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#ShrinkTheGame: 13 Days of WNBA
Day 1: The Atlanta Dream
Fred S
May 04, 2025
With just 13 days remaining until the official start of the WNBA season, I’ll be counting down with a daily mini preview of each of the league’s 13 teams. Stay tuned as we break down what to watch, who to watch, and what to expect from every squad.
Table of Contents
Training Camp and Preseason Reminder
Teams are inviting a ton of players to training camp to battle it out for roster spots. Each team can bring in up to 18 players, so expect to see a lot of additions over the next few days.
To stay updated on who’s in and out of camp, check out Across the Timeline and the WNBA Transaction page.
ALL PRESEASON GAMES ARE FREE ON WNBA LEAGUE PASS
Do It For The Dream
We’ve officially entered the post-Tanisha Wright era of the Atlanta Dream, and honestly, this is what fans have been waiting for. Under Wright’s leadership, the team often felt like a permanent first-round exit team. All due respect to her she is an awesome scout for Team USA and will be great as an assistant coach in Chicago, but she was ass as a head coach. Now, with a new coach and a retooled roster, we’ll finally see if Rhyne Howard can evolve into the dominant franchise player she has the potential to be.
Aside from hiring a new head coach in Karl Smesko, the Dream revamped their roster to finally give Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray some much-needed help, particularly in the frontcourt. With two major additions in Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, the floor should open up for the backcourt to thrive, while having efficient rebounders and scorers in the post.
The biggest question mark is how Smesko will incorporate the two bigs. He’s known for preferring three-point shooters and building teams that rely heavily on the outside shot. He has openly acknowledged that he has little to no experience working with bigs like BG or Brionna. This will be a new experiment for his coaching style—and a gamble that might just pay off.
Smesko’s preference for three-point shooting was evident in the draft, when the Dream selected Te-Hina Paopao, who led the NCAA in three-point shooting percentage this past season. It’s a smart move—it shows he’s trying to stretch the floor with perimeter threats while relying on his frontcourt to clean the glass and score efficiently in the paint.
What to Look Out For: Bri Jones is coming off a dominant overseas campaign, earning EuroLeague MVP honors after leading USK Praha to their second EuroLeague title with a commanding 24-point, 11-rebound performance in the final. Look for Bri to have a breakout season in her first year away from the Connecticut Sun. Last year, she was returning from an Achilles’ tear and often played in the shadow of Alyssa Thomas, limiting her opportunities to shine. Now, with a full offseason and a clean bill of health, she’s poised to be a dominant force this season.
I’m particularly interested in Haley Jones (if she makes the final roster). As the sixth overall pick in the 2023 draft, she came in with high expectations. However, under Tanisha Wright, she didn’t get much opportunity to develop, even when she saw increased minutes in 2024 following Jordin Canada’s injury. I’m hopeful that new head coach Karl Smesko can really invest in Haley, especially after her breakout season in the WNBL (Australia), where she earned Club MVP honors. Overall, I’m curious to see whether Smesko can unlock the potential in players who have remained stagnant up to this point.
Question Marks:
Can Smesko get the most out of his frontcourt, despite having little to no experience working with bigs?
Will Rhyne finally have her breakout season with a new coach and more support?
Will Allisha take the leap and become an All-Star this year?
Will the Dream make it out of the first round of the playoffs?
CAP SPACE: $145,365
Free Agency and Roster Updates
Signed | Training Camp Contract | Waived/Traded/suspended | WNBA Draftees/ College Training Camp invites |
|---|---|---|---|
Brittney Griner - one year $214,466 | Lorelai Cubaj | Laeticia Amihere | Round 1: #18 Te-hina Pao Pao (South Carolina) |
Brionna Jones one year $214,466 | Maya Caldwell | Holly Winterburn- 66,079 | Round 2: #36 Taylor Thierry (Ohio State) |
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough - one year $150,000 | Ashley Joens, Emani Jefferson and Maria Gakdang |
The Coaches
Karl Smesko was the head coach of Florida Gulf Coast University’s women’s basketball team from 2002 onward, earning the third-highest winning percentage among active Division I coaches. Known for his innovative offensive schemes and strong emphasis on three-point shooting, it’s no surprise he was tapped for the Atlanta job, especially after the Dream finished dead last in offensive rating in 2024. Expect Atlanta’s players to be in top-tier shape, as Smesko is set to implement a fast-paced, high-efficiency offense.
When Coach Smesko announced his departure from FGCU to become the head coach of the Atlanta Dream, Chelsea Lyles was named his successor for the 2024–2025 season. She led the Eagles to an impressive 30–3 overall record, remaining undefeated in conference play. Recently, she announced that she will be following Smesko to the Dream. With 16 years of experience as both a player and assistant coach, it will be exciting to see what she brings to the table at the professional level.
Camryn Brown spent three seasons as an assistant coach at FGCU, following two successful seasons as an assistant coach at West Virginia State University. She also had a decorated collegiate playing career at High Point University, earning Big South Player of the Year and Scholar-Athlete honors.
LaToya Sanders is no stranger to the WNBA, having served as the Associate Head Coach for the Washington Mystics. Additionally, she played professionally in the WNBA for seven years, including on the Mystics' 2019 Championship team. Sanders also had a successful career in the Turkish league and played for the Turkish national team. It’s important to note that, under WNBA rules, coaching staffs must include at least one WNBA veteran.
Brandi Poole joins the Dream after spending five years as an assistant coach with the Connecticut Sun, where she helped lead the team to the postseason every year, including two WNBA Finals appearances. Her background also includes serving as a collegiate assistant coach at four different schools. It will be invaluable for the Dream to have coaches with extensive experience in the playoffs and Finals. This experience could be key to helping the Dream overcome their "first-round exit" hurdle.
Hoops & Hype: Media Picks
Check out some of the cool podcasts, videos, reads, and fashion I saw this week.
Haley Jones on playing in the Dream’s new system: “Moving into the system where Karl [Smesko’s] allowed me to play 1, 2, 3, 4, it’s a lot of movement … I feel like my entire skillset is really being used.” Also mentioned having freedom to play. (Q: @michaelwaterloo.bsky.social)
— Meghan L. Hall (@itsmeghanlhall.bsky.social)2025-05-03T23:07:29.039Z
@rhyball Nah y’all gotta see this one 😂😂 #slang #atlanta @allisha.gray
