NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, CFL stats



Atlanta Dream

Dream Finalize Three-Team Trade with Minnesota and Chicago

July 27, 2015 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Atlanta Dream News Release


ATLANTA, July 27, 2015 - The Atlanta Dream has announced that it has completed a three-team trade Monday with the Minnesota Lynx and Chicago Sky.

The Dream has dealt veteran center Erika de Souza to Chicago and in exchange has received second-year forward Damiris Dantas and rookie Reshanda Gray from Minnesota along with the rights to the Lynx' first-round selection in the upcoming 2016 WNBA Draft.

Chicago will send Sylvia Fowles and the rights to its own 2016 second-round pick to Minnesota to complete the three-team swap.

"Damiris Dantas is an emerging young player who has earned a place in this league," Atlanta Dream head coach Michael Cooper said. She adds another skill player to our front line and can also step out and hit the jumper. She brings youth to our roster which is what we need."

Dantas, a 6-3 forward from Brazil, is in her second professional season and had appeared in 46 games (27 starts) while averaging 5.9 points and 4.5 rebounds. Her career field goal percentage is a solid .532 (107-for-201). She has seen action in three postseason contests. Dantas was Minnesota's first-round selection (12 th overall) in the 2012 WNBA Draft. She also represented her native country Brazil at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

"Reshanda Gray is a very good young player in this league," Cooper said. "She is a tough player who competes on the boards at both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor. She is versatile and can play and guard a number of different positions. She will also add to the overall skill and youthfulness on our roster and adds a lot of skill and physicality to the four-spot."

Gray, a 6-4 forward, has played in a total of 10 games during her rookie season after being selected 16 th overall by Minnesota in the 2015 WNBA Draft. She should see an increased opportunity for playing time in Atlanta after logging an average of 3.7 minutes per contest this season with the Lynx while recording averages of 0.6 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.2 blocks in that limited action. Gray played collegiately at California where she was recognized as the 2015 Pac-12 Player of the Year and a finalist for both the Wade Trophy and Wooden Award while recording averages of 17.4 points and 7.1 rebounds.

"As we look to make a strong playoff push in the second half of the season, we are excited to add two young and very talented post players to our roster," Atlanta Dream President and General Manager Angela Taylor said. "Damiris and Reshanda both are versatile posts who bring skillsets that will complement the other players on our roster. Both should make an immediate and long-term impact on our franchise."

"While we are thrilled about these new additions," Taylor continued "the organization also wants to thank Erika de Souza for all that she has done on the court and in the greater Atlanta community during her eight seasons with the Dream. We will forever be grateful for her contributions to this organization's success."

de Souza played a total of seven-plus seasons in Atlanta where she saw action in a total of 211 regular-season games (207 starts) and was a member of three Eastern Conference Title winning squads. She totaled 2,527 points, 1,784 rebounds, 295 blocks and 232 steals during her Dream tenure.

In addition, de Souza appeared in 28 playoff games for the Dream, opening as the starter in each of those 28. She has helped guide Atlanta to six consecutive postseason appearances and three WNBA Finals (2010, 2011, 2013) while averaging 10.8 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. She currently ranks 15 th on the WNBA's all-time rebounding list with a 7.5 per game average and sits in ninth place on the league's all-time field goal percentage list at .533.

TRANSACTION: Atlanta Dream trade Erika de Souza to the Chicago Sky in exchange for the rights to the Minnesota Lynx' first-round draft pick in the 2016 WNBA Draft along with Damiris Dantas and Reshanda Gray. Minnesota receives Sylvia Fowles from Chicago and the rights to the Sky's 2016 second-round pick.

The three-time Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream is in its eighth season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

The Dream plays their home games at Philips Arena. Atlanta 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.

Check out the Atlanta Dream Statistics

• Discuss this story on the Women's National Basketball Association message board...

Women's National Basketball Association Stories from July 27, 2015


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.

OurSports Central