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Shades
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
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 Posted: 10/27/24 10:39 am ::: Atlanta Dream 2025 |
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Guaranteed
Jordin Canada
Nia Coffey
Allisha Gray
Naz Hillmon (4th year rookie)
Rhyne Howard (4th year rookie)
Non-guaranteed
Laeticia Amihere
Haley Jones
UFA
Tina Charles
Cheyenne Parker-Tyus
Aerial Powers
Own rights
Isobel Borlase
Maya Caldwell
Lorela Cubaj
Nyadiew Puoch
Iliana Rupert
Matilda Villa
2025 draft picks
18, 36
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Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned
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ClayK
Joined: 11 Oct 2005
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| Posted: 10/27/24 11:11 am ::: |
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| This is not a particularly good team. Would you want to be the coach?
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BamaEd
Joined: 11 May 2014
Posts: 965
Location: United States
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| Posted: 10/27/24 12:15 pm ::: |
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I wouldn't say that. It has some good pieces. The backcourt starters are very solid. Canada had to get into the swing of things after her injuries. Tina Charles had a very good year, but I'm not sure what next year will bring from her. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus had some regression this year then the injury. Naz Hillmon brings great energy, rebounding, and defense. The bench needs help though. They need some consistency and more scoring from a second wave. Coffey gave that, the others, not as much. I'm not sure if it was due to Wright not having faith in the bench or the bench not delivering.
This team has some good foundation, but needs a little more support around it.
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PUmatty
Joined: 10 Nov 2004
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Location: Chicago
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BamaEd
Joined: 11 May 2014
Posts: 965
Location: United States
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| Posted: 11/13/24 11:01 am ::: |
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| I have always liked Smesko. He seems to get the most out of his teams and has had a lot of success at FGCU. I always wondered why he never made the leap to a bigger conference. I am surprised at the timing of this at the beginning of the season, but excited at where this takes the Dream.
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johnjohnW
Joined: 11 Aug 2020
Posts: 2170
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| Posted: 11/13/24 11:23 am ::: |
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| BamaEd wrote: |
| I have always liked Smesko. He seems to get the most out of his teams and has had a lot of success at FGCU. I always wondered why he never made the leap to a bigger conference. I am surprised at the timing of this at the beginning of the season, but excited at where this takes the Dream. |
I wonder what the salary is. Interesting choice and not someone I had on my radar at all. I had Sides pegged for this job.
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HomerCecil
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Posts: 1253
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| Posted: 11/13/24 2:09 pm ::: |
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| johnjohnW wrote: |
| BamaEd wrote: |
| I have always liked Smesko. He seems to get the most out of his teams and has had a lot of success at FGCU. I always wondered why he never made the leap to a bigger conference. I am surprised at the timing of this at the beginning of the season, but excited at where this takes the Dream. |
I wonder what the salary is. Interesting choice and not someone I had on my radar at all. I had Sides pegged for this job. |
Per ESPN, Smesko was making $450,000 at FGCU, so likely slightly more than that, would be my guess. I think we're at a point where W teams might be able to lure away lower-paid college head coaches, but not ones making the money that Walz, Staley, etc., are.
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johnjohnW
Joined: 11 Aug 2020
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| Posted: 11/13/24 4:10 pm ::: |
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| HomerCecil wrote: |
| johnjohnW wrote: |
| BamaEd wrote: |
| I have always liked Smesko. He seems to get the most out of his teams and has had a lot of success at FGCU. I always wondered why he never made the leap to a bigger conference. I am surprised at the timing of this at the beginning of the season, but excited at where this takes the Dream. |
I wonder what the salary is. Interesting choice and not someone I had on my radar at all. I had Sides pegged for this job. |
Per ESPN, Smesko was making $450,000 at FGCU, so likely slightly more than that, would be my guess. I think we're at a point where W teams might be able to lure away lower-paid college head coaches, but not ones making the money that Walz, Staley, etc., are. |
Seems like his success at FGCU would’ve made him a decent candidate for a better paying college gig but glad to have him in the W.
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Shades
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
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| Posted: 11/13/24 5:11 pm ::: |
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| Quote: |
| No program in college basketball has embraced the "3-pointers or layups only" concept more than FGCU under Smesko. From the 2019-20 season through 2022-23, the Eagles led the country in 3-pointers attempted and made. Even last season, when the Eagles were merely sixth in 3-pointers launched, they ranked second in the country in 3-point rate. |
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Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned
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johnjohnW
Joined: 11 Aug 2020
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| Posted: 11/13/24 11:41 pm ::: |
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| Apparently USC tired to snatch him up at one point but he turned them down.
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Howee
Joined: 27 Nov 2009
Posts: 16261
Location: OREGON (in my heart)
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| Posted: 11/13/24 11:56 pm ::: |
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| johnjohnW wrote: |
| Apparently USC tired to snatch him up at one point but he turned them down. |
Yeah, I've LONG been a fan of his....never quite understood why a bunch of schools didn't scoop him up - I have no doubt he could have made any team a contender. But I remember once reading about how FGCU really went out of their way to keep him happy (he may have been/is the highest-paid coach there?) Now? Consistently topping the ASUN was probably his ceiling, and he's ready for bigger/better (?) things. I really DO wish him well.
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SPD
Joined: 29 Oct 2021
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Howee
Joined: 27 Nov 2009
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Location: OREGON (in my heart)
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| Posted: 01/02/25 12:18 pm ::: |
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| LOVED Danielle. I've been her fan since her freshman year at OK, and was so happy to watch her lead OK to 2 FFs. She had the coolest laugh! 😄
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"Inévitablement, les canards voleront"
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SPD
Joined: 29 Oct 2021
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Location: California
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| Posted: 01/06/25 1:24 pm ::: |
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ATLANTA, Ga. (Jan. 6, 2025) – The Atlanta Dream announced today the hiring of LaToya Sanders and Brandi Poole as assistant coaches and the promotion of Brooklyn Cartwright to Assistant General Manager.
