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How Dream's offseason moves will help their 2025 season
The Atlanta Dream had a busy offseason full of changes. With a new coach coming in and both veteran and rookie players joining the team, how will Atlanta fare in the 2025 WNBA season? Let's break it down.
New HC Karl Smesko
Karl Smesko comes into Atlanta with years of experience from Florida Gulf Coast. Smesko built the Florida program into one of the biggest in the NCAA. He had a .845 win percentage with the program, losing just over 100 games in his time.
Smesko can bring his three-point shooting expertise to the Dream, which can make them dangerous from outside the arc. With the likes of Brittney Griner and Rhyne Howard, Atlanta can shoot the ball around the court at a high percentage. This statistic can improve even more with Smesko coming in.
Atlanta has struggled to secure a winning record since 2018, but Smesko will hope to change this. He has developed his teams to become winning programs, which he'll seek to do in his first season in the WNBA.
New Veteran Players for the Dream
The Dream have brought in several big players in the offseason, one of them being Brittney Griner. Griner brings 11 years of experience and a high ceiling for scoring. The veteran averages almost 18 points a game and will be influential for Atlanta's offense.
Atlanta also signed Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, who was a star in the 2024 season. While Walker-Kimbrough likely won't play the biggest role for the team, she can use her eight years of experience to help the younger stars for the Dream.
Atlanta Welcomes Two Rookie Scorers
Atlanta also has two big rookies who can help the team. Highly rated guard Te-Hina Paopao was a star at South Carolina. She was thought to be a first-round pick, but Atlanta snatched her with its first pick of the draft in the second round.
Paopao has had a big offseason, playing more like an experienced WNBA player. She has come up with important shots and was clutch against the Indiana Fever, despite Atlanta's loss. With Smesko, Paopao's potential to become one of the leading rookie scorers is even greater.
The Dream picked up rookie Shyanne Sellers after she was waived by Golden State. Sellers played for Maryland in college, where she averaged close to 13 points a game. If she can stay on the roster before final cuts are made, Sellers and Paopao can be the rookie dynamic duo that the Dream need.
How Will These Changes Affect Atlanta?
Atlanta has brought in experience from players and its new head coach. Smesko prefers to play fast-paced basketball, which can help Atlanta wear down its opponents. Griner and Walker-Kimbrough bring in almost 20 years combined of playing professionally, which will be pivotal for the team.
Rookies Paopao and Sellers both had stellar college careers and will look to pick it back up in the WNBA for Atlanta. Both are good shooters, giving Smesko the edge he wants on offense. The rookie additions combined with the veteran players will be influential in Atlanta's 2025 season, making the Dream a team to look out for.
More must-reads:
- One change the WNBA should make to shed minor league feel
- Caitlin Clark, Fever's TV ratings set WNBA up for historic 2025 season
- The 'WNBA MVP award winners' quiz
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