence, Jones almost immediately reacted. She was subbed out at the 8:56 mark and went to the locker room. Jones was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Jones is slated to play in Project B, an international basketball league, which begins its firt season in January.
"Once I start getting back on the court, (I have to remind myself) of who I am as a player and just being able to get back to that," Jones said in July . "That's something that I've had to remind myself of a little bit, just as I was getting started. But also giving myself grace of ― I'm not gonna be back to All-Star level just right away once I get back out there."
What is DeWanna Bonner's future with the Dream?
Forward DeWanna Bonner joined the Atlanta Dream in August after reaching a buyout with the Phoenix Mercury. The 17-year veteran averaged 8.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in five regular-season matchups. In the playoffs and WNBA Finals, Bonner has averaged 8.8 points and 4.4. rebounds across 10 contests, starting two as the team managed an Allisha Gray injury.
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"One thing about (DeWanna Bonner) she keeps it real, and she keeps us humble. That's what I can say, and you need that in the locker room, especially for myself," Angel Reese said. "This is my first time ever going to the [WNBA] Finals, and we were all happy. And, she was like, 'Y'all, I've been to the Finals and got swept before. Like, you can't get too high.'
"Those tough conversations in the locker room because we aren't satisfied. Like we want more, and I'm really grateful for her for that because she just pushes us to the next, next, next level."
It remains unclear if Bonner to the WNBA. The 39-year-old has largely sidestepped questions on retirement.
"I still feel like I'm playing great basketball. I still got a couple more games left. I think afterwards I'll make my decision, but I'm gonna do things right now," Bonner said in August."I do (feel like I could keep going). My body feels that way. My mind is still in it. I'm still having fun. I still want to try to kill everyone when I compete. I don't think you ever lose that."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What's next for the Dream? Finals loss starts WNBA offseason plans
