The Atlanta Dream took root in metro Atlanta more than a decade ago, but in recent years the team has transformed its personnel and connection with fans.
The Dream had a short playoff run this year, but this team isn’t the only organization gaining popularity. The WNBA as a whole is booming.
During this year’s regular season, Dream fans are committed to showing great enthusiasm and support, especially during home games in College Park. Fan support at Gateway Arena has resulted in the most sold-out home games than any other team in the league, according to the WNBA.
Fans like Xykeira Sims say they are so passionate about the organization because of players like Cheyenne Parker and Rhyne Howard.
“It was hype!” I got to a game about two months ago, maybe,” Sims said. “I fell in love with Ryan and Cheyenne…I really love what the Atlanta Dream is doing here.”
Named after Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a dream” In his speech, the team fought hard and clinched their first playoff berth since 2018. They fell short after back-to-back first-round losses.
Even though the playoffs didn’t pay off, the Dream had a historic run as new ownership helped rebuild the team and fan experience more than two years ago.
Former WNBA player Tanisha Wright enters her third year as Atlanta’s new head coach (Matthew Pearson/WABE).
Morgan Shaw Parker is the COO of Dream. She says starting over on the subway was worth it.
“We’re going to be from Atlanta,” Parker said. “When the new owners bought the team, they inherited a startup with a lot of baggage… and when you’re starting from scratch, it takes a lot of time, a lot of perseverance, a lot of repetition. And I think we’re getting there.
Even off the field, Dream general manager Dan Padover says the evidence of organizational change is clear.
“When I walk down the street in an Atlanta Dream jersey, people know who we are,” Padover said. “They are delighted to talk about the Dream. And they’re excited to talk about the WNBA. This was not always the case 5, 10, 15 or 20 years ago.
The league as a whole has seen higher levels of support in recent years.
According to a September study report According to the WNBA, this year’s regular season was the most watched since 2002.
Sabreena Merchant covers women’s basketball for The Athletic. She says broadcasting games on national networks, social media and streaming products is helping the league grow.
At one point, Merchant said she had trouble watching a game at a bar.
“I had to beg and plead with this bartender to turn the channel to ESPN2 just to watch the game,” Merchant said. “But you know, now we’re at the point where it’s not a problem anymore…everywhere I go I can find women’s sports on TV.”
Merchant says other issues, like racial disparities in who gets publicity, face the league as its popularity grows. She says more than half of the players are black women, but the attention isn’t always evenly distributed.
Merchant adds that more topics need to be included in the discussion, such as competition for the league’s Most Valuable Player award.
But for now, Merchant said, the Dream has a lot of pieces to work on for next season.
“I know they’ve had some execution issues over time, but it’s the growing pains that come as you get better and better,” Merchant said.
Next season will be the third year for the Dream’s new staff and coaches, but they plan to keep the energy up as fans anticipate their return.
