Atlanta Dream Strengthens Coaching Ranks with ā¤Veteran Additions
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The Atlanta Dream announced a critically importent boost āto its coaching staff on Monday, January 6, ā£2025, welcoming WNBA veterans LaToya Sanders and Brandi Poole as assistant coaches. The teamā£ alsoā¤ celebrated the promotion of Brooklyn Cartwright to assistant general manager.
Head Coach Karl āSmesko expressed hisā enthusiasm about the new additions, stating, “LaToya and Brandiā£ bring invaluable WNBA experience, including deep postseason success, to our staff. Their leadership, knowledge, and passion for the game ā¢will beā£ instrumental as we continue to build a winning culture in Atlanta. We are blessed to āhave them join the Dream.”
LaToya Sanders: A ā£Champion’s Mentorship
sanders brings a wealth of experience to Atlanta,ā¢ having spent the last three years with the Washington Mystics, āmost recently ā£serving as associate head coach. Her remarkable seven-year WNBA playing career culminated in a championship ā¢victoryā¢ with the Mystics in 2019.On joining the Dream, Sanders shared, “Iām excited to joinā the Atlanta Dream ā¤and work with such a talented team and staff. This is a tremendous opportunity to contribute toā the continued growth and success of the institution.”
Brandi ā¢Poole: Decades of Basketball Excellence
Poole’s impressive resumeā£ boasts over two decades of leadership in basketball,encompassing bothā¤ WNBA and collegiate coaching. ā¢ Her five-year stint as an assistant coach with the āConnecticut Sun standsā¢ out, where āshe contributed to a remarkable 105-53 record and two āWNBA Finals appearances. ā¤Poole commented, “Karl Smesko is aā highly respected coach, and I look forward to learning from and working beside him. His ābasketball acumen andā characterā are second to none.I am grateful to both āhim and Dan Padover for believing in my abilities to contribute positively to theā£ future of the Atlanta Dream and compete for a WNBA Championship.”
Brooklyn Cartwright: A Rising Star in the Front Office
Cartwright’s promotion to assistant general āmanager recognizes her significantā contributions since joining the Dream in 2021 as director of basketball operations. She has played aā¢ crucial role in shapingā£ the team’s strategic ādirection, collaborating closely with the coachingā¤ staff and front office.Expressing her gratitude, Cartwright stated, “I am thrilled to take on this new role with the Atlanta Dream and deeply grateful to our ownership, General Manager Dan Padover,ā and the entire organization for their unwavering support and ābelief ā¢in me. This promotion āis a testament to the incredible culture weāve builtāa culture that champions hard work, collaboration, and a relentlessā pursuit of excellence. Iāmā¢ excited to continue contributing to the Dreamās growthā¢ both on and off theā£ court.”
With these strategic additions, the Atlanta Dream is poised for a strong season ahead, building on a foundation of talent and experience.
Atlanta Dreamā Makes Big Moves: Expert Discusses Impact of Coaching Staff Additions
The Atlanta Dream announced a wave of exciting changes to thier coaching staff on monday, January 6, 2025.The team welcomed WNBA veterans LaToya Sanders and Brandi ā£Poole as assistant coaches, while also promoting Brooklyn Cartwright to assistant general manager.Theseā¤ strategic additions ā¢signal a strong commitment to building a winning culture in Atlanta.
To betterā¤ understand the potential impact of theseā changes, we spoke with Zack Miller, a ā¢basketball analyst and columnistā£ whoā¢ has closely followed the WNBA for over a decade.
World Today News: Zack, what are your initial thoughts on the Dream’s coaching staff shakeup?
Zack Miller: it’s a fantastic move by the Dream. Bringing āin experienced veteransā¤ like LaToya Sanders and āBrandi Poole, both with notable WNBA credentials, is a major boost.ā¢ They bring a wealthā of āknowledge,both asā players āand coaches,and can offer invaluable mentorship ā¤to the younger players.
World Today News: Sanders won a championship with the Mystics in 2019. How notable is that experience for a team ālooking to contend?
Zack Miller: Championship experience is invaluable. LaToya knows what it takes to win at the highest ālevel,andā¢ she canā¤ instill that mentality inā£ the āDream players. ā¢ She’s also proven her coaching abilities with the Mystics, so she’sā¤ a ā£valuable asset on bothā fronts.
World Today News: What strengths ā¢does Brandiā¢ Poole bring to the Dream?
Zack miller: ā£ Poole’s resume speaks for itself. Her five-year ā¤stint with the Connecticut ā£Sun, including reaching theā¤ WNBA Finals twice, demonstrates her ability to contribute to a successful program. She’s known for her strategic thinking and player development skills, makingā¤ her a greatā complement to Coach Smesko.
World ā£Today News: Brooklyn Cartwright’s promotion is also noteworthy. Howā£ critically important is it to have strong leadership in the front office?
Zack Miller: ā£It’s crucial. Cartwright’s promotion showsā the Dream’s commitment to internal development andā¢ recognizes her contributions to āthe association. A strong front office creates a stableā¢ habitat for success, bothā¤ on and off the court.
World Today News: how do you see these additions impacting the Dream’s prospects for the upcoming season?
Zackā Miller: I believe the Dream hasā made significant strides towards becoming ā£a genuine contender.
Adding proven coaching ā¢talent and demonstrating a commitment to internal āgrowth sends a strong message.Coach Smesko ā£now has a formidable staff ā¢around him, and with the right players, ā£the Dream can certainly make a deep playoff run.
