Atlanta Dream Announces Opening-Night Roster
June 4, 2015 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release
ATLANTA, June 4, 2015 - The Atlanta Dream, under the leadership of co-owners Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler, has announced its opening-night roster of 12 players that will suit up when the Dream opens the 2015 WNBA season on June 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET in Madison Square Garden against the New York Liberty.
The Dream's roster includes nine players who finished the 2014 season as members of the Dream, including the entire front court. Holdovers from the 2014 season include guard Matee Ajavon, center Nadia Colhado, center Erika de Souza, guard Tiffany Hayes, forward/center Aneika Henry, forward Sancho Lyttle, guard/forward Angel McCoughtry, forward DeLisha Milton-Jones and guard Shoni Schimmel. Another member of last year's squad, Céline Dumerc, is suspended for the 2015 season while fulfilling her French National Team commitment.
The returning players, which include the top five scorers from a year ago, accounted for most of the production from last year's squad which for the first time in team history claimed the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the playoffs. Players who accounted for 2,550 of Atlanta's 2,740 points (93.1 percent) are on the opening-night roster, while the Dream also returns players who accounted for 93.2 percent of its rebounds, 89.8 percent of its assists, 93.3 percent of its steals and 94.5 percent of its blocks.
The Dream returns five players who have been named to WNBA All-Star teams during their careers (de Souza, Lyttle, McCoughtry, Milton-Jones and Schimmel), plus a former All-Rookie Team member in Hayes. Four of the players are Olympians, with McCoughtry and Milton-Jones (twice) earning gold medals with the United States and Colhado and de Souza competing for Brazil.
The three newcomers on the squad include one long-time veteran and a pair of rookies. Eleventh-year guard Roneeka Hodges was the team's lone free agent acquisition after starting all 34 games for Tulsa a year ago. Guard Samantha Logic was the team's first-round draft pick (No. 10 overall) in the April draft, while guard Erica Wheeler made the team after not even starting training camp as part of the roster.
The three-time Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream opens its eighth season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) on June 5 at New York, with the home opener slated for Sunday, June 7 at 3 p.m. ET vs. the Connecticut Sun. The Dream, which plays its home games at Philips Arena, has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past six seasons, winning conference titles in 2013, 2011 and 2010. Season and single-game tickets for the 2015 season can be purchased by calling (877) 977-7729 or visiting www.AtlantaDream.net.
• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...
Women's National Basketball Association Stories from June 4, 2015
- Chicago Sky Roster Set for 2015 Home Opener - Chicago Sky
- Tulsa Shock Set Final Roster Entering 2015 Season - Tulsa Shock
- San Antonio Stars Set Opening Night Roster - San Antonio Stars
- Johnson-Griner to Miss 2015 WNBA Season - Tulsa Shock
- 12-Player Roster Announced for Regular Season - Indiana Fever
- Atlanta Dream Announces Opening-Night Roster - Atlanta Dream
- 2015 WNBA.com GM Survey Taps Minnesota Lynx to Win Title - WNBA
- Lauren Hill Tribute Planned for Sunday, June 14 - Indiana Fever
- DraftKings Becomes Marquee Partner of the New York Liberty - New York Liberty
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Atlanta Dream Stories
- Atlanta Dream Sell out Season Ticket Allotment; Limited Single Game Tickets Available to Public on April 25
- Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray to Represent USA Basketball 3x3 at 2024 FIBA Women's Series in Springfield
- Atlanta Dream Sign Three Players to Training Camp Contracts
- Dream Bolster Roster with Youth and International Experience with Three Picks in 2024 WNBA Draft
- Dream Bolster Roster with Youth and International Experience with Three Picks in 2024 WNBA Draft