2022 Atlanta Dream season

Last updated

2022 Atlanta Dream season
Coach Tanisha Wright
Arena Gateway Center Arena
Attendance2,752 per game
Results
Record1422 (.389)
Place5th (Eastern)
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Team Leaders
Points Rhyne Howard – 16.2 ppg
Rebounds Monique Billings – 6.3 rpg
Assists Erica Wheeler – 3.9 apg

The 2022 WNBA season was the 15th season for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association. The team began the season on May 14, 2022, on the road against the Dallas Wings. [1]

Contents

This was the first season for new head coach Tanisha Wright. Wright was hired on October 12, 2021. [2] Dan Padover was hired as the team's new general manager, while Darius Taylor moved into the assistant general manager role - after serving as the team's interim head coach in the 2021 season. [3]

The season stated well for Wright and the Dream, as they finished May 5–3. However, a stronger schedule in June slowed down their momentum as they finished the month 4–8, including a four game and three game losing streak. The Dream's struggles continued in July as they finished the month 3–7. One bright spot in the month was a win over regular season champions Las Vegas, in Las Vegas. The team lost their last four games of the season and finished 2–4 in August. They finished in tenth place overall, missing the playoffs by one game. Their fourteen wins were the most in a season since 2018 for the team.

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/team/country
11 Rhyne Howard Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Kentucky
215 Naz Hillmon Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Michigan

Trades and Roster Changes

DateTransaction
October 12, 2021Hired Tanisha Wright as head coach
December 23, 2021Renounced the rights to Mengran Sun [4]
January 4, 2022Extended Qualifying Offers to Monique Billings and Jaylyn Agnew [5]
January 6, 2022Signed Jaylyn Agnew to a Qualifying Offer [6]
January 13, 2022Waived Tianna Hawkins [7]
January 16, 2022Suspended Maite Cazorla for Full-Season [8]
January 18, 2022Claimed Megan Walker off of Waivers [9]
January 31, 2022Traded a 2023 Third Round Pick to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Kia Vaughn [10]
February 1, 2022Re-Signed Tiffany Hayes to a One-Year Deal [11] [12]
Signed Nia Coffey to a One-Year Deal [13]
February 3, 2022Re-Signed Monique Billings to a One-Year Deal [14] [15]
February 5, 2022Traded Chennedy Carter and the rights to Li Yueru to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Erica Wheeler, a 2023 First-Round Pick, and a 2022 Second Round Pick [16]
February 15, 2022Signed N'dea Jones and Khaalia Hillsman to training-camp contracts [17]
February 21, 2022Signed Kristy Wallace to a Rookie Contract [18]
February 23, 2022Signed Maya Caldwell to a training-camp contract [19]
March 29, 2022Hired Christie Sides, Paul Goriss and Barbara Turner as assistant coaches [20]
April 6, 2022Traded the #3 and #14 picks in the 2022 WNBA Draft, and the right to exchange 1st round picks with the Los Angeles Sparks (from the Erica Wheeler trade) to the Washington Mystics in exchange for the #1 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft [21]
April 12, 2022Signed Que Morrison to a training-camp contract [22]
April 18, 2022Signed Rhyne Howard and Naz Hillmon to rookie-scale contracts
April 22, 2022Waived Khaalia Hillsmon [23]
April 23, 2022Waived Que Morrison [24]
April 25, 2022Waived N'dea Jones [25]
April 27, 2022Waived Jaylyn Agnew [26]
May 5, 2022Waived Maya Caldwell
Temporarily Suspend Tiffany Hayes due to Overseas Commitments
May 6, 2022Claimed Beatrice Mompremier of a waivers [27]
May 13, 2022Activated Tiffany Hayes from her Temporary Suspension
June 8, 2022Traded Megan Walker and the rights to Raquel Carrera to the New York Liberty in exchange for AD [28]
June 15, 2022Signed Destiny Slocum to a Hardship Contract [29]
June 20, 2022Signed Maya Caldwell to a Hardship Contract [30]
June 23, 2022Released Destiny Slocum from her Hardship Contract
Signed Yvonne Turner to a Hardship Contract [31]
June 27, 2022Released Yvonne Turner and Maya Caldwell from their Hardship Contracts
August 2, 2022Signed Maya Caldwell to a 7-Day Hardship Contract [32]
August 9, 2022Signed Maya Caldwell to a Hardship Contract
August 11, 2022Signed Kaila Charles to a Hardship Contract [33]
Temporarily Suspend Tiffany Hayes

