Atlanta Is Serious About a Championship and This Roster Proves It
30 wins. A franchise record .682 winning percentage. A roster that plays with purpose, depth, and a genuine belief that a championship is coming to Atlanta. And then this offseason happened, and the Dream somehow got even better.
Let’s break down everything.
The blockbuster: Angel Reese is a Dream
Photo Credit: Alishia Stevens
Before free agency even officially opened, Atlanta made the loudest move of the entire offseason. The Dream acquired two-time All-Star Angel Reese from the Chicago Sky in exchange for 2027 and 2028 first-round picks. I’ll be honest this was a seismic move. Reese brings elite rebounding, star power, and a chip on her shoulder to a team that was already one of the best in the East. Four 2025 WNBA All-Stars on the same roster. Let that marinate.
The core stays together all of them
• Allisha Gray — three-year max-plus deal: The Dream’s cornerstone is locked in long term. Three All-Star selections in three seasons in Atlanta. All-WNBA First Team in 2025. Fourth in MVP voting. She averaged 18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists all career highs. She is one of the most complete players in the league and she’s staying. Atlanta wins here.
• Brionna Jones — multi-year deal: A four-time All-Star who set a franchise record for offensive rebounds and recorded 12 double-doubles in her first season in Atlanta — doubling her entire career total in one year. Her résumé includes Sixth Player of the Year in 2022 and Most Improved Player in 2021. She’s a problem.
• Jordin Canada — two-year deal ($1.2M+): A two-time WNBA champion and multiple-time All-Defensive honoree. Canada controls the pace, runs the offense, and sets the tone defensively. Veterans like her don’t grow on trees.
• Naz Hillmon — three-year deal ($2.5M fully guaranteed): The 2025 Sixth Player of the Year hit 53 threes after entering the season with just one in her career. FIFTY-THREE. Under Smesko’s system she became an entirely different player. Plus she holds the franchise record for consecutive games played at 151. That durability and versatility is irreplaceable.
• Rhyne Howard — contract confirmed: The No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft and the face of this franchise. Three-time All-Star. 2025 All-Defensive Second Team. The fastest player in WNBA history to reach 300 career threes. She is the standard in Atlanta and she’s not going anywhere.
“These players have established the standard for Atlanta Dream basketball. Their work ethic, competitiveness and belief in one another drive everything we do.” — Head Coach Karl Smesko
Training camp contracts
Paige Robinson — Training camp contract
Maite Cazorla — Training camp contract
Holly Winterburn — Training camp contract
My take
I’ve been saying Atlanta is underrated as a title contender for a year now. This offseason removes all doubt. They kept every single core player, added Angel Reese, and drafted for the future with Okot at No. 13. This is a team built to win right now and win for years. The East is going to be a war in 2026 and the Atlanta Dream are going to be right in the middle of it.
Season opens May 10 against the Minnesota Lynx. Her Game Network will be covering every step of this run.