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Ivory CoastHow Atlanta Dream Built a WNBA Contender in Five Years
The Atlanta Dream went from an 8-24 record in 2021 to Game 7 of the WNBA Finals after a complete franchise transformation.
From Rock Bottom to Championship Contenders
Just five years ago, the Atlanta Dream were struggling near the bottom of the WNBA. In 2021, the team finished second to last with an 8-24 record. They played in Gateway Center Arena, the smallest venue in the league with only 3,500 seats, after moving out of the much larger State Farm Arena due to vacant seats during games.
That chaotic 2021 season saw three different coaches, a player suspension, and off the court incidents. Today, the story is completely different. The Dream pushed Golden State all the way to Game 7 of the WNBA Finals last week. Coach Karl Smesko described the transformation as remarkable, noting how far the franchise has come in five years.
Fresh Leadership Shifts the Culture
The turnaround began behind the scenes in 2021 with major organizational changes. A new ownership group led by Larry Gottesdiener bought the team in February of that year. Former WNBA player Renee Montgomery was also part of the buying group. The sale followed public tension involving former co owner Kelly Loeffler, whose political stance had drawn opposition from players across the league during the 2020 bubble season in Florida.
In October 2021, the team hired general manager Dan Padover. Coming over from the Las Vegas Aces, Padover brought valuable executive experience. He immediately focused on organizing the franchise and investing in player development, housing, staffing, and medical care. Padover explained that his early goal was to turn Atlanta back into a respected franchise across the WNBA community.
Making Bold Moves on the Roster
Padover was aggressive in building the roster through trades and draft selections. In 2022, he traded up to secure the top overall draft pick to select Rhyne Howard. Howard won Rookie of the Year and has since earned four All Star selections. She averaged 17.7 points per game in the regular season this year. Padover also drafted forward Naz Hillmon in the second round and later acquired guard Allisha Gray in 2023 and guard Jordin Canada in 2024.
The roster grew even stronger with the addition of forward Angel Reese in April. Reese praised the environment in Atlanta, calling it the best situation she has ever experienced. The Dream also hired coach Karl Smesko in 2025 after his successful 17 year run at Florida Gulf Coast. Although the team fell just short in Game 7, the franchise has firmly established itself among the top teams in the league.
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