Catching up with the Atlanta dream

You might be fooled into thinking that this is an Atlanta Hawks specific blog, but at Peachtree Hoops we are looking to change that notion.

With the WNBA schedule soon to begin – perhaps one of the most anticipated seasons in the league with a recent influx of exciting talent – ​​it’s time to take a look at the home team: the Atlanta Dream.

2023 (and earlier) season recap

2023 represented a huge step forward for the franchise. After a tumultuous few seasons in which former lottery pick Chennedy Carter was unceremoniously shipped out following a locker room altercation, the organization underwent a complete rebuild.

In 2021, a year that saw three head coaches take over from preseason to the end of the season, current head coach Tanisha Wright was hired. To provide an extra boost to the restart, the Dream nabbed the third overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft.

A subsequent trade then moved the Dream to first place, a spot where they drafted 2022 Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard. And in Howard’s second season, she led the Dream to a 19-21 record and a first-round game against the Dallas Wings last season.

Behind three All-Star selections, the Dream have established an identity as a long, active defensive team with a few star playmakers who can take over offensively when needed. Ultimately, their deficiencies at the point guard position contributed to last season’s demise – a two-game sweep at the hands of the Wings. But with a minor roster shakeup this offseason, the Dreams are once again looking to move toward the upper echelon of the league in 2024.

2024 Season Preview

Main contributors:

Rhyne Howard: The 2022 number one overall pick, 2022 Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Star once again looks to lead the Dream to the playoffs as the de facto face of the franchise. In just her second season, she averaged 17.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game on 39% shooting from the field and 35% shooting from three (52% shooting percentage live fire).

Howard has all the talent in the world: shooting on the move, self-creation and the ability to guard multiple positions primarily at the 3. If she can take the next step in her development, the sky is the limit for her and the team. .

Allisha Gray: Gray arrived from the Dallas Wings in a trade ahead of the 2023 season, and her immediate impact was felt in a big way. A capable shooting guard who can play the point in a pinch, his constant hustle is also seen in his ability to get to the rim in half-court and harass opposing guards with faithful on-ball defense. Gray averaged a career-high 17.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in his first All-Star season in 2023.

Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (formerly Parker): Parker-Tyus was the second Dream player to earn her first All-Star selection in 2023 along with Gray. With a series of dizzying post moves and the ability to stretch the court beyond the three-point line, Parker-Tyus’ scoring adds dynamism all over the court.

She moved from the 4 to the 5 almost full time last season, scoring 15.0 points on an efficient 55% true shooting percentage and grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game. At 6-foot-4, Parker-Tyus provides much-needed size and toughness to a somewhat undersized Dream frontcourt.

List lock (virtual):

Jordan Canada: Canada is a former two-time defensive all-star entering her age-28 season in the WNBA. The Dream acquired her via trade with Los Angeles after a breakout season in which she averaged 13.3 points, 6.0 assists and 2.3 steals per game. However, an injury to his right hand could prevent him from starting the season.

Nia Coffey: Coffey emits a two-way impact every minute she’s in the game. The closest thing to a pure “3-and-D” player on the roster, she shot over 40% from three last season and recorded more than a block per game in just 22 minutes of action per game. Coffey is expected to start at 4 with the departure of Monique Billings.

Air Powers: Aerial Powers is a 5-foot-11 wing who was signed as a free agent this offseason after last playing for the Minnesota Lynx. She will likely play an AD Durr type role as a microwave scorer off the bench.

Tina Charles: One of the greatest players in the history of the league returns to the Dream this year to mentor the young group. Charles is second all-time in rebounds and fourth in points in a WNBA career, but she still wants to prove she can do it at center during her age-35 season. This will be her 13th season in the league after sitting out last season, and she will most likely function as a veteran voice in the locker room.

Haley Jones: Jones is a tall, imposing point guard drafted sixth overall in 2023 out of Stanford. She uses her 6-foot frame to slide into the paint and create shots at the rim, and unsurprisingly, she also offers length and toughness on the other end. Although outside shooting hasn’t happened yet, his game still has layers of promise.

Naz Hillmon: What Hillmon may lack in size for her position, she makes up for and more in heart and hustle. The 6-foot-2 forward is a threat on the glass and finishes in the paint at a high level.

Laeticia Amiici: Amihere is yet another Gamecock on this list. A defensive Swiss army knife, she slowly develops her offensive potential with more and more repetitions on the ball.

(Apparently) fighting for the final guard position:

• Destanni Henderson
• Crystal Danger Field

Since Canada may not be ready for the opener on May 15 against the Los Angeles Sparks, the Dream could choose to go with one or both of the above names to team up with Haley Jones at time to start the season.

Henderson is a third-year player from South Carolina known for her sticky defense. She appears to fit the team’s identity under construction here, but is only on a non-guaranteed training camp contract at the moment.

Crystal Dangerfield was recently acquired from the Dallas Wings with a 2025 third-round pick. The four-year veteran is a dependable point guard who has already played with four different teams in her short time in the league.

The training camp invites:

• Lorela Cubaj
• Khadijiah Cave
• Khaalia Hillsman

These big three are vying for what appears to be the third center spot behind Parker-Tyus and Charles. Cubaj had a short stint with the Dream a season ago and spent her college career at nearby Georgia Tech, where she is arguably the greatest player in program history.

Major departures:

• Monica Billings
• Asia (AD) Durr
• Danielle Robinson
• Aari McDonald

Billings was the oldest dream and only holdover from the Nicki Collen regime (as well as the most recent playoff appearance for Atlanta). Billings signed a two-year contract with the Los Angeles Sparks this offseason. Asia (AD) Durr, a wing who provided scoring and ball handling off the bench, was released from restricted rights earlier this spring by mutual consent.

McDonald, a defensive specialist who has slowly improved her long-range shooting, was traded to the Sparks in the offseason. Robinson, a 12-year WNBA veteran, suffered injury issues in 2023 and is currently a free agent. Robinson and McDonald combined for 36 starts at point guard for Atlanta last season, but that tandem couldn’t produce at the level needed to put the Dream among the WNBA’s elite.

Overseas in 2024:

• Iliana Rupert
• Nyadiew Puoch
• Isobel Borlasé
• Villa Mathilde

Rupert, sister of NBA player Rayan Rupert, is a French international player with height and shooting at the center position. She plans to stay abroad before the 2024 Olympics.

In the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Dream have devoted their three draft picks to players who have overseas commitments for the upcoming season (and therefore won’t be rostered until 2025 at the earliest). Both Puoch and Borlase come from the Australian Women’s National Basketball League, a country and league where women’s football also proves very popular.

A plea for dream-driven writers

If you are interested in writing for Peachtree Hoops about the Atlanta dream, please let me know about a position with us. We are currently looking for talented and passionate writers to expand our coverage of our hometown WNBA team. Please contact me either on my Twitter/X account (link) or by direct email for any questions or interest in joining the team.