Roster

2022 Atlanta Dream roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F 25 Flag of the United States.svg Billings, Monique  Cruz Roja.svg6' 3" (1.91m)192 lb (87kg)1998-12-15 UCLA R
G 33 Flag of the United States.svg Caldwell, Maya 5' 11" (1.8m)160 lb (73kg)1998-12-15 Georgia R
G 5 Flag of the United States.svg Charles, Kaila 6' 1" (1.85m)170 lb (77kg)1998-03-23 Maryland 2
F 12 Flag of the United States.svg Coffey, Nia  Cruz Roja.svg6' 1" (1.85m)182 lb (83kg)1995-06-11 Northwestern 5
G 23 Flag of the United States.svg Durr, Asia (AD)  Cruz Roja.svg5' 10" (1.78m)151 lb (68kg)1997-04-05 Louisville 1
G 15 Flag of the United States.svg Hayes, Tiffany  Cruz Roja.svg (S)5' 10" (1.78m)155 lb (70kg)1989-09-29 Connecticut 9
F 00 Flag of the United States.svg Hillmon, Naz 6' 2" (1.88m)190 lb (86kg)2000-04-05 Michigan R
F 10 Flag of the United States.svg Howard, Rhyne 6' 2" (1.88m)175 lb (79kg)2000-04-29 Kentucky R
G 2 Flag of the United States.svg McDonald, Aari 5' 6" (1.68m)141 lb (64kg)1998-08-20 Arizona 1
F/C 1 Flag of the United States.svg Mompremier, Beatrice 6' 4" (1.93m)190 lb (86kg)1996-08-08 Miami (FL) 2
C 32 Flag of the United States.svg Parker, Cheyenne 6' 4" (1.93m)193 lb (88kg)1993-08-22 Middle Tennessee 7
C 7 Flag of the United States.svg Vaughn, Kia 6' 4" (1.93m)205 lb (93kg)1987-01-24 Rutgers 12
G 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Wallace, Kristy 5' 11" (1.8m)157 lb (71kg)1996-01-03 Baylor R
G 17 Flag of the United States.svg Wheeler, Erica 5' 7" (1.7m)143 lb (65kg)1991-05-02 Rutgers 6
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Tanisha Wright (Penn State)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Christie Sides (Louisiana Tech)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Paul Goriss
Flag of the United States.svg Barbara Turner (Connecticut)
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Natalie Trotter
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Drew Williams

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Depth

Pos.StarterBench
C Cheyenne Parker Kia Vaughn
Beatrice Mompremier
PF Nia Coffey Cruz Roja.svg Monique Billings Cruz Roja.svg
Naz Hillmon
SF Rhyne Howard Maya Caldwell
SG Kristy Wallace AD Durr Cruz Roja.svg
Tiffany Hayes Cruz Roja.svg
PG Erica Wheeler Aari McDonald

Schedule

Preseason

2022 pre-season game log
Total: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
April: 1–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1April 24 Washington W 88–69 Kristy Wallace (17) Monique Billings (10) Aari McDonald (6) Gateway Center Arena
854
1–0
May : 0–1 (Home: 0–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
2May 1@ Connecticut L 78–94 Aari McDonald (12) Billings/Hillmon (5) Caldwell/Howard/Parker (3) Mohegan Sun Arena
3,244
1–1
2022 pre-season schedule

