Atlanta faces Connecticut, aims for 5th straight home win #Atlanta #faces #Connecticut #aims #5th #straight #home #win

Connecticut Sun (16-6, 9-3 Eastern Conference) at Atlanta Dream (12-9, 7-6 Eastern Conference)

College Park, Georgia; Saturday, 1 p.m. EDT

BOTTOM LINE: Atlanta will try to keep its four-game home win streak alive when the Dream take on Connecticut.

Catherine Engelbert, commissioner of the WNBA, speaks at a news conference before basketball's WNBA All-Star Game on Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

As the WNBA tips off the second half of its season, add expansion to the list of topics on the minds of players and the league.

Indiana Fever forward Aliyah Boston (7) looks to shoot over New York Liberty forward Jonquel Jones (35) in the second half of a WNBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The Liberty defeated the Fever 95-87 in overtime. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Aliyah Boston just wanted to fit in as a WNBA rookie. Instead, her historic season has brought renewed hope and some desperately needed change to the Indiana Fever.

FILE - Las Vegas Aces' A'ja Wilson holds up the championship trophy as she celebrates with teammates after their win in the WNBA basketball finals against the Connecticut Sun, Sept. 18, 2022, in Uncasville, Conn. The Las Vegas Aces are having a historic season so far, but anything short of repeating as WNBA champions would be seen as a failure. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)

The Las Vegas Aces are on a historic pace heading into the second half of the season. With 19 wins in their first 21 games, the Aces sit atop the WNBA standings and have the top offense and defense in the league.

Phoenix Mercury's Brittney Griner, of Team Stewart, center, reacts as she is introduced before a WNBA All-Star basketball game Saturday, July 15, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Brittney Griner scored 18 points, including two dunks, in her return to the All-Star Game to lead Team Stewart to a 143-127 win over Team Wilson.

The Dream are 7-6 in Eastern Conference games. Atlanta is 6-6 in games decided by 10 points or more.

The Sun are 9-3 against Eastern Conference opponents. Connecticut is third in the WNBA averaging 7.2 made 3-pointers per game while shooting 37.1% from deep. DeWanna Bonner leads the team averaging 2.0 makes while shooting 36.3% from 3-point range.

The teams meet for the fourth time this season. The Sun won 82-71 in the last matchup on July 20. Natisha Hiedeman led the Sun with 24 points, and Rhyne Howard led the Dream with 22 points.

TOP PERFORMERS: Howard is averaging 18.8 points and 3.7 assists for the Dream. Allisha Gray is averaging 17.9 points over the last 10 games for Atlanta.

Bonner is averaging 18.1 points and 5.1 rebounds for the Sun. Alyssa Thomas is averaging 14.5 points over the last 10 games for Connecticut.

LAST 10 GAMES: Dream: 7-3, averaging 87.0 points, 38.4 rebounds, 20.1 assists, 7.9 steals and 5.0 blocks per game while shooting 44.7% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 84.6 points per game.

Sun: 7-3, averaging 85.2 points, 32.3 rebounds, 21.1 assists, 8.2 steals and 4.4 blocks per game while shooting 46.1% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 78.2 points.

INJURIES: Dream: None listed.

Sun: Brionna Jones: out for season (achilles).