Atlanta Dream, Allisha Gray Post Career-Best Starts Under Coach Smesko

Allisha Gray and the Atlanta Dream are experiencing significant success under first-year head coach Karl Smesko, with the team ranking among the WNBA's top four after a previous 15-25 season. Gray, a two-time All-Star, is having the best start of her eight-year career, thriving in Smesko's offense that leads the league in 3-pointers and has earned her the Eastern Conference player of the month for May. The Atlanta roster, strengthened by key frontcourt players Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones, along with backcourt contributors like Rhyne Howard, Jordin Canada, and rookie Te-Hina Paopao, has become deeper and more balanced. Smesko, who replaced Tanisha Wright and has a successful college coaching background, has implemented a detailed system that players like Gray credit for their improved performance and consistency. Gray's career-high 32 points in a win at Washington and her streak of double-digit scoring in every game highlight her pivotal role in the team's turnaround. Both Gray and Smesko express mutual confidence in the fit between the player and the new offensive system, which emphasizes freedom and smart decision-making.