With WNBA free company starting later this month, groups throughout the league are persevering with to finalize their 2025 teaching workers and entrance workplace members. On Monday afternoon, the Atlanta Dream introduced a number of new hires; the group will usher in LaToya Sanders and Brandi Poole as brand-new assistant coaches whereas selling Brooklyn Cartwright to assistant common supervisor.
Two skilled WNBA assistants be a part of Karl Semsko on the Atlanta Dream
In November, the Dream formally employed Florida Golf Coast College’s head coach, Karl Smesko, to take over head teaching duties from Tanisha Wright. (Wright can be an assistant head coach on the Chicago Sky subsequent season). Smesko has lengthy been considered certainly one of ladies’s faculty basketball’s prime coaches, however he didn’t have any WNBA teaching expertise.
His two assistants, nevertheless, do have in depth WNBA expertise, and due to this fact, they need to increase Semsko’s skillset properly.
LaToya Sanders served as an assistant coach on the Washington Mystics for 3 years, most lately because the staff’s affiliate head coach. Previous to that, she performed within the WNBA for 7 years, profitable a championship with the Mystics in 2019.
Poole, in the meantime, has in depth teaching expertise in each the WNBA and in faculty. She was an assistant coach on the Connecticut Solar for 5 years, the place she helped lead the staff to a 105-53 report and two Finals appearances. She additionally beforehand served as an assistant coach at Texas Tech, Indiana, Bowling Inexperienced, and West Virginia.
“LaToya and Brandi carry invaluable WNBA expertise, together with deep postseason success, to our workers,” stated Smesko, within the staff’s official assertion. “Their management, data, and fervour for the sport can be instrumental as we proceed to construct a profitable tradition in Atlanta. We’re lucky to have them be a part of the Dream.”
Sanders and Poole each expressed their pleasure about becoming a member of Smesko’s staff.
“I’m excited to affix the Atlanta Dream and work with such a gifted staff and workers,” stated Sanders. “It is a great alternative to contribute to the continued progress and success of the group.”
“Karl Smesko is a extremely revered coach, and I look ahead to studying from and dealing beside him,” stated Poole. “His basketball acumen and character are second to none. I’m grateful to each him and Dan Padover for believing in my talents to contribute positively to the way forward for the Atlanta Dream and compete for a WNBA Championship.”
It’s seemingly that different groups who opted to rent new head coaches with out WNBA expertise will observe go well with in deciding on assistants who do have that form of expertise. For instance, the Los Angeles Sparks employed Lynne Roberts out of the College of Utah, and should equally select so as to add a number of assistants with WNBA expertise. The Connecticut Solar employed French coach Rachid Meziane and in addition could need to complement his expertise with assistants who’ve extra direct WNBA expertise.
Dream promote Brooklyn Cartwright to assistant common supervisor
Along with the 2 assistant coach hires, the Dream introduced the promotion of Brooklyn Cartwright to function the staff’s new assistant common supervisor. Cartwright, who joined the Dream because the director of basketball operations in 2021, has labored intently with common supervisor Dan Padover for 4 seasons.
“This promotion is a testomony to the unbelievable tradition we’ve constructed—a tradition that champions onerous work, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” stated Cartwright within the staff’s official press launch.
Padover expressed his enthusiasm for Cartwright’s promotion.
“Brooklyn’s progress inside our group has been exceptional,” Padover stated. “She has rapidly develop into one of many rising leaders and basketball executives within the WNBA.”
In 2025, the Dream will look to enhance upon final yr’s Eighth-place end. Final season, they completed the yr with a 15-25 report, dropping to the New York Liberty in two video games within the first spherical of the playoffs.
In 2024, Atlanta was led by Rhyne Howard (17.3 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists), Allisha Grey (15.6 factors, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists), Tina Charles (14.9 factors, 9.6 rebounds), and Jordin Canada (10.6 factors, 5.8 assists). That’s a stable core of two All-Stars in Howard and Grey, one of many biggest put up gamers in WNBA historical past in Charles, and the most effective guard defenders within the league in Canada.
However, the staff handled a myriad of accidents, with Howard lacking a lot of the first half of the season and Canada being out and in of the lineup with damage.
Howard, Grey, and Canada are all taking part in in Unequalled this offseason, the brand new 3-on-3 basketball league that may tip-off on Jan. 17 in Miami. If that core can keep wholesome, and if the Dream could make a splash in free company, Atlanta will look to make a extra vital playoff push subsequent season.