Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream is a women's professional basketball team from the Atlanta metropolitan area, competing in the Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Established in 2008, the team's inaugural head coach and general manager, Marynell Meadors, secured several notable players during the 2008–2009 offseason, including Sancho Lyttle, Nikki Teasley, Chamique Holdsclaw, Angel McCoughtry, and Michelle Snow. These acquisitions were instrumental in propelling the Dream to their first playoff appearance in 2009.

In the current 2023-24 season, the Atlanta Dream boasts a 50% win rate, with standout performances from key players Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.

Atlanta Dream History

The Atlanta Dream joined the WNBA as an expansion team in 2008, with their name honouring Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous "I Have a Dream" speech delivered in 1963. During the February 2008 expansion draft, the Dream selected 13 unprotected players from other WNBA teams, including notable additions such as guard Betty Lennox and forward-center Erika de Souza. Additionally, they acquired forward guard Iziane Castro Marques through a post-draft trade. Marynell Meadors was appointed as the team's inaugural head coach and general manager.

In their first season, the Dream struggled, securing only four victories. However, fortunes shifted when they selected forward-guard Angel McCoughtry as the top pick in the 2009 WNBA draft. McCoughtry's scoring ability played a crucial role in the team's turnaround, leading to an 18-16 record and their first playoff appearance in 2009, a season which also saw Meadors named Coach of the Year. The Dream clinched their first Eastern Conference title in 2010, earning a spot in the WNBA Finals, although they were ultimately defeated by the Seattle Storm.

The team continued their success by winning the Eastern Conference championships again in 2011 and 2013, though they fell to the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA Finals both years.

Atlanta Dream Owner

The Atlanta Dream is owned by real estate investors Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair, along with former Dream player Renee Montgomery. Despite sharing the Atlanta market with the NBA's Hawks, the Dream is an independent entity and not affiliated with its NBA counterpart.

Larry Gottesdiener is the visionary behind the long-term strategic direction of the Atlanta Dream. He focuses on providing high-level oversight and prioritizes investment in the players, the organization, and the community.

Suzanne Abair handles the day-to-day operations of the team, collaborating closely with Larry and Renee to ensure organizational goals are achieved. Additionally, Suzanne serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Northland, where she manages all aspects of the company's operations and leads various strategic initiatives.

Renee Montgomery, a native of West Virginia, boasts an impressive basketball career. She won three state championships in high school and graduated from UConn in 2009 as a two-time All-American, having played on an undefeated team that clinched a national championship that year. Drafted fourth overall in the WNBA, Renee went on to win two WNBA championships, earning All-Star honours and the Sixth Woman of the Year award during her 11-year professional career.

Atlanta Dream Jersey and Logo

The Atlanta Dream's logo features a prominent white "A" topped with a star, set against a dark grey shield. The design includes a red phoenix and a blue basketball. Typically, the team name appears above the shield in dark grey, but in this version, it is displayed in white against a dark background. This logo was first introduced for the 2022 WNBA season.

Atlanta Dream Home Stadium

The Gateway Center Arena at College Park is a versatile sports and entertainment facility. It offers 5,000 seats for events such as concerts and convocations, and 3,500 seats specifically for Atlanta Dream basketball games. The arena's distinctive design provides 360-degree views from any seat, ensuring an excellent experience for all attendees.

In addition to great sightlines, the arena features award-winning dining options that go beyond typical concession fare. There are four concourse-level concession stands: Southern Fried, The Hangar, Post Oak BBQ, and Tri-Cities Pizza. Each stand offers a variety of beer and wine, with full bar selections available at portable bar locations throughout the concourse.

Atlanta Dream Tickets and Broadcasting Details

At present, certain Atlanta Dream games are aired on Bally Sports Southeast and Bally Sports South. Additionally, some games receive national coverage on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, Ion Television, CBS, and CBS Sports Network.

Atlanta Dream Coaching Staff

Tanisha Wright became the fifth head coach in Atlanta Dream history ahead of the 2022 WNBA season, leading the team to its highest win total (14) since 2018. Her impressive first year earned her the Associated Press Coach of the Year award and a runner-up finish in the WNBA Kia Coach of the Year voting.

Wright's success was bolstered by a talented coaching staff, including Athletic Trainer Natalie Trotter, Video Coordinator and Scouting Director Sydney Durrah, Strength and Conditioning Coach Drew Williams, and Advisor Mike Petersen.

Atlanta Dream Famous Players

Rhyne Howard

Rhyne Howard, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, was the top pick in the 2022 WNBA draft by the Atlanta Dream. In her debut season, she started every game, posting impressive averages of 16.8 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. She earned the title of WNBA Rookie of the Year for 2022 for her outstanding performance. Howard has been a standout player for the franchise from the beginning and was selected as a WNBA All-Star in both 2022 and 2023.

During the 2023-24 season, Howard averaged 16.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.

Allisha Gray

Allisha Gray, a 6-foot-tall shooting guard, was selected by the Dallas Wings in the 2017 WNBA draft as 4th overall pick in round one. Renowned for her high three-point shooting accuracy and scoring prowess, Gray made an immediate impact, winning the 2017 Rookie of the Year Award. She also has international experience, having played for Elitzur Ramla in the Israeli League during the 2018-19 off-season. In 2023, Gray was traded to the Atlanta Dream, where she quickly became a key scorer for the team. In the 2024 season, she averaged 15.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.

Atlanta Dream Rivalries

The Dream clinched the Eastern Conference championship titles in both 2011 and 2013 but were defeated by the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA finals each time. This has fostered a well-known rivalry between the Dream and the Lynx. Consequently, whenever they face off in a regular season game, the atmosphere is charged and the intensity is at its peak.

Atlanta Dream Records and Stats

The Dream have made it to the WNBA Playoffs in eight of their thirteen seasons in Atlanta, advancing to the WNBA Finals three times. In 2010, they reached the Finals but were defeated by Seattle. They also fell short in the Finals against the Minnesota Lynx in both 2011 and 2013.