Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Dream Announce Historic News in Brittney Griner's First Season With WNBA Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Max Escarpio | Last updated Sep 9, 2025 11:39 AM ET

Brittney Griner is currently playing in her first season with the Atlanta Dream.

Griner is playing alongside some of the biggest stars in the WNBA, such as Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, following a long career with the Phoenix Mercury.

In the team's most recent matchup, the Dream earned their 29th win of the season.

According to Atlanta, Dream head coach Karl Smesko has earned the most-ever wins by a first-year head coach in WNBA history.

"HISTORY MADE," posted the official social media account of the Atlanta Dream. "Karl Smesko has earned his 29th win of the season — the most ever by a first-year head coach in WNBA history."

The Dream are sitting at 29-14 after defeating the Connecticut Sun 87-62.

HISTORY MADE!!

Karl Smesko has earned his 29th win of the season — the most ever by a first-year head coach in WNBA history.#DoItForTheDream | #COY pic.twitter.com/dI78ShDGE6
— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) September 9, 2025

Karl Smesko is coaching in his first season in the WNBA.

Before joining the Atlanta Dream as the team's head coach, Smesko served as the head coach at Florida Gulf Coast from 2002 to 2024.

While Smesko now holds the record for the most-ever wins by a first-year head coach, the previous record holder was Michael Cooper, who won 28 games with the Los Angeles Sparks in the 2000 season.

At the time of his tenure with the Sparks, the WNBA's regular season was 32 games as opposed to 44 games while Karl Smesko made his Atlanta Dream debut.

Brittney Griner has been a major boost to the Atlanta Dream during the WNBA season. She was moved to the bench later in the year but has clearly served as one of the most important pieces to Karl Smesko's success in his first year with the team.

Throughout the 2025 season with the Dream, Griner has posted 9.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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