The Dream flamed out in the first round of the playoffs once again, but last season still showed glimpses of what the future could hold with a revamped roster centered around Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Brionna Jones. With the expected start date for the 2026 season fast approaching, Atlanta just got the worst news possible: Jones, who spent the offseason playing for USK Praha in Czechia, tore her meniscus and will have to undergo surgery.
ESPN’s Alexa Philippou reported that Jones is expected to be ready in time for the next WNBA season, but recovering from knee surgery is no easy thing. Even if Jones can play to start the season, she may not be at 100% for a while. If the Dream’s front office is worried about that limiting the team’s potential, it will have to chase an impactful forward to hold down the fort while Jones works her way back into her best shape. Jones is also an unrestricted free agent, but given the team’s success last season, it seems fair to assume that she will stick around.
Between Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, the Dream’s perimeter production is in good hands, but chasing an expansive forward would limit the team’s ability to re-sign Jordin Canada and make it just a little bit more difficult to find the right role players to round out the roster. Just re-signing Howard, Gray, Hillmon, and Jones will be expensive.
Plenty of free agents could turn the Dream into legitimate contenders
Nneka Ogwumike should be on top of the Dream’s list. She averaged 18.3 points, 7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals last season and shot 36.7% from three. With a rookie head coach and another lottery pick coming in, the Storm may be ready to pivot from trying to win with a veteran-heavy roster to building around their young stars. If that is the case, Ogwumike will likely look for a contender to join. The Dream could be just that.
Atlanta could also try to lure Alanna Smith away from Minnesota. With Napheesa Collier out for much of the 2026 season, depending on when it starts, the Lynx may not be a contender. The Dream could offer Smith a starting role and a chance to win, and she would provide excellent rim protection and solid 3-point shooting.
Azurá Stevens, who averaged 12.8 points, 8 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks for the Sparks last season, would also be an interesting target. She left Miami and Unrivaled as a much-improved 3-point shooter, which is exactly what the Dream need next to Jones.
If the Dream pursue another forward, Brittney Griner’s time with the team will likely be over. Griner signed with the team after 11 seasons with the Mercury and recorded career lows all across the board. She even came off the bench after a while because Naz Hillmon and her newfound 3-point shot were simply a better fit next to Jones.