2022 Atlanta Dream season explained

The 2022 WNBA season was the 15th season for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association. The team began the season on May 14, 2022, on the road against the Dallas Wings.^[1]

This was the first season for new head coach Tanisha Wright. Wright was hired on October 12, 2021.^[2] Dan Padover was hired as the team's new general manager, while Darius Taylor moved into the assistant general manager role - after serving as the team's interim head coach in the 2021 season.^[3]

The season stated well for Wright and the Dream, as they finished May 5–3. However, a stronger schedule in June slowed down their momentum as they finished the month 4–8, including a four game and three game losing streak. The Dream's struggles continued in July as they finished the month 3–7. One bright spot in the month was a win over regular season champions Las Vegas, in Las Vegas. The team lost their last four games of the season and finished 2–4 in August. They finished in tenth place overall, missing the playoffs by one game. Their fourteen wins were the most in a season since 2018 for the team.

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2022 WNBA draft.

Round	Pick	Player	Nationality	School/team/country
1	1	Rhyne Howard		Kentucky
2	15	Naz Hillmon		Michigan

Trades and Roster Changes

Date	Transaction
October 12, 2021	Hired Tanisha Wright as head coach
December 23, 2021	Renounced the rights to Mengran Sun^[4]
January 4, 2022	Extended Qualifying Offers to Monique Billings and Jaylyn Agnew^[5]
January 6, 2022	Signed Jaylyn Agnew to a Qualifying Offer ^[6]
January 13, 2022	Waived Tianna Hawkins^[7]
January 16, 2022	Suspended Maite Cazorla for Full-Season^[8]
January 18, 2022	Claimed Megan Walker off of Waivers^[9]
January 31, 2022	Traded a 2023 Third Round Pick to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for Kia Vaughn^[10]
February 1, 2022	Re-Signed Tiffany Hayes to a One-Year Deal^[11] ^[12]
	Signed Nia Coffey to a One-Year Deal^[13]
February 3, 2022	Re-Signed Monique Billings to a One-Year Deal^[14] ^[15]
February 5, 2022	Traded Chennedy Carter and the rights to Li Yueru to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Erica Wheeler, a 2023 First-Round Pick, and a 2022 Second Round Pick^[16]
February 15, 2022	Signed N'dea Jones and Khaalia Hillsman to training-camp contracts^[17]
February 21, 2022	Signed Kristy Wallace to a Rookie Contract^[18]
February 23, 2022	Signed Maya Caldwell to a training-camp contract^[19]
March 29, 2022	Hired Christie Sides, Paul Goriss and Barbara Turner as assistant coaches^[20]
April 6, 2022	Traded the #3 and #14 picks in the 2022 WNBA Draft, and the right to exchange 1st round picks with the Los Angeles Sparks (from the Erica Wheeler trade) to the Washington Mystics in exchange for the #1 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft^[21]
April 12, 2022	Signed Que Morrison to a training-camp contract^[22]
April 18, 2022	Signed Rhyne Howard and Naz Hillmon to rookie-scale contracts
April 22, 2022	Waived Khaalia Hillsmon ^[23]
April 23, 2022	Waived Que Morrison ^[24]
April 25, 2022	Waived N'dea Jones^[25]
April 27, 2022	Waived Jaylyn Agnew^[26]
May 5, 2022	Waived Maya Caldwell
	Temporarily Suspend Tiffany Hayes due to Overseas Commitments
May 6, 2022	Claimed Beatrice Mompremier of a waivers^[27]
May 13, 2022	Activated Tiffany Hayes from her Temporary Suspension
June 8, 2022	Traded Megan Walker and the rights to Raquel Carrera to the New York Liberty in exchange for AD^[28]
June 15, 2022	Signed Destiny Slocum to a Hardship Contract^[29]
June 20, 2022	Signed Maya Caldwell to a Hardship Contract^[30]
June 23, 2022	Released Destiny Slocum from her Hardship Contract
	Signed Yvonne Turner to a Hardship Contract^[31]
June 27, 2022	Released Yvonne Turner and Maya Caldwell from their Hardship Contracts
August 2, 2022	Signed Maya Caldwell to a 7-Day Hardship Contract^[32]
August 9, 2022	Signed Maya Caldwell to a Hardship Contract
August 11, 2022	Signed Kaila Charles to a Hardship Contract^[33]
	Temporarily Suspend Tiffany Hayes

