Wnba Atlanta Dream

Atlanta sports fans are excited as women’s professional basketball returns to Atlanta for the 2011 season. The Atlanta Dream is a franchise of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). Their 2011 season opener is scheduled for June 5 against the New York Liberty.

The WNBA currently consists of twelve teams in an Eastern and Western Conference. Each conference is composed of six teams. Atlanta plays in the Eastern Conference. The Dream has had a relatively short history. Atlanta was awarded the franchise in 2007 as an expansion team. The team’s first season was 2008. The principal owner at that time was Atlanta businessman J. Ronald Terwilliger, and he hired veteran coach Marynell Meaders as the head coach. Meaders has had more than 35 years coaching experience in both college and professional women’s basketball. She began her coaching career at her alma mater, Middle Tennessee State University. Meaders spent twenty years coaching at Tennessee Tech before moving on to Florida State University, where her team made two NCAA Tournament appearances. Meaders also coached at the University of Pittsburgh. Her professional coaching experience has included stints at Charlotte and Washington.

The Atlanta Dream had a disappointing first season record of 4-30. The 2009 season brought an astonishing turn around, as they compiled a season record of 18-16 to be seeded 2nd in the Eastern Conference and earn a spot in the WNBA Playoffs. Coach Meaders was named WNBA Coach of the Year. In October 2009 the team announced a new owner and managing partner, Atlanta businesswoman Kathy Betty. Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler joined the management group in 2011, making the Dream the only professional Atlanta sports team with an all female ownership group.

The Dream’s 2010 season record was 19-15, making them 4th in the Eastern Conference. They had great success during the Playoffs, where they beat Washington and New York to advance to the WNBA Finals. There they lost to Seattle in three straight games.

The team hopes to repeat their success in the 2011 season. Their season opener is at home in Philips Arena on June 5 against New York. The second game of the season will be played at home on June 9 against the Washington Mystics. The Dream will then play several games on the road. The WNBA regular season runs through September 11. The Dream hopes to increase their home game attendance in 2011. Last season’s average home attendance was 6,500 per game, so the team hopes Atlanta basketball fans will come out to Philips Arena and support them this year.

By: Pamela Haney

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Pamela Haney is the Director of Sales for The Holiday Inn Express Perimeter Hotel & Suites. The Holiday Inn Express® Hotel & Suites Atlanta North-Perimeter/Dunwoody is directly off Georgia 400 and I-285. With the hotel’s courteous staff, reasonable rates, and terrific amenities, this Atlanta Perimeter hotel is the place to "Stay Smart" in the Perimeter Center area. For more information visit: www.PERIMETERHOTEL.COM