The Atlanta Dream are hoping for a quick infusion from young players after going 14-22 last season.
The Dream had two picks in the top eight, and three overall, in Monday night’s WNBA Draft.
Atlanta selected Stanford guard Haley Jones with the sixth overall pick and South Carolina forward Laeticia Amihere with the eighth pick. The Dream also had the 15th pick and drafted guard Leigha Brown of Michigan.
The Dream will add the trio to a roster that includes 2022 WNBA rookie of the year Rhyne Howard, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the draft in 2022.
“We targeted two players at 6 and 8 and feel very fortunate to have landed both of them,” said Dream general manager Dan Padover. “Haley has played at an elite level her entire life and is a versatile guard who will complement our backcourt in a variety of ways. Laeticia is a unique talent with endless potential, and we are looking forward to seeing her growth at the pro level. Leigha is an ultra-competitor who can play multiple positions. We are excited that this year’s draft will bring another influx of youth and excitement to this roster.”
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Jones, who is 6-foot-1 and was a four-year starter and three-time All-American, averaged 13 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game over her four-year college career. She was named most outstanding player at the 2021 NCAA Tournament. Jones averaged 13.5 points, nine rebounds and four assists per game as a senior.
“We’re excited to have Haley as a part of the Dream,” head coach Tanisha Wright said. “Haley is somebody who we know is a good kid and she is going to be a great culture fit here. She shows extreme versatility in her game, has the ability to play multiple positions and does a lot of different things well while also making others around her better.”
Amihere is a 6-4 Canadian and averaged 7.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game and shot 48.7% in her last college season. She averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in four years. She helped lead the Gamecocks to three Final Fours, including the 2022 national championship, along with three SEC regular-season championships and three SEC tournament titles.
“Laeticia’s size and athleticism are going to translate very well and will turn her into a long-term player in this league,” Wright said. “Her work ethic and willingness to come in and get better are really going to make her a special player for us.”
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Brown is 6-1 and played five seasons in college. In her final season, she averaged 17.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game. She was a first team All-Big Ten selection last season, her third at Michigan after starting her career at Nebraska.
“There’s a toughness and a tenacity about Brown that I really like,” Wright said. “She plays with a chip on her shoulder and isn’t afraid to go to battle – that mindset will give her an advantage as she comes in every day and competes for us.”
No players from Georgia colleges were picked in the three-round draft.
Aliyah Boston of South Carolina was the No. 1 pick, going to the Indiana Fever. Boston is a three-time Associated Press All-American who also was the Player of the Year as a junior.