Regular season

2022 game log
Total: 14–22 (Home: 8–10; Road: 6–12)
July : 3–7 (Home: 1–4; Road: 2–3)
August : 2–4 (Home: 2–1; Road: 0–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
31August 3 Indiana W 91–81 Rhyne Howard (20) Maya Caldwell (7) Caldwell
McDonald (6)
Gateway Center Arena
2,071
13–18
32August 5 Los Angeles W 88–86 Rhyne Howard (28) Naz Hillmon (9) Erica Wheeler (4) Gateway Center Arena
3,138
14–18
33August 7@ Minnesota L 71–81 R. Howard
McDonald (16)
Naz Hillmon (7) Cheyenne Parker (5) Target Center
9,421
14–19
34August 9@ Las Vegas L 90–97 Caldwell
Wheeler (17)
Naz Hillmon (8) McDonald
Ch. Parker (5)
Michelob Ultra Arena
5,151
14–20
35August 12 New York L 70–80 Erica Wheeler (16) Monique Billings (9) Erica Wheeler (3) Gateway Center Arena
3,138
14–21
36August 14@ New York L 83–87 Rhyne Howard (24) Naz Hillmon (7) Rhyne Howard (7) Barclays Center
7,489
14–22
2022 season schedule

Standings

# W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1xLas Vegas Aces 2610.72215–313–513–59–1
2xChicago Sky 2610.72215–314–412–69–1
3xConnecticut Sun 2511.6941.011–713–512–65–5
4xSeattle Storm 2214.6114.010–813–59–96–4
5xWashington Mystics 2214.6114.011–712–610–85–5
6xDallas Wings 1818.5008.08–108–1010–85–5
7xNew York Liberty 1620.44410.010–89–97–116–4
8xPhoenix Mercury 1521.41711.07–1111–74–143–7
9eMinnesota Lynx 1422.38912.08–107–117–114–6
10eAtlanta Dream 1422.38912.05–138–106–123–7
11eLos Angeles Sparks 1323.36113.06–127–116–123–7
12eIndiana Fever 531.13921.02–163–152–162–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Rhyne Howard 343431.4.361.343.7924.52.81.60.816.2
Tiffany Hayes 111127.5.545.429.6833.62.10.70.116.2
Cheyenne Parker 363526.2.500.218.7956.22.01.10.911.8
Aari McDonald 36624.3.411.338.8712.32.61.40.011.1
Maya Caldwell 9723.8.514.563.8002.42.20.80.210.9
AD Durr 15219.9.422.458.7741.91.70.30.110.7
Erica Wheeler 303026.3.355.329.7563.13.91.10.18.4
Kristy Wallace 291820.8.407.3687862.32.20.60.26.6
Monique Billings 23817.4.470.000.7656.31.10.80.36.5
Nia Coffey 161621.0.347.290.7425.20.80.60.16.4
Destiny Slocum 3013.7.364.333.6001.31.30.00.04.7
Naz Hillmon 341219.8.480.000.8215.11.20.60.34.4
Megan Walker 1209.6.368.368.6670.80.40.30.03.3
Kia Vaughn 29113.8.400.000.6923.20.90.30.32.5
Beatrice Mompremier 2108.3.455.000.3852.80.40.10.62.1
Yvonne Turner 208.0.000.000.5001.00.50.50.00.5
Kaila Charles 102.0.000.000.0000.00.00.00.00.0


Waived/Released during the season
Traded during the season
Acquired during the season

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Rhyne Howard Eastern Conference Player of the Week May 16 [34]
WNBA Rookie of the Month - May June 1 [35]
WNBA All-Star Selection June 28 [36]
WNBA Rookie of the Month - June July 5 [37]
WNBA Rookie of the Month - July August 2 [38]
WNBA Rookie of the Month - August August 16 [39]
WNBA Rookie of the Year August 25 [40]
WNBA All-Rookie Team August 25 [41]