Roster

Depth

Pos.	Starter	Bench
	C	Cheyenne Parker	Kia Vaughn Beatrice Mompremier
	PF	Nia Coffey	Monique Billings Naz Hillmon
	SF	Rhyne Howard	Maya Caldwell
	SG	Kristy Wallace	AD Durr Tiffany Hayes
	PG	Erica Wheeler	Aari McDonald

Schedule

Preseason

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| April 24| Washington| W 88–69| Kristy Wallace (17)| Monique Billings (10)| Aari McDonald (6)| Gateway Center Arena
854| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| May 1| @ Connecticut| L 78–94| Aari McDonald (12)| Billings/Hillmon (5)| Caldwell/Howard/Parker (3)| Mohegan Sun Arena
3,244| 1–1

Regular season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| May 7| @ Dallas| W 66–59| Rhyne Howard (16)| Monique Billings (14)| Rhyne Howard (4)| College Park Center
5,796| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| May 11| Los Angeles| W 77–75| Rhyne Howard (21)| Billings
Coffey
Howard (8)| Erica Wheeler (5)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 2–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| May 13| Las Vegas| L 73–96| Aari McDonald (20)| Coffey
Wheeler (7)| Parker
Wallace
Wheeler (3)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 2–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| May 15| @ Indiana| W 85–79| Rhyne Howard (33)| Coffey
Parker (6)| Kristy Wallace (3)| Gainbridge Fieldhouse
1,745| 3–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 5| May 17| @ Indiana| W 101–79| Rhyne Howard (19)| Aari McDonald (6)| Parker
Wheeler (6)| Gainbridge Fieldhouse
960| 4–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| May 20| Washington| L 73–78| Rhyne Howard (21)| Nia Coffey (10)| Kristy Wallace (5)| Gateway Center Arena
N/A| 4–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 7| May 24| @ Washington| L 50–70| Aari McDonald (10)| Parker
Wallace (7)| Erica Wheeler (4)| Entertainment and Sports Arena
2,867| 4–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 8| May 29| Phoenix| W 81–54| Kristy Wallace (17)| Cheyenne Parker (10)| Rhyne Howard (6)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 5–3|- style="background:#cfc;"| 9| June 1| Minnesota| W 84–76| Rhyne Howard (22)| Monique Billings (9)| Erica Wheeler (9)| Gateway Center Arena
1,268| 6–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 10| June 3| Chicago| L 65–73| Cheyenne Parker (19)| Cheyenne Parker (6)| Erica Wheeler (5)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 6–4|- style="background:#cfc;"| 11| June 5| Indiana| W 75–66| Coffey
Howard (16)| Nia Coffey (10)| Erica Wheeler (4)| Gateway Center Arena
3,000| 7–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 12| June 7| @ Seattle| L 60–72| Cheyenne Parker (13)| Cheyenne Parker (10)| Kristy Wallace (4)| Climate Pledge Arena
7,262| 7–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 13| June 10| @ Phoenix| L 88–90| Rhyne Howard (25)| Cheyenne Parker (13)| Rhyne Howard (5)| Footprint Center
7,650| 7–6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 14| June 15| @ Connecticut| L 92–105| Asia Durr (21)| Naz Hillmon (9)| Aari McDonald (5)| Mohegan Sun Arena
4,014| 7–7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 15| June 17| @ Chicago| L 100–106 (OT)| Asia Durr (21)| Hillmon
Parker (6)| Rhyne Howard (7)| Wintrust Arena
7,435| 7–8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16| June 21| Dallas| W 80–75| Maya Caldwell (18)| Rhyne Howard (8)| Aari McDonald (5)| Gateway Center Arena
