Dream Make Long-Term Commitment to Head Coach and GM

It was announced earlier this week that Head coach Tanisha Wright, AP Coach of the Year in her first season, and Dan Padover, two-time WNBA Executive of the Year, have each signed five-year contract extensions that will keep them in Atlanta through the 2027 season.  Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not disclosed.

“We are essentially building the Atlanta Dream from scratch, and that takes time,” said Larry Gottesdiener, primary owner of the Atlanta Dream.

Wright was named AP Coach of the Year in her first season as a head coach, helped guide Rhyne Howard to a WNBA All-Star appearance and Rookie of the Year award, and is credited throughout the league for establishing a culture of accountability, professionalism and integrity.

“I feel extremely blessed to partner with an organization that has a long-term perspective, is willing to invest heavily, and honors the work that Dan and I are doing to build an organization in the right way” said head coach Tanisha Wright.

Padover brought in eight new players to the roster in 2022, including All-Star and WNBA Kia Rookie of the Year Rhyne Howard, after orchestrating a trade for the No. 1 overall pick in the WNBA Draft. Padover, a two-time WNBA Executive of the Year, was attracted to the Dream by the blank slate opportunity to build a team from the ground up, in the right way.

“I want to thank Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair, and Renee Montgomery for reiterating their confidence in Tanisha and me” said Padover.  “When we started on this journey, I had the belief that this ownership group and this leadership team could build something special here in Atlanta. We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are all looking forward to the challenge of making the Dream a perennial championship contender.”

The Dream recorded eight sellouts in the 2022 regular season at Gateway Center Arena – Wright’s and general manager Dan Padover’s first season with Atlanta.

The Dream will play two preseason games this year, heading up to Washington to face the Mystics on Wednesday, May 10 at 11:30 a.m. ET and hosting the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, May 14 at 3:00 p.m. ET.