5/6/25
First Look: Atlanta Dream vs. Washington Mystics – Preseason Preview
The Atlanta Dream open their preseason with a home matchup against the Washington Mystics, offering fans their first look at a remade roster and a fresh direction under new head coach Karl Smesko and a new team of assistants. With a mix of returning veteran talent and intriguing additions—plus a bold new offensive vision—the Dream are looking to take the next step in a loaded WNBA landscape. Some preseason power rankings have Atlanta in the top five for the upcoming season, while others place the Dream in the middle of the pack.
Here’s what to watch heading into this first preseason game:
Who Makes the Roster?
The Dream enter the preseason with perhaps eight players considered roster locks, according to insiders Richard Cohen of Her Hoop Stats and Reddit user Velocisexual whose final roster predictions are always excellent reads:
- Brittney Griner
- Brionna Jones
- Jordin Canada
- Allisha Gray
- Nia Coffey
- Shatori Walker-Kimbrough
- Rhyne Howard
- Naz Hillmon
That leaves three roster spots up for grabs, based on Atlanta’s cap space situation.
Haley Jones, who spent time developing in Australia and claimed in a video posted by Pitch Mr. Perfect on Bluesky to be living by the “10 Carlmandments” (Karl Smesko’s coaching philosophies), is on the bubble. Her case for inclusion may depend on her ability to take on a new role in Smesko’s spacing-heavy system, her improvement handling the ball, and her offseason work playing off the ball.
Second-round pick Te-Hina Paopao, a sharpshooting guard with first-round talent, seems to have an edge thanks to her fit in a three-point-happy offense.
The final spot would then be up for grabs between:
- Shyanne Sellers, the versatile Maryland guard who surprisingly fell to the second round and was cut by Golden State in a puzzling decision based on “fit” rather than “skill.”
- Emani Jefferson, Maya Caldwell, Ashley Joens, 3rd-round rookie Taylor Thierry, and undrafted Maria Gakdeng.
Sellers’ potential fit with Atlanta’s “goggles” energy makes her one to watch. But her spot could come at the cost of a fan-favorite like Haley Jones—a possibility that would sting for many.
What’s Been Said
Dream assistant coach Brandi Poole recently sat down for a podcast interview with Howard Megdal of The Next, providing valuable insight into Atlanta’s vision. She praised Brionna “BJ” Jones as a cerebral, fundamentally sound post who will be a critical piece in the frontcourt.
Poole predicted that Atlanta’s shot chart would resemble that of Florida Gulf Coast’s high-volume, perimeter-focused system. This is no surprise given Karl Smesko’s offensive background—but it’s a big change for Atlanta. She called for more threes from both BJ and Griner (who have both averaged .1 three-pointers per game throughout their careers) and emphasized the importance of pushing Rhyne Howard’s FG% above 40% (her career average is 37%).
Poole also noted how Allisha Gray’s elite efficiency will be vital in this new system and praised Griner’s leadership, especially as she transitions to a new market with (likely) less media pressure than Phoenix.
Things to Look For
- Rhyne Howard’s shot selection and confidence – Will the new offense open up better looks?
- How many threes BJ and BG take – If they’re stepping out, that’s a big signal of the system shift.
- Shyanne Sellers’ minutes – Is she playing early and often? Is she guarding multiple positions?
- Haley Jones’ usage – Does she have a clearly defined role or seem adrift?
- Te-Hina Paopao off the bench – Can she knock down shots consistently against pro-level defense?
- Bench energy and leadership – Who’s vocal? Who’s showing chemistry?
Highlighting the Opponent: Washington Mystics
Washington enters a transitional season, moving on from the Thibault family era after parting with long-time GM Mike and head coach Eric. The franchise is focusing on its young core while still leaning on proven vets.
Rookie guard Georgia Amoore is out with an ACL tear, and though no return timeline has been announced, her loss shifts attention to other young standouts:
- Sonia Citron impressed in her debut and could carve out a major role.
- Kiki Iriafen, the versatile Stanford forward, brings toughness and rebounding.
- Aaliyah Edwards continues to rise and may be their most complete young player.
Veteran leadership comes from:
- Shakira Austin, looking to solidify her status as a franchise big.
- Brittney Sykes, a former Dream player drafted 7th overall by Atlanta in 2017 (who was runner-up Rookie of the Year to Allisha Gray), now playing a key leadership role.
- Big Mama Stefanie Dolson, a reliable post presence known for toughness and smart play.
The Mystics will be experimenting with lineups and rotations, aiming to identify the best complements to their young nucleus. That means plenty of edge players seeing time—perfect for a preseason test like this.
Final Thoughts
This game offers the first glimpse of the new Dream identity. From Brionna Jones’ return to Shyanne Sellers’ chance at redemption, and from Rhyne Howard’s shot selection to BG’s quieter new home, there’s plenty to watch. Whether this group gels quickly or needs time, this preseason tilt will offer early clues about what’s to come.
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