The Atlanta Dream look to rebound after a 7-15 season, the Dream has won only 15 games the last two seasons. Atlanta added some excellent free agent signings, and the drafting of Aari McDonald gives the Dream some hope in the future. Atlanta is also under new ownership. Here is the Atlanta Dream 2021 season preview:
Free Agent signings
Tianna Hawkins
Cheyenne Parker
Odyssey Sims
Yvonne Turner
Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
Hawkins averaged 8.5 points and 3.5 rebounds last season for the Washington Mystics. She will be able to play both forward positions but could be primarily used as a power forward. Parker could be huge addition; she is coming off a career year, scoring 13.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. The Forward shot 55% from the field and showed the ability to hit three-point shots. Parker will be a force inside.
Sims can be effective as a scorer and facilitator. The point guard will bring experience and the ability to apply pressure on the defensive end of the floor. Turner and Walker-Kimbrough bring competition into training camp.
Players Drafted:
Aari McDonald
Lindsey Pulliam
McDonald was taking in the third pick of the WNBA Draft. It was a surprising move. But McDonald shot up many teams draft boards with her performance in the NCAA Tournament. McDonald is fast and is an outstanding defender, winning the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year two years in a row. Pulliam had an exceptional career at Northwestern and will try to push for a roster spot.
2021 Atlanta Dream Outlook
Atlanta has an exciting team coming into training camp; they a very guard-heavy, with Tiffany Hayes coming back, along with Chennedy Carter. The point guard averaged 17.4 points in her rookie season to lead the Dream. The Dream could play Carter off-ball more this season with the addition of Sims and McDonald. A Carter-McDonald could be dangerous if they learn how to play together. Also, the Dream has Courtney Williams, so that’s a lot of firepower in the backcourt.
In the frontcourt, to go along with newly acquired Hawkins and Parker are Elizabeth Williams, Monique Billings, Kalani Brown, Shekinna Stricklen, and a few other players. Williams and Billings played well last season in the bubble. Willimas averaged ten points and five rebounds per game, while Billings averaged eight points and eight rebounds per game. But Atlanta will need more from Stricklen, who struggled last season and will need more from Brown, who needs to stay healthy. With Hawkins and Parker in the mix, it will be interesting seeing who makes the roster in the frontcourt.
It will be interesting to see what players make the roster, the Dream has many guards, and they all can’t make the team. Many of the Dream’s guards need to have the ball in their hands to be effective, it will take some time for them to adapt, but if they can, Atlanta could be a dangerous team.
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