Atlanta Dream

History

Joining the league

Before the success of the United States women's basketball team in the 1996 Olympic Games, the American Basketball League had an interest in placing a women's professional basketball team in Atlanta as early as 1995. Eight of the twelve Olympians played on ABL teams when the league began play in October 1996. The Atlanta Glory played at Forbes Arena and lasted two seasons before folding before the start of the 1998–99 season, which would be the ABL's final.

Atlanta had been mentioned as a possible future city for WNBA expansion, but efforts did not come together until the beginning of 2007 when an organizing committee with Atlanta businesswomen/men and politicians began the effort to attract an expansion team. The inability of the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA to draw crowds was a concern of the WNBA, and the committee kicked off an effort in February 2007 to gain volunteers and petition signatures. Philips Arena, The Arena at Gwinnett Center, and Alexander Memorial Coliseum were candidates for venues. By May 2007, the committee had over 1,000 pledges for season tickets, although the goal was 8,000 season tickets in ninety days. By July the committee had 1,200 commitments and began searching for an owner.

On October 16, 2007, it was reported that Ron Terwilliger, an Atlanta businessman and CEO of a national real estate company would be the future owner of an Atlanta franchise. The next day, at a news conference at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park, WNBA president Donna Orender announced that Atlanta would officially be granted a WNBA expansion franchise.

On November 27, 2007, Atlanta named Marynell Meadors, a coach with extensive experience at the college level, the first head coach and general manager in franchise history. This was Meadors' second role as a coach/general manager in the WNBA following a stint with the Charlotte Sting. Afterward, Meadors had served as a scouting director for the Miami Sol and had been an assistant coach under Richie Adubato and Tree Rollins for the Washington Mystics. Former NBA player Dennis Rodman volunteered his name as head coach for the Dream. Terwilliger declined, stating that he wanted someone with more coaching experience and he felt that the head coach should be a woman, as the WNBA was a women's league.

On December 5, 2007, an online contest was announced for people to vote on the team name and team colors, while the final choice rested with owner Ron Terwilliger. The names offered as choices were "Dream", "Flight", "Surge" and "Sizzle". On January 23, 2008, the team name was announced as the Dream, inspired by the famous speech of Atlanta native Martin Luther King Jr., and the team colors were sky blue, red, and white.

The Angel McCoughtry Era (2008–2019)

Not wanting a repeat of 2008, head coach and general manager Marynell Meadors acquired players such as Sancho Lyttle, Nikki Teasley, Chamique Holdsclaw, Angel McCoughtry, and Michelle Snow in the 2008–2009 offseason. In 2009, Atlanta reached the playoffs at 18–16, exceeding their previous record by 14 wins, but lost in the first round to the 2008 champion Detroit Shock in a sweep. After the season, their coach, Marynell Meadors, was awarded the Coach of the Year Award.

The Dream's owner, Ron Terwilliger, announced in August that he wanted to give up his position as the primary owner of the Atlanta franchise. On October 29, 2009, Kathy Betty took control of the team under the business entity Dream Too, LLC.

The 2010 season saw further improvement, finishing in fourth place in the Eastern Conference. The Dream then made it through the first two rounds of the playoffs and secured a trip to the WNBA Finals with a win over the New York Liberty, as they swept New York in two games in the Eastern Conference Finals. They eventually faced the best team in the league, the 28–6 Seattle Storm. Seattle took the first two games at home with two close wins. Seattle completed the sweep and won the series in Atlanta. Even though they were swept, the Dream did not lose any game by a margin of more than three points.

Addressing arguably Atlanta's biggest concern, the team traded for All-Star point guard Lindsey Harding prior to the 2011 season. Despite the addition, the Dream struggled to open the season, starting with a 2–7 record due to an injury that sidelined Angel McCoughtry and overseas commitments by Sancho Lyttle. The team then went on a run of 14 wins and 5 losses after the All-Star break. They carried that momentum into the playoffs, sweeping the Connecticut Sun and defeating the Indiana Fever to return to the WNBA Finals. However, they lost to the 27–7 Minnesota Lynx in three games.

During the 2011 season, Betty sold Dream Too LLC to local investors Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler.

The Dream started the 2012 season with a 12–12 record and fired head coach and general manager Meadors during a dispute with league-leading scorer Angel McCoughtry. Meadors was replaced by Fred Williams, finished with a 19–15 record, and lost in the first round.

Rebranding and Turmoil (2020–2021)

On October 18, 2019, the Dream unveiled an updated logo and color scheme, the first change to their branding since the team's inception in 2008.

Star Angel McCoughtry announced that she wasn't going to return to the Dream in the 2020 season – choosing to sign with the Las Vegas Aces. This began the transformation of the new look Dream. Tiffany Hayes and Renee Montgomery announced that they would be sitting out the "bubble" season, leaving Elizabeth Williams as the only starter coming back from the last two seasons. The Dream selected young star guard Chennedy Carter in the 2020 WNBA draft to start the rebuild.

The Dream played slightly better in 2020 compared to 2019, but still missed the playoffs with a 7-15 record and were the third worst team in the league. Shortly after the George Floyd protests began, the WNBA and players' union decided to put Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name slogans on warmup gear and opening weekend uniforms. By then, team owner Kelly Loeffler was a Republican U.S. Senator, and she criticized the league's support for Black Lives Matter. At the next game, Dream players wore black T-shirts with the slogan "VOTE WARNOCK," endorsing her election opponent Raphael Warnock, an African-American pastor who then defeated Loeffler. The players' union then demanded that Loeffler sell her stake in the team. A three-member investor group, including former Atlanta Dream guard Renee Montgomery, were approved to purchase the team in February 2021.

Collen seemed excited for the upcoming 2021, but left the Dream to go to Baylor about a week before the season began. The Dream promoted Mike Petersen to interim head coach, but he stepped down on July 24 for health reasons. Darius Taylor took over as interim coach through the end of the regular season.

Coaching changes weren't the only issue the Dream faced. Chennedy Carter was suspended on July 5, 2021, due to conduct detrimental to the team and never played again. The Dream's season once again put them at the bottom of the standings and missed the playoffs again. They went 8–24 during the year. Following the season, it was announced that Courtney Williams and Crystal Bradford would not be re-signed due to their roles in an altercation off the court. The league announced that they would be suspended for a couple games in the 2022 season.

The Rhyne Howard Era (2022–present)

Tasked with trying to turn the team around, the Dream hired Tanisha Wright as their new head coach on October 12, 2021. Wright had played in the league for 12 years and had most recently been an assistant under Bill Laimbeer of the Las Vegas Aces. Wright hired Christie Sides, Paul Goriss, and Barbara Turner to her staff in March of 2022.

The Dream also announced some new partners and sponsors for the upcoming season. Microsoft and Xbox were announced on April 5, 2022. The Dream also announced Emory Healthcare as the first-ever marquee jersey partner. The expanded partnership was put on display as the Emory Healthcare logo made its debut on the Dream's jerseys during the 2022 season.

The Dream began looking for their next face of the franchise and acquire the 1st Overall Pick in the 2022 WNBA draft from the Washington Mystics on April 6, 2022. They selected Rhyne Howard out of Kentucky as the 1st Overall Pick. Howard was a three-time AP All-America First Team selection, averaged 20.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists as a senior.

In 2025, the Dream signed 10-time All-Star Brittney Griner on a one-year deal.

2026 "Homegrown" Campaign and Nike Rebel Uniform Update

For the 2026 season, to coincide with the league-wide update of the Nike, Inc. Rebel Edition uniform updates, [[the Dream]] launched the "Homegrown" campaign. Tied to the uniform's new "bubble logo," the Dream has partnered with Monarch Commerce to offer a full lineup of apparel and accessories branded with the "atl" bubble logo, as well as a new "Homegrown" logos, which consist of a peach with a stylized "A" in addition to stylized "homegrown" wordmark logos. The new atl bubble logo is also featured prominently on the front of the new Rebel jerseys.

Arenas

The Dream played at Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta, shared with the Atlanta Hawks, from 2008 to 2016. In 2013, the team qualified for the WNBA Finals, but a scheduling conflict forced them to play home games at The Arena at Gwinnett Center, in suburban Duluth. Due to renovations to Philips Arena during the Hawks' 2017 and 2018 offseasons, the Dream played home games at McCamish Pavilion on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The team returned to the renovated and former Philips Arena, which was renamed State Farm Arena in 2018, for the 2019 season. Following the conclusion of the 2019 WNBA regular season, team officials indicated that the Dream would not be returning to State Farm Arena for the 2020 season, citing disagreements with the Hawks' management. The team announced on October 18, 2019, coinciding with their rebranding, they would move to the new Gateway Center Arena in nearby College Park for the 2020 season (later delayed to the 2021 season), sharing the arena with the Hawks' NBA G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.

Beginning in 2024, the Dream returned to State Farm Arena for select games, playing two games in 2024, one game in 2025, and five games in 2026.

Players

Former players

Kalani Brown (2020–2021), currently with the Phoenix Mercury

Izi Castro Marques (2008–2011)

Érika de Souza (2008–2015)

Katie Feenstra-Mattera (2008)

Lindsey Harding (2011–2012), currently an assistant coach of the Los Angeles Lakers

Chamique Holdsclaw (2009)

Ivory Latta (2008–2009)

Shalee Lehning (2009–2011)

Betty Lennox (2008)

Camille Little (2008), currently an assistant coach with the Dallas Wings

Sancho Lyttle (2009–2017)

Kristen Mann (2008)

Angel McCoughtry (2009–2019)

Coco Miller (2009–2011)

DeLisha Milton-Jones (2014–2015)

Shoni Schimmel (2014–2015)

Michelle Snow (2009)

Nikki Teasley (2008)

Coaches and staff

Owners

Ron Terwilliger (2008–2009)

Kathy Betty (2010)

Dream Too LLC, composed of Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler (2011–2021)

Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair, and Renee Montgomery (2021–present)

Executives

President & COO – Bill Bolen (2008–2009)

Co-owner & CEO – Kathy Betty (2010–2011)

CEO – Peter J. Canalichio (2012)

CEO – Ashley Preisinger (2012–2014)

President & CEO – Theresa Wenzel (2014–2016)

President & General Manager – Chris Sienko (2017–2021)

President & COO – Morgan Shaw Parker (2022–present)

General managers

Marynell Meadors (2008–2012)

Fred Williams (2012–2013)

Angela Taylor (2014–2016)

Chris Sienko (2017–2021)

Dan Padover (2021–present)

Media coverage and social media

All Dream games are broadcast across WANF-TV, WPCH-TV & Peachtree Sports Network (except for national exclusives).

Some Dream games are broadcast nationally on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC, Ion Television, CBS, NBC, Amazon Prime Video, USA, NBCSN, and NBA TV.

In late 2024/early 2025, the team gained publicity as a video of Angel Wiley (the stepson of Dream Co-Owner Renee Montgomery) dancing courtside at an Atlanta Dream game went viral on social media platforms Instagram and TikTok. The meme was dubiously nicknamed "chopped chin", in reference to the his elongated chin.

All-time notes

Regular season attendance

A sellout for a basketball game at State Farm Arena has differed slightly throughout its history:

18,729 from 2008 to 2011

18,371 in 2012

18,238 in 2013

18,118 in 2014

18,047 in 2015 and 2016

16,600 in 2019

17,044 in 2026

A sellout for a basketball game at McCamish Pavilion has been 8,600 since 2012, before the Dream temporarily moved in for 2017 and 2018.

A sellout for a basketball game at the Gateway Center Arena is 3,500 since 2021.

Draft picks

2008 Expansion Draft: Carla Thomas, Érika de Souza, Katie Feenstra, Roneeka Hodges, Ann Strother, LaToya Thomas, Kristen Mann, Ann Wauters, Jennifer Lacy, Kristin Haynie, Chantelle Anderson, Betty Lennox, Yelena Leuchanka

2008: Tamera Young (8), Morenike Atunrase (24), Danielle Hood (32)

2009 Houston Dispersal Draft: Sancho Lyttle (1)

2009: Angel McCoughtry (1), Shalee Lehning (25), Jessica Morrow (27)

2010 Sacramento Dispersal Draft: selection waived

2010: Chanel Mokango (9), Brigitte Ardossi (21), Brittainey Raven (33)

2011: Ta'Shia Phillips (8), Rachel Jarry (18), Kelsey Bolte (32)

2012: Tiffany Hayes (14), Isabelle Yacoubou (32, ineligible)

2013: Alex Bentley (13), Anne Marie Armstrong (31)

2014: Shoni Schimmel (8), Inga Orekhova (18), Cassie Harberts (20)

2015: Samantha Logic (10), Ariel Massengale (29), Lauren Okafor (34)

2016: Bria Holmes (9), Rachel Hollivay (13), Courtney Walker (16), Niya Johnson (28)

2017: Brittney Sykes (7), Jordan Reynolds (19), Oderah Chidom (31)

2018: Monique Billings (15), Kristy Wallace (16), Mackenzie Engram (27)

2019: Brianna Turner (11), Maite Cazorla (23), Li Yueru (35)

Trades

February 6, 2008: The Dream traded LaToya Thomas and the 18th pick in the 2008 WNBA draft to the Detroit Shock in exchange for Ivory Latta.

February 6, 2008: The Dream traded the fourth pick in the 2008 WNBA draft and Roneeka Hodges to the Seattle Storm for Izi Castro Marques and the eighth pick in the draft.

February 6, 2008: The Dream acquired the 24th pick in the 2008 WNBA draft from the Indiana Fever in exchange for agreeing not to select specific unprotected Fever players in the expansion draft.

April 9, 2008: The Dream traded Ann Wauters, draft rights to Morenike Atunrase, and a second-round pick in the 2009 WNBA draft to the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for Camille Little, draft rights to Chioma Nnamaka, and a first-round pick in the 2009 WNBA draft.

June 22, 2008: The Dream traded Camille Little to the Seattle Storm in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2009 WNBA draft.

July 4, 2008: The Dream traded Kristen Mann to the Indiana Fever in exchange for Alison Bales.

December 17, 2008: The Dream traded the 13th pick in the 2009 WNBA draft to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for the rights to Chamique Holdsclaw.

January 21, 2009: The Dream traded Alison Bales to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for the 18th pick in the 2009 Draft.

April 9, 2009: The Dream traded the 18th pick in the 2009 WNBA draft to the Detroit Shock in exchange for Ashley Shields.

August 12, 2009: The Dream traded Tamera Young to the Chicago Sky in exchange for Armintie Price.

March 11, 2010: The Dream traded Michelle Snow to the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for Dalma Ivanyi and the right to swap second-round picks in the 2010 Draft.

All-Stars

2008: No All-Star Game

2009: Érika de Souza, Sancho Lyttle

2010: Izi Castro Marques, Sancho Lyttle, Angel McCoughtry

2011: Angel McCoughtry

2012: No All-Star Game

2013: Angel McCoughtry, Érika de Souza

2014: Angel McCoughtry, Érika de Souza, Shoni Schimmel

2015: Angel McCoughtry, Shoni Schimmel

2016: No All-Star Game

2017: Layshia Clarendon, Tiffany Hayes, Elizabeth Williams

2018: Angel McCoughtry

2019: None Selected

2020: No All-Star Game

2021: Courtney Williams

2022: Rhyne Howard

2023: Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Cheyenne Parker

2024: Allisha Gray

2025: Allisha Gray, Brionna Jones

2026: Allisha Gray, Rhyne Howard, Angel Reese

Olympians

2012: Angel McCoughtry, Érika de Souza (BRA)

2016: Angel McCoughtry

2024: Laeticia Amihere (CAN), Rhyne Howard, (USA 3x3), Iliana Rupert (FRA)