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In second year, Atlanta Dream clinches first playoff berth
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The Atlanta Dream clinch its first WNBA Playoff berth as a second seed, defeating the 
Connecticut Sun at home 88-64. Angel McCoughtry led all scores with 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Sandrine Gruda contributed 16 points and 6 rebounds for the Sun. Absent for the Dream was Chamique Holdsclaw who is recovering from surgery on her right knee. She is listed as day-to-day. Connecticut’s Asjha Jones did not play due to a strained left Achilles.
In one of the quickest turnarounds for a WNBA team, the Atlanta Dream went from an unequipped new franchise into a tough adversary, making the playoff in only its second year of existence.
A season ago, Atlanta won only 4 games, its first win coming 18 games into the season. Revamping its entire roster, head coach and general manager Marynell Meadors kept only four players from the inaugural squad – Erika de Souza, Ivory Latta, Jennifer Lacy, and Iziane Castro Marques. The Dream acquired Michelle Snow, Coco Miller, and Sancho Lyttle, coaxed Chamique Holdsclaw from retirement, drafted top pick Angel McCoughtry and Shalee Lehning, and recently traded Tamera Young from Chicago for Armintie Price. With a practically new roster, the Dream is currently 18-15 with one game remaining in the regular season against Washington. With the anticipated return of Holdsclaw for the playoffs, this team will be tough to beat. McCouughtry has been playing exceptionally well after a slow start to her WNBA career. Erika de Souza has evolved into a reliable starter for the Dream since her move from Connecticut. Taken in the third round of the 2009 WNBA Draft, Lehning is evidently a solid point guard. The acquisition of talent this year has proved pivotal in the improvements of this team. How far the Dream will go in the playoffs is still to be determined. Atlanta has played well against Detroit (3-1) and Washington (2-1), but has stumbled against Indiana (1-2) and Chicago (0-3).
Atlanta’s quick rise to success illustrates the importance of front office management and ownership. The accomplishments of the Dream this season should make an impression upon other WNBA franchises (ahem New York) that it is possible for any team to make a swift, constructive transformation.
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