N/A| 8–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 17| June 24| New York| L 77–89| Asia Durr (23)| Rhyne Howard (8)| Aari McDonald (4)| Gateway Center Arena
2,697| 8–9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 18| June 26| Connecticut| L 61–72| Aari McDonald (17)| Rhyne Howard (7)| Howard
McDonald (4)| Gateway Center Arena
2,722| 8–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 19| June 28| @ Washington| L 74–92| Asia Durr (13)| Mompremier
Parker (5)| Asia Durr (4)| Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,517| 8–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 20| June 30| @ New York| W 92–81 (OT)| Tiffany Hayes (21)| Hillmon
Parker (7)| Erica Wheeler (8)| Barclays Center
6,161| 9–11|- style="background:#cfc;"| 21| July 3| Seattle| W 90–76| Cheyenne Parker (21)| Monique Billings (10)| Kristy Wallace (6)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 10–11|- style="background:#fcc;"| 22| July 6| Washington| L 66–85| Billings
Hayes
R. Howard
Ch. Parker (10)| Monique Billings (9)| Monique Billings (4)| Gateway Center Arena
1,810| 10–12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 23| July 12| @ Chicago| L 75–90| Cheyenne Parker (14)| Tiffany Hayes (8)| R. Howard
McDonald (3)| Wintrust Arena
7,074| 10–13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 24| July 15| Connecticut| L 68–93| Tiffany Hayes (18)| Naz Hillmon (11)| Erica Wheeler (6)| Gateway Center Arena
2,962| 10–14|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25| July 17| @ Phoenix| W 85–75| Cheyenne Parker (21)| Cheyenne Parker (12)| Erica Wheeler (7)| Footprint Center
7,963| 11–14|- style="background:#cfc;"| 26| July 19| @ Las Vegas| W 92–76| Tiffany Hayes (31)| Naz Hillmon (10)| Cheyenne Parker (5)| Michelob Ultra Arena
5,952| 12–14|- style="background:#fcc;"| 27| July 21| @ Los Angeles| L 78–85| Hayes
McDonald (18)| Rhyne Howard (9)| Ch. Parker
Wheeler (4)| Crypto.com Arena
10,021| 12–15|- style="background:#fcc;"| 28| July 24| @ Seattle| L 72–82| Rhyne Howard (23)| Naz Hillmon (14)| Hillmon
Wheeler (4)| Climate Pledge Arena
12,654| 12–16|- style="background:#fcc;"| 29| July 28| Minnesota| L 85–92| Tiffany Hayes (24)| Hillmon
Ch. Parker (6)| Aari McDonald (3)| Gateway Center Arena
2,396| 12–17|- style="background:#fcc;"| 30| July 30| Dallas| L 68–81| Rhyne Howard (22)| Hillmon
R. Howard
Ch. Parker (6)| Erica Wheeler (6)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 12–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 31| August 3| Indiana| W 91–81| Rhyne Howard (20)| Maya Caldwell (7)| Caldwell
McDonald (6)| Gateway Center Arena
2,071| 13–18|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32| August 5| Los Angeles| W 88–86| Rhyne Howard (28)| Naz Hillmon (9)| Erica Wheeler (4)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 14–18|- style="background:#fcc;"| 33| August 7| @ Minnesota| L 71–81| R. Howard
McDonald (16)| Naz Hillmon (7)| Cheyenne Parker (5)| Target Center
9,421| 14–19|- style="background:#fcc;"| 34| August 9| @ Las Vegas| L 90–97| Caldwell
Wheeler (17)| Naz Hillmon (8)| McDonald
Ch. Parker (5)| Michelob Ultra Arena
5,151| 14–20|- style="background:#fcc;"| 35| August 12| New York| L 70–80| Erica Wheeler (16)| Monique Billings (9)| Erica Wheeler (3)| Gateway Center Arena
3,138| 14–21|- style="background:#fcc;"| 36| August 14| @ New York| L 83–87| Rhyne Howard (24)| Naz Hillmon (7)| Rhyne Howard (7)| Barclays Center
7,489| 14–22|-