References

  1. "Atlanta Dream 2022 Season Schedule". WNBA.com. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  2. "Atlanta Dream names Tanisha Wright as Head Coach". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  3. "Atlanta Dream names Dan Padover as General Manager, Darius Taylor as Assistant General Manager". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  4. "WNBA Transactions – Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  5. "Rachel Galligan Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  6. "Dream Sign Jaylyn Agnew to training-camp contract". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  7. "Atlanta Dream PR Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
  8. "Maite Cazorla to Forego 2022 WNBA Season". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
  9. "WNBA Transactions – Player Movement". acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  10. "Atlanta Acquires Kia Vaughn in Trade". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 31, 2022.
  11. "Dream Bring Back Hayes, Coffey as Key Pieces to 2022 Roster". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  12. "Richard Cohen Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  13. "Richard Cohen Tweet 2". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  14. "Dream Re-Sign Monique Billings". wnba.com. WNBA. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  15. Nusbaum, Spencer. "Spencer Nusbaum Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  16. "Dream Acquire Erica Wheeler, 2023 First Round Pick and 2022 Second Round Pick in Trade with Sparks". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  17. "Dream Sign Aggies Jones, Hillsman to training-camp contracts". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  18. "Dream Sign Kristy Wallace". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  19. "Dream Sign Maya Caldwell to training-camp contract". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  20. "Atlanta Dream Head coach Tanisha Wright Finalizes Coaching and Development Staff". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 9, 2022.
  21. "Dream Lands 2022 Number One Overall Draft Pick". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  22. "Dream Sign Georgia's Que Morrison to training-camp contract". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  23. "The Atlanta Dream announced today the team has waived center Khaalia Hillsman". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  24. "The Atlanta Dream announced today the team has waived guard Que Morrison". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  25. "The Atlanta Dream announced today the team has waived forward N'Dea Jones". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  26. "The Atlanta Dream announced today the team has waived forward Jaylyn Agnew". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  27. Atlanta Dream PR. "The Atlanta Dream have been awarded Beatrice Mompremier off waivers". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
  28. "Atlanta Dream Acquire AD in Trade with New York". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
  29. "Dream Sign Destiny Slocum". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  30. "Dream Sign Maya Caldwell". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  31. "Dream Sign Yvonne Turner". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  32. "Maya Caldwell Returns to Dream on Hardship Contract". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  33. Atlanta Dream [@AtlantaDream] (August 12, 2022). "ROSTER UPDATE: The Atlanta Dream has signed Kaila Charles to a hardship contract. She will be available for tonight's game. #DoItForTheDream" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  34. @WNBA (May 16, 2022). "Players of the Week are in! @_ajawilson22 and @howard_rhyne getting the season started right!👏" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  35. @WNBA (June 1, 2022). "From No. 1 Draft pick to @KIA WNBA Rookie of the Month 🔥 Congrats, @howard_rhyne 👏 #MoreThan" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  36. "Chicago Sky Trio of Kahleah Copper, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot Highlight Reserves for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  37. @WNBA (July 5, 2022). "BACK TO BACK @Kia Rookie of the Month honors for @howard_rhyne 🤩👏" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  38. @WNBA (August 2, 2022). "BACK TO BACK TO BACK @KIA Rookie of the Month honors for @howard_rhyne 👏" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  39. @WNBA (August 16, 2022). "ANOTHER ONE 🚨 For the 4th consecutive time this season, @howard_rhyne is your @KIA #WNBA Rookie of the Month 🙌 #MoreThan" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  40. "Atlanta Dream's Rhyne Howard Named 2022 Kia Rookie of the Year". wnba.com (Press release). WNBA. August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  41. Maloney, Jack (August 25, 2022). "2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year: Dream's Rhyne Howard wins honor, highlights All-Rookie team". cbssports.com. CBS . Retrieved August 25, 2022.