NFL
By: Nathan Snell
Since the end of the 2021 season, The Atlanta Dream has again found itself in a new era as a franchise. The 2024 season was when the team finished with 15 wins and a first-round sweep against the eventual WNBA champions, New York Liberty. It was time for a change. While Wright deserves some flowers in part for changing the team’s culture before her arrival, there is much to build on. Florida Gulf Coast head coach Karl Smesko will be the new head coach in the 2025 season.
The Dream made some big moves in the offseason; Tina Charles, who had a “comeback player of the year” type season, departed for the Connecticut Sun. The additions of Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones have question marks.
The backcourt remains the same as that of Allisha Grey, Rhyne Howard, and Jordin Canada. They did sign Shatori Walker-Kimbrough. There are questions here as well. While they did draft Te-Hina Paopao in the 2nd round, they traded their 2025 first-round pick to Washington. Let’s break down this team further.
The talent over the last two years, led by Grey and Howard, has played 12 combined games and finished under .500. There is no excuse.
This Atlanta team is more versatile in many areas compared to last season, where there were some season-ending injuries. With Brionna Jones, who can play power forward but realistically is a center. The sad reality is that the WNBA teams are trying to create a false belief that you do not need a true five-out style, which has been proven wrong. If you have Jones and Griner, then that would mean in Smesko’s system, the backcourt is in a maximum three-out.
The difference between what coach Wright did in the last three years with this team could not break their mental funk on the offensive side of the ball. Smesko will ensure Howard and Grey will get better looks.
Atlanta could finish as a top-six seed but with a new coach, new pieces, and a new system. Will this work, or will we see a repeat of last year? This team has great potential, and the ceiling can be high. There is much to be optimistic about, so the dream becomes a reality.
Predictions:
Projected Starting Lineup:
G: Grey, G: Canada, F: Howard, F: Jones, C: Griner
Scoring Leader(s) Grey & Howard
Rebounding Leader: Griner & Jones
21 wins on the year, losing in the 2nd round.
Questions/Concerns
- How will coach Smesko ensure that both players do not feel they have to take on all the burden regarding scoring?
- How does Naz Hillmon find a role in this system with the additions of Jones and Griner?
- Can Jones and Griner realistically play on the floor at the same time?
- A healthy Jordin Canada is pivotal for the Dream’s success.
- The Dream has always had depth. How does it fit into this new system?
- This team has shooters, but a new system they are unproven for now.
- Will Coach Smesko value the midrange game?
- Will Haley Jones see a role in this system?
