Angel Reese, Dream receive unfortunate news on Thursday

Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream are back in action on Thursday as they face the Connecticut Sun. It’s their first game after the WNBA’s FIBA World Cup; however, they received some unfortunate news about Brionna Jones.

Atlanta is fourth in the standings with a 26-14 record and with four games left. They are battling for a higher seed in the playoffs, with the Indiana Fever behind them only due to a tiebreaker. The Las Vegas Aces lead both teams by one full game.

Meanwhile, Reese is fresh off a gold medal-winning run with Team USA. She and the national team went undefeated in Berlin, winning all six games. The Americans brought home the world championship for the fifth straight time and the star forward played a key role. She contributed solid numbers consistently despite coming off the bench. The 24-year-old averaged 7.2 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals in the tournament.

Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) in the second half against the Indiana Fever at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Angel Reese’s Dream teammate will miss remainder of the season

The Dream announced on Thursday that Jones will miss the remainder of the season. She suffered a knee injury on Aug. 13 against the Sun. It’s a huge blow to the team as the 2022 Sixth Player of the Year produced solid numbers in limited playing time.

#Dream Brionna Jones will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after sustaining a left leg injury in the matchup vs. Connecticut Sun on 8/13. #Dream #WNBA pic.twitter.com/uhfJKcfm6A

— Wilton C. Jackson II (@WiltonReports) September 17, 2026

Jones entered the league as the eighth overall pick in 2017 by Connecticut. She played for the team until 2024 before signing with Atlanta in February 2025. The veteran forward re-signed with the franchise in April on a one-year deal. She is averaging 8.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 16.9 minutes. The 30-year-old appeared in only nine games after undergoing a meniscus surgery in March.

The Dream have clinched a playoff spot but the final seedings will be determined in the final week of the regular season. Reese and Co. could finish as high as No. 2 or as low as No. 8.