Statistics

Regular Season

Player	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
Rhyne Howard	34	34	31.4	.361	.343	.792	4.5	2.8	1.6	0.8	16.2
Tiffany Hayes	11	11	27.5	.545	.429	.683	3.6	2.1	0.7	0.1	16.2
Cheyenne Parker	36	35	26.2	.500	.218	.795	6.2	2.0	1.1	0.9	11.8
Aari McDonald	36	6	24.3	.411	.338	.871	2.3	2.6	1.4	0.0	11.1
Maya Caldwell^≠	9	7	23.8	.514	.563	.800	2.4	2.2	0.8	0.2	10.9
AD Durr^≠	15	2	19.9	.422	.458	.774	1.9	1.7	0.3	0.1	10.7
Erica Wheeler	30	30	26.3	.355	.329	.756	3.1	3.9	1.1	0.1	8.4
Kristy Wallace	29	18	20.8	.407	.368	786	2.3	2.2	0.6	0.2	6.6
Monique Billings	23	8	17.4	.470	.000	.765	6.3	1.1	0.8	0.3	6.5
Nia Coffey	16	16	21.0	.347	.290	.742	5.2	0.8	0.6	0.1	6.4
Destiny Slocum^‡	3	0	13.7	.364	.333	.600	1.3	1.3	0.0	0.0	4.7
Naz Hillmon	34	12	19.8	.480	.000	.821	5.1	1.2	0.6	0.3	4.4
Megan Walker^†	12	0	9.6	.368	.368	.667	0.8	0.4	0.3	0.0	3.3
Kia Vaughn	29	1	13.8	.400	.000	.692	3.2	0.9	0.3	0.3	2.5
Beatrice Mompremier	21	0	8.3	.455	.000	.385	2.8	0.4	0.1	0.6	2.1
Yvonne Turner^‡	2	0	8.0	.000	.000	.500	1.0	0.5	0.5	0.0	0.5
Kaila Charles^≠	1	0	2.0	.000	.000	.000	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0

^‡Waived/Released during the season
^†Traded during the season
^≠Acquired during the season

Awards and honors

Recipient	Award	Date awarded	Ref.
Rhyne Howard	Eastern Conference Player of the Week	May 16	^[34]
	WNBA Rookie of the Month - May	June 1	^[35]
	WNBA All-Star Selection	June 28	^[36]
	WNBA Rookie of the Month - June	July 5	^[37]
	WNBA Rookie of the Month - July	August 2	^[38]
	WNBA Rookie of the Month - August	August 16	^[39]
	WNBA Rookie of the Year	August 25	^[40]
	WNBA All-Rookie Team	August 25	^[41]

