Atlanta Dream Roster 2025: Full Breakdown of the Team

The Atlanta Dream is a professional women’s basketball team that is based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta Dream Roster has been competing in the WNBA since their inaugural season in 2008. The franchise had been established as an expansion team and was able to catch up and became competitive, reaching the WNBA Finals three times, once in 2010, once in 2011, and once in 2013, but haven't been able to win a championship. The team is known for their flexible, opportunistic take and dynamic playing style.

The team signed WNBA powerhouses Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to fortify the frontcourt with size and experience, and welcomed reigning Sixth Player of the Year Shatori Walker-Kimbrough for backcourt depth. They also embraced two rookies from deep in the draft, Te Hina Paopao and Taylor Thierry, adding perimeter shooting and versatility.

Meanwhile, several veterans from 2024, including Tina Charles, Cheyenne Parker, and Laeticia Amihere, departed via free agency or waivers. Notably, center Holly Winterburn missed the season due to injury. The result: a roster blending proven All-Stars, experienced role players, and fresh talent built to execute Smesko’s sprawl and shoot vision.

Atlanta Dream Roster 2025

After joining for the very first time in 2008, the Atlanta Dream has undergone several rebuilds, including the years of 2010, 2011, and 2013. The team was then led by Angel McCoughtry. Despite falling short of a title, the Dream has consistently fought to remain competitive. The major transformation began in 2023-25, and it focused majorly on blending youth and experience.

The team added Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones, and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough in 2025, and it was able to retain stars like Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. Head coach Karl Smesko the team was able to make a fast, spacing-heavy offense. The strategic overhaul has, in a way, refreshed their championship ambitions and positioned them as contenders in a fiercely competitive league. Given below is the Atlanta Dream roster for 2025, as per WNBA:

Atlanta Dream Key Players

Atlanta Dream players are strong, flexible, and resilient. The strong team consists of three major players. They have shown all sorts of aspects related to grit and determination. The trio has been able to blend interior dominance, perimeter star power, and two glue that work as a triangular mechanism, focusing on the aspect of a core that has been designed for both immediate success and long-term title contention.

Interior dominance is shown by Brittney Griner; she creates space with the ability of her swift moves. Rhyne Howard has the perimeter power and can cover the court to a great amount of length while traversing.

Allisha Gray is specifically an all-around power house, and is able to act as the two-way glue, great at both offense and defense, contributing to the overall success of the team success rate.

#1. Brittney Griner (9.9 PPG)

Britney Griner's presence significantly contributed to the making of the Dream's success in interior presence. A towering height and tremendous power, the 6'9" center anchors the defensive power with elite rim protection and shot blocking while providing reliable low-post scoring. Her ability to dominate the paint on both ends creates matchup nightmares and opens up perimeter space for shooters in Karl Smesko’s spread offense.

Griner’s leadership and experience in high-stakes games are invaluable to Atlanta’s championship pursuit. During offense, to score efficiently around the rim, Griner uses her height advantage by simply reaching over defenders. Over time, she has been able to expand her shooting range and develop a reliable mid-range jumper.

During defense, her mere presence deters opponents from driving the lane. In the rare cases in which she is challenged, she has the leaping ability and timing to swiftly take shots at an unprecedented rate, and she has additionally averaged over 3 blocks per game for her career.

It is significant to note that she holds the WNBA single-game record with 11 blocks and is also the first openly gay athlete to sign an endorsement deal with Nike. She has set NCAA records for 748 career blocks and 18 dunks. She has also scored more than 4000 points in fewer than 200 WNBA games.

#2. Rhyne Howard (16.8 PPG)

Rhyne Howard is the face of the future and present of the Atlanta Dream. She is a high-powered scorer and an elite two-way player, who averages around 20 points per game while guarding opposing stars. The versatility she exhibits is truly admirable; she is able to create her own shot, hit three pointers, and that's what makes her popular amongst the perimeter defenses. Her growth into a leader has become vital, and the team transitions from rebuilding to contending.

Rhyne Howard is the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft. She has quickly risen to prominence as one of the league’s most vigorous two-way wings. In her rookie season, she averaged 16.8 PPG, 4.7 RPG, and 3.4 APG, earning WNBA Rookie of the Year honors. She followed with back-to-back seasons, while also boosting her rebounds and assists under the leadership of new coach Karl Smesko.

Early in 2025, she scored a season-high 22 points in a win over the Chicago Sky and became the fastest player in franchise history to reach 300 career three-pointers. Defensively, she plays lock-down perimeter defense, was able to earn two-time All-Star recognition both in 2022 and 2023.

#3. Allisha Gray (19.1 PPG)

If anyone wants to understand backcourt presence, the name of Allisha Gray is to be ingrained in the mind. She provides consistency, toughness, and balance in the backcourt. For the lockdown defense, smart shot selection, and ability to hit timely threes, she has been able to complement Howard perfectly.

Her playoff experience and the ability to keep calm under pressure help stabilize the team during critical moments. Her all-around game ensures that the Dream remains competitive on both ends of the court.

