Strong Coffey fires Atlanta to 24-point win

• 2025 Townsville Fire import Nia Coffey had an 18-point double-double for Atlanta
• Coffey was a key piece in the Fire's march toward the 2024-25 WNBL Grand Final Series against Bendigo Spirit
• Atlanta moves to 3-2 to start the season while Connecticut is yet to win

Former Townsville Fire import Nia Coffey came up big in (3-2) Atlanta Dream's hammering of (0-4) Connecticut Sun 79-55 at Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on Monday, May 26, 2025.

The Sun suffered their worst offensive performance of the season, managing just seven points in the fourth quarter.

Coffey, who helped the Fire make it into the 2025 WNBL Grand Final Series, finished with 18 points on 6-from-13 from the field in 26 minutes. She added 11 rebounds and four assists and was +9 in her minutes.

Key Details

• Result: Atlanta Dream 79 def. Connecticut Sun 55
• When: May 26, 2025
• Where: Gateway Center Arena, Atlanta
• Standings: Dream (#7) | Sun (#11)

By the Numbers

• Nia Coffey (Atlanta) starred with 18 points, 11 rebounds, and four assists in 26 minutes.
• Marina Mabrey (Connecticut) scored 12 points, and had 10 rebounds and four assists in 34 minutes.

What Happened

The Dream established control early, leading 21-16 after the first quarter and maintained a slim 37-33 advantage at halftime. Atlanta broke the game open in the third quarter, outscoring Connecticut 26-15 to build a commanding 63-48 lead heading into the final period.

Connecticut's offense completely collapsed in the fourth quarter, managing just seven points as Atlanta pulled away for a convincing 24-point victory. The Sun's offensive woes were highlighted by their dismal 31.3 per cent shooting from the field (21-from-67).

Allisha Gray matched Coffey's 18 points for Atlanta, while Maya Caldwell added 12 points, six assists and two steals. Rhyne Howard contributed a well-rounded performance with 11 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one block despite shooting just 4-from-17 from the field.

For the Sun, Marina Mabrey led with 12 points but struggled with her shot, going 4-from-14 from the field. Tina Charles and Olivia Nelson-Ododa each added 11 points, with Nelson-Ododa also contributing two blocks in limited minutes.

The Dream's dominance on the glass proved decisive, out-rebounding the Sun 52-34. Atlanta's bench also outperformed Connecticut's reserves, contributing 12 points compared to the Sun's 15, despite Connecticut relying more heavily on their bench players. Naz Hillmon was particularly effective off the bench for Atlanta, providing seven points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks in 29 minutes, finishing with a game-high +27 plus/minus rating.