Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Atlanta Dream Coach Makes Opinion of Brittney Griner Clear After Benching

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Chris Phelps | Last updated Sep 16, 2025 6:46 PM ET

Brittney Griner and the No. 3 seed Atlanta Dream looked to be the first team in the second round, facing Aliyah Boston and the No. 6 seed Indiana Fever in Game 2 of the WNBA Playoffs series.

After 11 seasons with the Phoenix Mercury, Griner joined the Dream over the offseason and earned the starting center position right away. She started in 25 games before going down with a neck injury in August, forcing her to miss some time. Naz Hillmon stepped into the starting forward position while Brionna Jones slid to the center role, replacing Griner.

After missing several games, Griner returned, but Dream coach Karl Smesko chose to keep Jones in the starting lineup. Since then, Griner has come off the bench, including in Game 1 against the Fever, when she finished with two points and two rebounds in eight minutes. Jones, meanwhile, made the most of her playoff start, recording 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals in 31 minutes.

Still, despite her limited minutes, Smesko recognizes Griner’s importance to the team, particularly with her 6-foot-9 size down low. Before the game, he emphasized his confidence in the Dream’s bench players, including Griner.

“We have a lot of confidence with the players coming off our bench," Smesko said. "We know that BG can come in and have a big impact right away, and she’s somebody that requires a lot of attention when she catches it down low.”

Not only did Smesko have praise for Griner, but for Maya Caldwell and Te-Hina Paopao as well.

"We know that Paopao can really get things going from the perimeter, and you can't leave her at the 3-point line, and that helps create spacing for other people," Smesko added. "Maya and Nia, when they've come in, they've done such a really good job giving us positive minutes every time they get a chance."

Griner finished the regular season averaging career lows of 9.8 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. But her veteran leadership and championship experience go a long way.

If necessary, the Dream will return to Atlanta on Thursday for Game 3 against the Fever.

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

More must-reads: