2024-25 WNBA Offseason Guides: Atlanta Dream
2024-25 WNBA Offseason Guides: Atlanta Dream
The latest in our series detailing where WNBA teams stand looking towards next year covers the first team to be knocked out of the playoffs, the Atlanta Dream
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram. You can also buy Her Hoop Stats gear, such as laptop stickers, mugs, and shirts!
Haven’t subscribed to the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter yet?
Previously published 2024-25 Offseason Guides:
Los Angeles Sparks
Dallas Wings
Chicago Sky
Washington Mystics
2024 record: 15-25, No. 8 seed, lost 2-0 to New York in the first round.
2025 draft picks: The Dream don't have a first-round pick in the 2025 draft, having included it in the package to acquire Allisha Gray from Dallas back in 2023 (the Wings have since moved the pick on to Washington in another deal). Atlanta still have their own second-rounder, and a third-rounder acquired from Connecticut for Leigha Brown. Their own third was sent to Dallas for Crystal Dangerfield before the start of the 2024 season.
Free agents: Cheyenne Parker-Tyus (unrestricted free agent), Aerial Powers (unrestricted free agent), Tina Charles (uncoreable unrestricted free agent), Lorela Cubaj (reserved), Maya Caldwell (reserved).
Under contract for 2025: Jordin Canada, Allisha Gray, Nia Coffey, Rhyne Howard, Haley Jones, Laeticia Amihere, Naz Hillmon.
2024 performance: 2024 didn't go nearly as well for the Atlanta Dream as they might've hoped or expected. 2023 had been a year of meaningful growth, making the playoffs with a record of 19-21 that was their best since the final real McCoughtry season back in 2018. They brought back the core of that team, added Jordin Canada at the point and Tina Charles to offer more threat from the post, and therefore would've expected to take another step forward. Instead, through a combination of injury issues and inconsistent play, they had to fight for the final playoff spot - and after barely making it in, their season lasted all of five extra days, losing 2-0 to New York.
Obviously there are legitimate excuses for how the season went. Canada was signed to be the on-ball leader, missed the first 14 games, and was only back for four before getting hurt again - both times with hand injuries that presumably didn't help her shooting touch when she returned. Howard's ankle injury kept her out for a month before the Olympic break. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus and Aerial Powers both barely played beyond the first half of the season. All the issues obviously damaged the quality of players available to head coach Tanisha Wright for any given game, but also prevented the group from building the necessary chemistry for much of the season. However, regardless of the reasons, it was a thoroughly disappointing year. Statistically speaking they were either the 11th- or 12th-best offense in the league depending on your website of choice - that's last, or next-to-last - which was nowhere near good enough from a team with their level of talent. A spirited effort against New York on Tuesday night in their final game will be swiftly forgotten amid more extensive memories of a lost season.
Offseason finances: Seven members of the 2024 roster are already under contract for 2025, with the fact that Howard is still on her rookie-scale contract helping to keep the total under control and giving them room to work with to fill out the roster. They have $644,298 in cap space after those seven, enough for two max salaries and another high-end veteran if they went with an 11-player roster. Obviously with Charles and Parker-Tyus both unrestricted free agents, much of that would need to be spent either on bringing them back or replacing them in the post. They'll inevitably have interest in the big-name free agents but may struggle to attract them, especially in a year where virtually everyone will only be looking for one-year deals. Someone like Brionna Jones would be a wonderful fit from the Dream perspective, but she may well feel other teams are a better fit for her.
Offseason priorities: This year felt like the end of any remaining honeymoon period for the ownership group that took over in 2021, and the general manager/head coach axis they brought in of Dan Padover and Tanisha Wright. The Gateway Center Arena is tiny by comparison with most teams around the league (and not always full regardless), and that was only made more evident by the comparison when they moved two games to State Farm Arena when Indiana visited this year. It makes the franchise feel somewhat small-time compared to others around the league (apart from Washington, who play in a similar glorified high school-size gym). So the Dream have some work to do off the court to catch up with their competitors. They also have to decide if Padover and Wright are still their chosen options to take the team forward. There have definitely been rumblings of discontent among the fanbase, and after winning four fewer games this season than last year there will likely at least be a discussion about Wright's future. As with Dallas's coaching decision, it'll depend on how much of this season's issues they put down to the injuries.
In terms of the playing roster, most of the focus will be on the post. Barring a major trade, Canada, Howard and Allisha Gray are locked in as their perimeter starters, so any additions there would be for depth and backup. Inside, Charles put up some nice counting stats but didn't really make them better. But they have to get some size from somewhere, and given how Wright lost faith in Parker-Tyus and benched her, there seems a strong possibility that she'll look to leave in free agency. But are there any better options who can be tempted to Georgia? They have to find some size, and they have to create ways to become more efficient offensively. Howard and Gray are both multiple-time all-stars, and Canada should've been one last year - this should not be the worst offensive team in the league.
Future assets: The Dream have some additional hope for the future with the draft rights to Australian prospects Nyadiew Puoch and Isobel Borlase, both of whom have flashed some real talent overseas and at youth levels. They also hold the rights to Italian guard Matilde Villa, although she may be further off from providing help at WNBA level. The suspended rights to French big Iliana Rupert are also held by Atlanta, and she could help their post rotation if she returns next year. The suspended rights to Spanish guard Maite Cazorla, who hasn't been seen in the US since 2019, are less likely to be worth anything. The Dream still hold all their own 2026 draft picks, and no extras.
Thanks for reading the Her Hoop Stats Newsletter. If you like our work, be sure to check out our stats site, our podcast, and our social media accounts on Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.
Sometimes the numbers tell the story: Atlanta has created a roster of bad shooters, and as has been pointed out many a time, it's a make-it or miss-it game. Rhyne Howard shot 37% from the field, which puts her in inefficient volume shooter territory, and Jordin Canada's best ever three-point percentage was 33%. Tina Charles is the only effective shooter, and she may well depart for a team with a chance to win.
It's hard to say if Tanisha Wright's coaching is an issue, or whether it's the roster she and Dan Padover have assembled. The winner of a basketball game is the team that scores the most points, and having the lowest shooting percentage in the league is not the best path to scoring the most points.
They need a new coach( Curt Miller possibly) maybe sign Taiyanna Jackson to be a long term replacement to a re-signed Charles and honestly trade Gray. They are like Dallas in that they are in limbo. Barring a miracle, aren't legit contenders. They like LA have subpar facilities and bad ownership.
Better to start the rebuild now and get assets in return. I could see Gray or Sabally in Chicago, Seattle, NY, Phoenix or Minnesota and getting a decent haul.