Atlanta Dream News and Update

Last week the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream announced the addition of Laila Brock to the front office as the organization’s new Senior Vice President, Community Impact and Strategic Partnerships. 

With more than 20 years of experience, Brock’s place at the head of both the Dream’s Corporate Partnerships and Community Impact vertical efforts puts her in a position to align the organization’s mission with its business development goals while also amplifying the values of the team.

“In building our front office, we knew we had to look at our structure differently – we’re building a new model here that reflects both the needs of women and the demands we face in an ever-changing sports market,” said Dream President and COO Morgan Shaw Parker.

 It was also announced by the team that Monique Billings makes the seventh returning player from the Dream’s 2022 squad after Nia Coffey and AD signed with Atlanta as free agents. She has been a part of the Dream since 2018 when Atlanta drafted her with the No. 15 overall pick out of UCLA, and has gone on to average 6.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 0.8 steals per game over six seasons.

“I’m thrilled that Mo is going to continue her career with this organization, she is an important part of what we are building here,” said head coach Tanisha Wright. “The energy she brings to the court every single night makes us a better team, and the stability she provides at the forward spot is something we are really going to need as we make a push for the playoffs this year. Having a player like Mo buy in to our program is only going to make us stronger.”

“We are extremely excited to continue to have Mo in a Dream uniform,” said general manager Dan Padover. “Her energy on the court is infectious and her skillset has continued to grow every year with this organization. There are few players in this league that have the effect on a game that Mo has, and we know the intensity in which she plays with will only fuel us as we make our playoff push in 2023.”

This week it was also announced the Dream have hired Vickie Johnson as an assistant coach to round out the coaching staff ahead of the 2023 season, the organization announced today.

“To say I am happy to have VJ join our staff would be an understatement,” said head coach Tanisha Wright. “I know firsthand that she fits exactly who we are as an organization, and I have a ton of respect for her and how she approaches the game of basketball. My first year as a coach in the W was alongside VJ, where she immediately took me under her wing and showed me the ropes. Having been a former player in this WNBA, she loves this league and, more importantly, she loves coaching and developing these players. She comes with a wealth of experience that will help me continue to grow as a head coach, and I have no doubt adding her to our staff will prove to be an enormous asset to our organization as we continue to grow.”

The Dream will open their season at home in Gateway Center Arena on Sunday, May 28, hosting the Indiana Fever at 3:00 p.m. ET. The game marks the first of a five-game homestand to open the season, where the Dream will host the Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun.

The expanded 2023 WNBA Schedule will see each team play 40 games (up from 18 in 2022), the most in the league’s 26-year history. In the expanded schedule, the Dream will face all Eastern Conference opponents – Chicago, Connecticut, Indiana, New York and Washington – along with Los Angeles and Las Vegas four times each. Seven of the Dream’s first 10 games are Commissioner’s Cup matchups, giving Atlanta a chance to jump out to an early lead in the competition.

Stay tuned for further coverage.