At 30, the 6′0″ guard from South Carolina is averaging 19.1 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 4.1 APG, and 0.9 SPG through 11 games, shooting a remarkable 51.4% from the field and 41.8% from the three-point line.

In early June, she earned Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors with back-to-back performances of 26.5 PPG on 65% overall. Gray’s success reflects her high basketball intelligence and expansion in playing the key role under Coach Kohl Smesko.

She has taken on primary playmaking duties, has started leading team assists and ranking third in offensive rating. She has been a former Rookie of the Year in 2017, 2× WNBA All-Star in 2023 and 2024 and an Olympic gold medalist, Gray combines sharp three-point shooting, mid-range savvy, court vision, and defensive tenacity into a complete package. “Rhyne [Howard] is the player with the most potential to take us to the next level but it’s not just her,” Dream general manager Dan Padover said in January. “Her running mate [Allisha] Gray and getting a full season out of Jordin [Canada] and our complimentary pieces, we’ll get good looks to optimize our player skill sets."

Atlanta Dream Draft Picks 2025

The Atlanta Dream draft picks consist of two extremely important players that could bring change the status of the team's performance. The two players that were drafted by the Atlanta Dream are Te-Hina Paopao and Taylor Tierry. Te Hina Paopao is a 5'9" guard, originally from South Carolina and Taylor Thierry is a 6'1" guard and forward from Clevland, Ohio.

Te-Hina Paopao (Guard)

A 5'9" guard from South Carolina, Te-Hina Paopao is a championship tested guard who has been known for her skilled shooting and calm leadership. In the undefeated national title run 2023-24, she played a key role in 2023-24. All America and All SEC honors were earned by her. A program record for games started and knocked down 87 threes on the season, third most in school history.

Her consistency, high-level play, and growth has been defined by her college career. Prior to South Carolina, she spent three seasons at Oregon, collecting All-Pac-12 honors every year while averaging double figures and shooting over 38% from deep. A former McDonald’s All-American and California Gatorade Player of the Year, Te-Hina brings her a winning pedigree, strong basketball IQ, and steady hand to the Dream’s backcourt. Her combination of experience, shot-making, and composure makes her a valuable addition to the Atlanta Dream roster as they continue building toward a championship future. “We definitely wanted to add some shooting to the roster, that was really important to us as we were evaluating players,’ said Smesko. “Paopao is more than a shooter, she competes on the defensive end, she can handle the ball, she's somebody under pressure situations is able to stay calm.”

Taylor Thierry (Guard/Forward)

A 6'1" guard and forward from Clevland, Taylor Thierry is known for her elite efficiency and defensive instincts. Thierry started 100 consecutive games for the Buckeyes and finished her career ranked top five in program history in field goal percentage (.597) and top ten in steals (234).

A 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist, she averaged 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game in her senior season, while leading Ohio State in three-point shooting at 46.4%.Thierry’s impact has extended far beyond the stat sheet.

A two-time All-Big Ten Second Team selection and three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, she combined athleticism with a high basketball IQ on both ends of the floor.

Multiple 20-point games were recorded in her tenure, a career-high seven steals in a single contest, and consistently rose to the challenge against top opponents. Her versatility, toughness, and work ethic make her an exciting addition to the Dream as we continue to build a roster grounded in effort, energy, and potential. “Taylor had exceptional shooting percentage, exceptional finishing percentage at the rim, and has great length, can guard on the perimeter and has twice as many steals as turnovers,” said Smesko. “That's a pretty rare thing to find.”

Season Expectations 2025

The Atlanta Dream entered the 2025 WNBA season as one of the league’s most improved and strategically rebuilt teams. With the offseason acquisitions of Brittney Griner, Brionna Jones, and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, alongside rising stars Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray, expectations for Atlanta Dream basketball players have shifted dramatically, from fringe playoff team to serious championship contenders.

Under the new head coach Karl Smesko, the Dream now runs a sharp, spacing-based offense that emphasizes ball movement, high-efficiency shooting, and defensive discipline. Through the early part of the season, the Dream have posted a strong record ranking top three in offensive rating, three-point shooting, and defensive rebounding.

The Atlanta Dream roster, laden with vets, offers postseason experience, and their deep rotation gives them flexibility against different matchups.

Maintaining health and consistency from Griner and Howard has been crucial. If Gray continues her MVP-caliber season and the rookies provide reliable shooting, Atlanta could realistically reach the WNBA Finals. In a recent game, the Dream improved to 7-3, matching their best start to a season since 2016. “Things are definitely different [under Smesko],” third-year guard and forward Haley Jones told The Next. “His [Smesko] attention to detail is really high. When watching film, we [players] all have journals. I feel like I’m back in class [at Stanford] taking notes for a pop quiz. Teams may try to scout us and think we have a bajillion plays but we’re really just reading the game a lot better, being more efficient and more decisive.”

Looking at the statistics as given by Flash score, Atlanta Dream has a legitimate shot at the franchise’s first WNBA title, and the team fulfills the full possibility of being a championship contender. The Dream is currently on pace to finish in the top 3 of the Eastern Conference.