By Tiffany Williams –
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — The Connecticut Sun closed out their 2025 season Tuesday night with an 88-72 home loss to the Atlanta Dream, finishing the year at 11-33.
The Sun trailed by as many as 24 but fought back in the third to cut it to single digits before Atlanta slammed the door.
Marina Mabrey carried Connecticut with 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting, including a perfect 4-for-4 from deep. She wrapped her year with nine 20-point games, matching her career high from last season.
Veteran Tina Charles made history despite a quiet night, scoring nine to set a new single-season franchise scoring record with 700 points, eclipsing DeWanna Bonner’s 2023 mark of 697. It also marked the most points of her 14-year WNBA career.
Rookie Saniya Rivers added 16 points, five assists, and one steal, finishing her debut campaign with 100 stocks — the only rookie to do it this season, joining elite company in A’ja Wilson, Gabby Williams, Napheesa Collier, Alanna Smith, and Ezi Magbegor.
Fellow rookie Aneesah Morrow posted 11 points and 10 boards for her eighth double-double, closing her year with at least 300 points and 280 rebounds — just the second rookie in franchise history to hit that mark, alongside Charles.
The Dream, who got 17 apiece from Rhyne Howard and Brittney Griner, opened with a 31-13 first-quarter blitz and never looked back. Atlanta shot 54.1% from the floor and 37% from three, outscoring the Sun’s bench 34-10.
Connecticut hit only 3 of 20 from deep and 35.6% overall, but won second-chance points 16-12 and fast breaks 11-2.
Atlanta’s 30th win secures at least the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. A Las Vegas loss tomorrow would bump them to the No. 2 seed.