COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 16, 2018) –A total of 19 members of the 2018-20 USA Basketball Women’s National Team athlete pool, including three members of the Seattle Storm, are expected to participate in the USA Women’s National Team’s April 24-26 camp in Seattle.
The three-day camp will culminate with an exhibition contest against the China National Team April 26 in Seattle’s KeyArena. The final USA roster for the exhibition game will be comprised of athletes participating in the training camp and will be announced on April 25.
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Dream selected three standout seniors in the 2018 WNBA Draft Thursday Night.
With the No. 15 overall pick, the Dream selected Monique Billings of UCLA. The 6-4 forward was the third woman in UCLA history (14th in Pac-12 history) with 1,500 points and 1,000 rebounds. During her 2017-18 senior season, she helped the Bruins to the Elite Eight, averaging 15.3 points and 9.5 rebounds.
NEW YORK, NY – APRIL 04: Monique Billings poses for a portrait after being selected by the Atlanta Dream during the WNBA Draft on April 12, 2018 in New York, New York at the Nike New York Headquarters. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Michael J. LeBrecht II/NBAE via Getty Images)
“We feel so fortunate that Monique was still on the board at 15,” head coach Nicki Collen said. “Monique is an elite athlete with a high motor. Her ability to run the floor and rebound the basketball will fit in well with our current roster. She is an incredible competitor when she steps on the basketball court and we are so excited to welcome her to the Atlanta Dream.”
“I know that wherever I end up, I’ll be utilized. I know that there’s a reason that I ended up in Atlanta so I’m really excited and ready to bring a championship home to “The A”. Billings said.
The Dream followed up Billings by selecting Baylor 5-11 guard Kristy Wallace with the 16th overall pick. Wallace, who tore her ACL during the 2017-18 season was leading the Lady Bears with 155 assists and averaged 12.9 points. She also led the team in minutes played, averaging 30.1. Wallace was a 2018 Unanimous All-Big 12 First Team member and a 2018 WNCA All-America Honorable Mention.
“I had the pleasure of getting to know Kristy when I recruited her as an assistant at Arkansas,” Collen said. “Kristy is a versatile guard that will do whatever it takes to win. We felt with the depth of our current roster she was worth waiting a year to have with us. Her combination of size and scoring ability from the point guard position made her one of the top guard prospects in this draft.”
In the third round, the Dream selected Mackenzie Engram, a 6-2 forward from Georgia. As a senior, Engram was a Second-Team All-SEC member after averaging 12.9 points and 7.0 rebounds per game in 33 games for the Bulldogs.
“No one stood out to us more at the ProHoops combine than Mack,” Collen said. “Her ability to hit open 3’s, run the floor, and guard multiple positions at the defensive end makes her a great pick for us. Not only did she play at the University of Georgia, she is a local product, so we are thrilled to welcome her back home to Atlanta.”
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Dream have traded forward Bria Holmes to the Connecticut Sun for the rights to the Sun’s second-round pick (No. 15 overall) in tonight’s WNBA Draft and a 2019 second-round pick, it was announced Thursday.
Originally selected 11th overall by the Dream in the 2016 WNBA Draft, Holmes has averaged 7.6 points and 2.7 rebounds over her first two seasons in the league. This offseason, the former West Virginia University standout was playing in Poland for CCC Polowice. It was announced in January that the Connecticut native would sit out the 2018 WNBA season because of pregnancy.
ATLANTA – MAY 27: of the Atlanta Dream against the Indiana Fever at Philips Arena on May 27, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
ATLANTA – The Atlanta Dream have signed center Yelena Leuchanka to a training camp contract, head coach Nicki Collen announced Thursday.
“I am excited to re-welcome Yelena Leuchanka to the Atlanta Dream,” Collen said. “Yelena will bring a veteran presence to training camp after many successful seasons overseas.”
ATLANTA, GA – JULY 9: Elizabeth Williams #1 of the Atlanta Dream shoots a lay up against the Dallas Wings on July 9, 2017 at Hank McCamish Pavilion in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA – Atlanta Dream center Elizabeth Williams has signed a multi-year contract extension with the franchise, Head Coach Nicki Collen announced Tuesday. Terms to the agreement were not disclosed per team policy.
“I am really thankful for the Atlanta Dream organization,” Williams said. “They took a chance on me after my rookie year and I’ve had the chance to grow on and off the court ever since. I am really looking forward to building a great culture with this team and in doing so, help bring a championship to Atlanta.”
Williams, a three-year WNBA veteran, enters her third season for the Dream. Since being acquired prior to the 2016 season in a trade with the Connecticut Sun, Williams has started all 68 regular season games and has been named the 2016 WNBA Most Improved Player and earned a reserve spot for the Eastern Conference in the 2017 WNBA All-Star game.
New England Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski met up with Shaquille O’Neal in Miami for an event hosted by O’Neal on Friday night.
Before long spirit fingers was waving in the air as Gronk and Shaq engaged in a “Bring It” styled dance-off.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 14, 2018) – A trio of talented and successful women’s basketball head coaches – Dan Hughes (Seattle Storm), Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota Lynx) and Jennifer Rizzotti (George Washington) – have been selected to serve as assistant coaches for the 2018 USA Basketball Women’s National Team. The coaches will begin working with the USA National Team during its April 24-26 training camp in Seattle and return in September to aide USA head coach Dawn Staley (South Carolina) through the 2018 FIBA World Cup of Basketball. Hughes, Reeve and Rizzotti were selected by the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Steering Committee and approved by the USA Basketball Board of Directors.
NEW YORK,March 12, 2018 – The WNBA Draft 2018 presented by State Farm will be held on Thursday, April 12 at the Nike New York Headquarters. ESPN2 will air the first round beginning at 7 p.m. ET, followed by coverage of rounds two and three on ESPNU at 8 p.m. ET. The draft will also stream live on the ESPN app.
The Atlanta Dream hold two picks in the upcoming draft, including the No. 16 overall pick. Last year, the Dream selected Brittney Sykes with the No. 7 overall pick.
“We are thrilled that the WNBA Draft 2018 presented by State Farm will take place at the recently opened Nike New York Headquarters,” said WNBA President Lisa Borders. “This is all part of our newly expanded partnership with Nike, a brand that believes in equality and the empowerment of women. The draft is a pivotal moment for the players who will be selected. For basketball fans, it is that moment when they see their favorite team’s roster taking shape with the tip-off of the new season right around the corner.”
Several top draft prospects and invited guests will be on hand for WNBA Draft 2018 presented by State Farm at the Nike New York Headquarters, where they will be immersed in an interactive, experiential atmosphere. The 150,000-square-foot venue, which opened last June, features a 4,000-square-foot indoor basketball court that will serve as the broadcast hub for the draft. The event is not open to the public.