“LaToya and Brandi bring invaluable WNBA experience, including deep postseason success, to our staff,” said Dream Head Coach Karl Smesko. “Their leadership, knowledge, and passion for the game will be instrumental as we continue to build a winning culture in Atlanta. We are fortunate to have them join the Dream.”
https://dream.wnba.com/news/atlanta-dream-announce-additions-to-coaching-staff-and-front-office
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okstateguy
Joined: 18 Feb 2021
Posts: 499
Location: Oklahoma
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| Posted: 01/07/25 3:38 pm ::: |
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| Howee wrote: |
| johnjohnW wrote: |
| Apparently USC tired to snatch him up at one point but he turned them down. |
Yeah, I've LONG been a fan of his....never quite understood why a bunch of schools didn't scoop him up - I have no doubt he could have made any team a contender. But I remember once reading about how FGCU really went out of their way to keep him happy (he may have been/is the highest-paid coach there?) Now? Consistently topping the ASUN was probably his ceiling, and he's ready for bigger/better (?) things. I really DO wish him well. |
If I remember correctly, I think he never had any strong desire to coach at another college because of all the work that he had poured into FGCU before and after the transition to D1.
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okstateguy
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Shades
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
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| Posted: 01/15/25 8:34 pm ::: |
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Wednesday, January 15, 2025
The Atlanta Dream extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Lorela Cubaj.
The Atlanta Dream extended a Reserved qualifying offer to Maya Caldwell.
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Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned
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SPD
Joined: 29 Oct 2021
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eyevolley4
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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| Posted: 01/23/25 9:54 am ::: |
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| I would be very interested in Sloot if I were Atlanta due to her stronger 3 point shooting than Canada. That would turn Canada into a trade asset to get meaningful depth. Perhaps Canada for Banham and a second round selection would be worth it giving Atlanta another three point shooter and giving Chicago a lead guard.
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hoopmom
Joined: 11 May 2014
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| Posted: 01/26/25 2:14 pm ::: |
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I would like to see Canada play a full season, healthy. I feel like sloot is slowing down and would be a better backup.
I’m hoping that they can get Parker back to her 2023 form and also re-sign Tina. I don’t think they ever had a chance to fully play together. They also need a stronger back up post than Cubaj. hillman definitely has her limits in that she has no mid range nor outside game at her height, she is not a great postup option.
Amihere is looking stronger in the WNBL. I’ve seen her do mid range and a couple of threes and hit her layups much more consistently. I haven’t seen Jones’s game changed enough this summer there. I would love to see a lot more threes and any midrange. She relies a lot on coast to coast layouts which are much harder in the WNBA. Pouch and Borlase are not WNBA ready yet but it is nice to have all the young players in the same league and Coffee just signed there.
I hope they can improve the talent level overall! Also I wish Atlanta fans would chatter a lot more like other teams!
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BamaEd
Joined: 11 May 2014
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Location: United States
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| Posted: 01/27/25 11:54 am ::: |
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| eyevolley4 wrote: |
| I would be very interested in Sloot if I were Atlanta due to her stronger 3 point shooting than Canada. That would turn Canada into a trade asset to get meaningful depth. Perhaps Canada for Banham and a second round selection would be worth it giving Atlanta another three point shooter and giving Chicago a lead guard. |
Oof, no. I agree with hoopmom, I want to see a full healthy season of Canada along with Gray and Howard. That could be quite a formidable backcourt.
Banham has never seemed to be to have consistency. I wouldn't want to lose Canada for a bench player. Sloot showed last year that she was slowing down and there is no guarantee she's playing in 2025.
Front court is where Atlanta needs help. Will Charles want to come back? Does Atlanta want CPT back after a season of subpar play and injury? Who will be available in FA and the draft?
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BamaEd
Joined: 11 May 2014
Posts: 965
Location: United States
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| Posted: 01/28/25 9:28 pm ::: |
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| So. Griner. Wow!
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SPD
Joined: 29 Oct 2021
Posts: 1010
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jmvcity
Joined: 21 Jun 2013
Posts: 454
Location: Big Apple
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| Posted: 01/28/25 11:40 pm ::: |
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| So she’s trading the Diana Taurasi Training Center for a college gym?!?
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Shades
Joined: 10 Jul 2006
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| Posted: 01/29/25 1:20 am ::: |
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| jmvcity wrote: |
| So she’s trading the Diana Taurasi Training Center for a college gym?!? |
Maybe the gym isn’t the most important thing to Griner. She probably stuck around PHX this long because of Taurasi. Arizona is highly MAGA, and MAGA are increasingly out of control. I remember pilight saying Atlanta is one of the more LGBTQ-friendly cities. Plus, Griner’s wife is from North Carolina, which is a bit closer.
Griner has looked surprisingly good in Unrivaled, so this might be a fruitful pickup for Atlanta.
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Nnekalonians 1:14 - Thou shalt not accept that which is not earned
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eyevolley4
Joined: 27 Apr 2006
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| Posted: 01/29/25 5:49 am ::: |
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Atlanta has incredible communities that have greater reflection of BG and there are some similarities in the greater Atlanta area to Houston where she grew up. Also, the Rhyne/Allisha vibes seem much more cheerful and less uptight. Phoenix, led by Kah and AT, that shit is gonna be intense. BG perhaps didn’t see that as her path or maybe even learned that Cloud was a bargaining chip and didn’t appreciate that.
Regardless, BG earned her way to Free Agency and is in the position to make decisions like this.
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