External links

• The Official Site of the Atlanta Dream

Notes and References

1. Web site: Atlanta Dream 2022 Season Schedule. WNBA.com. January 1, 2022.
2. Web site: Atlanta Dream names Tanisha Wright as Head Coach . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . January 1, 2022.
3. Web site: Atlanta Dream names Dan Padover as General Manager, Darius Taylor as Assistant General Manager . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . January 1, 2022.
4. Web site: WNBA Transctions – Player Movement . acrossthetimeline.com . Across the Timeline . January 1, 2022.
5. Web site: Rachel Galligan Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . January 6, 2022.
6. Web site: Dream Sign Jaylyn Agnew to training-camp contract . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . January 6, 2022.
7. Web site: Atlanta Dream PR Tweet. twitter.com . Twitter . January 13, 2022.
8. Web site: Maite Cazorla to Forego 2022 WNBA Season. dream.wnba.com . WNBA . January 16, 2022.
9. Web site: WNBA Transctions – Player Movement . acrossthetimeline.com . Across the Timeline . January 20, 2022.
10. Web site: Atlanta Acquires Kia Vaughn in Trade . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . January 31, 2022.
11. Web site: Dream Bring Back Hayes, Coffey as Key Pieces to 2022 Roster . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . February 1, 2022.
12. Web site: Richard Cohen Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . February 1, 2022.
13. Web site: Richard Cohen Tweet 2. twitter.com . Twitter . February 1, 2022.
14. Web site: Dream Re-Sign Monique Billings. wnba.com. WNBA. February 3, 2022. February 4, 2022.
15. Web site: Nusbaum . Spencer . Spencer Nusbaum Tweet . twitter.com . Twitter . February 10, 2022.
16. Web site: Dream Acquire Erica Wheeler, 2023 First Round Pick and 2022 Second Round Pick in Trade with Sparks . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . February 10, 2022.
17. Web site: Dream Sign Aggies Jones, Hillsman to training-camp contracts . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . February 16, 2022.
18. Web site: Dream Sign Kristy Wallace . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . February 27, 2022.
19. Web site: Dream Sign Maya Caldwell to training-camp contract . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . February 27, 2022.
20. Web site: Atlanta Dream Head coach Tanisha Wright Finalizes Coaching and Development Staff . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . April 9, 2022.
21. Web site: Dream Lands 2022 Number One Overall Draft Pick . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . April 6, 2022.
22. Web site: Dream Sign Georgia's Que Morrison to training-camp contract . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . April 13, 2022.
23. Web site: The Atlanta Dream announced today the team has waived center Khaalia Hillsman. . twitter.com . Twitter . April 23, 2022.
24. Web site: The Atlanta Dream announced today the team has waived guard Que Morrison. . twitter.com . Twitter . April 23, 2022.
25. Web site: The Atlanta Dream announced today the team has waived forward N'Dea Jones. . twitter.com . Twitter . April 26, 2022.
26. Web site: The Atlanta Dream announced today the team has waived forward Jaylyn Agnew. . twitter.com . Twitter . April 28, 2022.
27. Web site: Atlanta Dream PR . The Atlanta Dream have been awarded Beatrice Mompremier off waivers . twitter.com . Twitter . May 6, 2022.
28. Web site: Atlanta Dream Acquire AD in Trade with New York . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . 8 June 2022.
29. Web site: Dream Sign Destiny Slocum . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . 15 June 2022.
30. Web site: Dream Sign Maya Caldwell . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . June 20, 2022.
31. Web site: Dream Sign Yvonne Turner . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . June 24, 2022.
32. Web site: Maya Caldwell Returns to Dream on Hardship Contract . dream.wnba.com . WNBA . August 4, 2022.
33. 1558137782920413184 . AtlantaDream. ROSTER UPDATE: The Atlanta Dream has signed Kaila Charles to a hardship contract. She will be available for tonight's game. #DoItForTheDream. Atlanta Dream.
34. WNBA. May 16, 2022. 1526248956602159104. Players of the Week are in! @_ajawilson22 and @howard_rhyne getting the season started right!.
35. WNBA. June 1, 2022. 1532059796597264390. From No. 1 Draft pick to @KIA WNBA Rookie of the Month Congrats, @howard_rhyne #MoreThan.
36. Web site: Chicago Sky Trio of Kahleah Copper, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot Highlight Reserves for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022 . wnba.com . WNBA . July 1, 2022.
37. WNBA. July 5, 2022. 1544398743591477250. BACK TO BACK @Kia Rookie of the Month honors for @howard_rhyne .
38. WNBA. August 2, 2022. 1554514855293509635. BACK TO BACK TO BACK @KIA Rookie of the Month honors for @howard_rhyne .
39. WNBA. August 16, 2022. 1559588688912388097. ANOTHER ONE For the 4th consecutive time this season, @howard_rhyne is your @KIA #WNBA Rookie of the Month #MoreThan.
40. Atlanta Dream's Rhyne Howard Named 2022 Kia Rookie of the Year. wnba.com. WNBA. August 25, 2022. August 25, 2022.
41. Web site: 2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year: Dream's Rhyne Howard wins honor, highlights All-Rookie team. cbssports.com. CBS. August 25, 2022. August 25, 2022. Jack. Maloney.