The Atlanta Dream open their home schedule against the Indiana Fever on Thursday night. They unveiled a new court with the statement “Pay Some Respect to Women’s Sports” painted on it.

The Dream announced the initiative Wednesday. "Pay Some Respect to Women's Sports" will be emblazoned across center court for the Dream's home opener against the Indiana Fever. The game takes place Thursday at State Farm Arena. Afterwards, the court will be donated to a local youth organization.

The Atlanta Dream are back home. Beginning with Thursday night’s season opener against the Indiana Fever at State Farm Arena, the Dream will host consecutive home games over the Memorial Day weekend.

Griner flourished there as a two-time WNBA scoring leader and became one of the WNBA’s most recognizable stars. When she was detained in Russia for more than nine months in 2022, she was grateful that the Mercury helped raise awareness about her imprisonment and led outcries for her release.

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The new Atlanta Dream coach is finding his way by mixing his brand of basketball with a talented cast of versatile players.

The Dream season opener comes as the WNBA is seeing exponential increases in fan support and television viewership.

Cunningham, now with the Fever, has been sidelined with a right ankle injury suffered in preseason, ironically, against the Dream. Though she hasn't debuted for Indiana yet, her reunion with Griner was one of the night’s highlights, proving that some bonds go beyond team colors.