<
>

Brionna Jones signs with Atlanta Dream after 8 years with Sun

Three-time All-Star Brionna Jones has signed with the Atlanta Dream, the team announced Saturday.

Jones spent her entire career with the Connecticut Sun, where she was selected No. 8 in 2017. She emerged as a critical frontcourt presence amid their run of six consecutive semifinal berths, along the way earning the 2021 Most Improved Player and 2022 Sixth Player of the Year awards.

The 6-foot-3 forward averaged 13.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game in 2024, her first season back after an Achilles tear that cut short her 2023 campaign.

"Brionna is one of the most consistent and dominant players in the world," Dream general manager Dan Padover said in a statement. "She's widely regarded as a phenomenal teammate and is a perfect fit with our core nucleus, both now and into the future. Her ability to impact the game in multiple ways, combined with her winning experience, will be invaluable as we continue building a championship-caliber team."

Jones was an unrestricted free agent and not core eligible, with the Sun using that designation on her in 2023 and 2024.

She is the second big free agent acquisition for Atlanta this offseason after also picking up 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner. Jones and Griner will link up with 2022 No. 1 overall pick Rhyne Howard, former lottery pick Allisha Gray and two-time all-defensive selection Jordin Canada.

Earlier this season, the Dream hired Karl Smesko from Florida Gulf Coast University to replace Tanisha Wright as coach after Atlanta suffered its second consecutive first-round postseason exit. The franchise is looking for its first playoff win since 2018.