It’s easy to look at the 2021 Atlanta Dream season and chalk it up as bad. After all, they ended in second-to-last place with eight wins and 24 losses. Only the Indiana Fever had it worse, with six wins. There were positive moments, on and off the court; moments that have the ability to help the franchise in the future. Here are a few 2022 resolutions that will get the Atlanta Dream where they want to go.
Put 2021 in the Rearview Mirror
To put it lightly, the 2021 Atlanta Dream season was a bit dramatic. The source of that drama was in off-court issues, even though the year started on a positive note.
Atlanta’s new ownership group took over after the Dream players stood up for former owner, and former senator, Kelly Loeffler. Their work earned the team their only hardware of the season, winning the 2021 Sports Humanitarian of the Year award, at ESPN’s ESPY awards.
Unfortunately, this change in ownership came right before losing their head coach Nicki Collen. Collen left for the Baylor Bears Women’s Basketball program in May of 2021. Throughout the season, Atlanta cycled through two interim coaches, and a lot of issues within the roster.
Off the court, tensions boiled over and Atlanta leadership suspended guard Chennedy Carter for a confrontation with teammates. That suspension started before the Olympics and Carter never saw the court again, in the 2021 WNBA season.
Speaking of the court, guard Courtney Williams led the team in both points per game (16.5) and rebounds per game (6.8). As the season ended, video surfaced of Williams and teammate Crystal Bradford in an altercation that led to the Dream releasing both.
There’s good news about all of the 2021 turmoil – none of it matters in 2022! After what seemed like a reset year for new ownership, there’s excitement on the horizon. Atlanta hired a permanent coach in former guard Tanisha Wright, after Wright spent a year as an assistant with the Las Vegas Aces. Joining Wright in Atlanta is their new general manager, Dan Padover.
This newfound consistency could be the key to getting Carter back on the court, and reason for Atlanta fans to feel hopeful for the future.
Embrace Roster Fluidity
The Atlanta Dream roster is four players deep. Joining Carter is standout guard Aari McDonald and forwards Tianna Hawkins and Jaylyn Agnew. Last season, Carter, Williams and Tiffany Hayes ran the offense, with then-rookie McDonald taking a bench role.
In 2022, McDonald has starter written all over her. During her 2021 freshmen season, McDonald only averaged 6.3 points per game and 2 assist per game, but showed flashes that made her dangerous with the Arizona Wildcats. The ceiling is high, and former WNBA champion, and guard, Wright can help McDonald grow, she’ll be a threat.
That threat gets even stronger if Carter comes back. If the revamped Dream leadership can resurrect Carter’s motivation to win in Atlanta, McDonald and Carter make a dangerous offensive tandem.
With only four players, Padover has free reign to build his team. After all, Padover helped build an Aces side that made it to the 2020 WNBA Finals and the semifinals of the 2021 WNBA Playoffs.
When free agents can begin talking with teams on January 15, Padover’s sales pitch of past Aces success and building from the ground up means excitement for the 2022 Atlanta roster.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for more from the WNBA. What resolutions do you have for your favorite team? Share with us on Twitter @BeyondWSports. Thomas Costello is on Twitter too. Follow him @1ThomasCostello.
