Its been a busy off season as the Atlanta Dream gear up for training camp which begins in less than a week. Atlanta has a lot to look forward to coming off a 12-22 2017 season. There are plenty of fresh faces on the court, in the office and a returning Olympian who will certainly have a playoff run in her forefront of her mind.
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Draft Success
Despite not having a first round pick, a last second trade of Bria Holmes to Connecticut allowed Atlanta the chance to secure UCLA’s Monique Billings as the overall No. 15 selection in the 2018 WNBA draft. Billings easily could have been a first rounder, and they were certainly shocked to still have her as an option at that point in the draft. The 6-foot-4 forward averaged 15.3 points per game and 9.5 rebounds this year for the Bruins.
The highly athletic forward brings length on the defensive end of the floor. She runs the floor exceptionally well and is used to a high paced system in transition, which fits well into the Dream’s personnel. Atlanta also added an aggressive rebounder
Atlanta also added Baylor point guard, Kristy Wallace as the No. 16 pick in the draft. Wallace will miss the 2018 season due to a knee injury at the end of her senior season. The 5-foot-11 Australian point guard averaged 13 points per game this season and is one of three players in Baylor’s history to record over 500 assists.
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Angel’s Return:
McCoughtry was drafted No. 1 overall in the 2009 WNBA draft by the Dream and has been the face of the franchise since. She opted out of the 2017 WNBA season to rest but is back for this season and signed to a multi-year extension. The two-time Olympian averaged just under 20 points a game in her previous campaign.
Angel returning is… well everything. The Dream also return three All-Stars in Tiffany Hayes, Layshia Clarendon and Elizabeth Williams. A rested McCoughtry with a set of All Star of players around her, the Dream are in a good position to rebuild and regroup to get back to the playoffs.
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New Faces and Key Additions:
Nicki Collen takes over as head coach of the Dream and Chris Sienko as general. Collen spent the previous two seasons with the Connecticut Sun compiling a 21-13 record alongside head coach Curt Miller.
Without a first round pick, a majority of changes and maneuvering took place through free agency signings. The Dream added veterans Renee Montgomery (Lynx) and Jessica Breeland (Sky) in free agency in early February.
Training camp beings on April 29th and the Dream open up against the Dallas Wings on Sunday, May 20th in Arlington, TX.
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