Atlanta Dream Hire Traci Messier as Vice President of Communications and External Affairs

The Atlanta Dream announced today the hiring of Traci Messier as Vice President of Communications and External Affairs. An accomplished public relations and communications professional, Messier brings extensive expertise in strategic communications planning, media relations, and community engagement—skills that will enhance the Dream’s ability to connect with media, fans, and the Atlanta community.

“As the Atlanta Dream continue this unprecedented growth trajectory and positive momentum in the city of Atlanta, I’m thrilled to be able to bring on such a talented storyteller and communications strategist to ensure our athlete, partner and brand stories come to life on both a local and national scale,” said Morgan Shaw Parker, Atlanta Dream President and COO.

Messier is widely regarded as one of Atlanta’s most respected public relations executives, with more than two decades of experience in journalism, media relations, and communications strategy. Most recently, she served as Director of Corporate Communications for the U.S. Soccer Federation, where she led public relations efforts surrounding the construction of the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center and supported preparations for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.

Before joining U.S. Soccer, Messier spent 12 years at Jackson Spalding, the Southeast’s largest independent public relations and marketing agency. There, she co-led the agency’s sports practice, provided strategic communications leadership for major clients, and helped build and protect brand reputations. She was also a member of the firm’s speaker coaching team, served as in-house culture lead for the 150-plus person agency, and led work for clients across sports, real estate, hospitality, and non-profit sectors.

“The Atlanta Dream are leaders in the community, trendsetters in the industry and fierce competitors on the court, and I’m grateful to be able to join such an incredible team,” said Messier. “I’ve long been passionate about growing women’s sports, and there’s no better place to make that happen than with this franchise and the WNBA. I’m ready to get to work, building on the Dream’s existing momentum and helping tell the stories of this team and its remarkable players.”

A Rochester, N.Y., native, Messier graduated from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. She began her career at CBS Sports in Manhattan before working as a sports anchor and reporter at WENY in Elmira, N.Y., Time Warner Cable News, and WHAM-TV in Rochester—earning a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award and becoming the first woman to win the Rochester Press Radio Club Sportscaster of the Year Award. She has also served as a lead publicist for Liz Lapidus Public Relations and led marketing efforts at Reynolds Lake Oconee.