Atlanta receives a top pick in the Draft for the fourth time in franchise history
ATLANTA, GA (Dec. 19, 2021) – The Atlanta Dream received the third pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft Lottery presented by State Farm, which aired live on ESPN Sunday afternoon. The selection marks the Dream’s second consecutive No. 3 overall selection.
The Dream will select in the lottery for only the fourth time in franchise history. Most recently, Atlanta selected Aari McDonald with the No. 3 overall selection in 2021, just a year after drafting Chennedy Carter with the No. 4 selection in 2020 – the team’s first top-four pick since its first year of lottery eligibility in 2009. The Dream’s only other lottery pick was Angel McCoughtry in 2009, who went on to set – and still hold – nearly every franchise scoring record in 10 years with the Dream.
“It’s really exciting for us to have the No. 3 pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft,” said Dream head coach Tanisha Wright. “What we’re really looking to do with this selection is add a competitive player to our roster who will play hard for us every single night. The player we draft will really help us build the foundation for who the Dream are both on and off the court.”
2022 WNBA Draft Lottery order of finish (combined 2020 and 2021 record/odds of winning)
1 – Washington Mystics (21-33 / 17.80%)
2 – Indiana Fever (12-42 / 44.20%)
3 – Atlanta Dream (15-39 / 27.60%)
4 – Dallas Wings (27-27 / 10.40%)
Atlanta’s all-time first round draft picks (2008-20)
1 – Angel McCoughtry (2009)
2 – N/A
3 – Aari McDonald (2021), TBD (2022)
4 – Chennedy Carter (2020)
5 – N/A
6 – N/A
7 – Brittney Sykes (2017)
8 – Tamera Young (2008), Ta’Shia Phillips (2011)*, Shoni Schimmel (2014)
9 – Chanel Mokango (2010)
10 – Samantha Logic (2015)
11 – Bria Holmes (2016), Brianna Turner (2019)^
12 – N/A
* The Dream traded guard Kelly Miller, the team’s 2011 No. 8 overall draft pick Ta’Shia Phillips and a first round pick in 2012 to the Mystics in exchange for Lindsey Harding and a second round pick in 2012
^ Traded to Phoenix for the Mercury’s 2018 First Round Selection, Marie Gülich
The Dream drafted Sancho Lyttle at No. 1 overall in the 2009 Houston Comets Dispersal Draft
Current Dream players originally drafted in the first round:
- Odyssey Sims (2014 – 2nd overall by Tulsa)
- Shekinna Stricklen (2012 – 2nd overall by Seattle)
- Aari McDonald (2021 – 3rd overall by Atlanta)
- Chennedy Carter (2020 – 4th overall by Atlanta)
- Elizabeth Williams (2015 – 4th overall by Connecticut)
- Tianna Hawkins (2013 – 6th overall by Seattle)
- Candice Dupree (2006 – 6th overall by Chicago)
The Atlanta Dream will tip off their milestone 15th season in the WNBA in May 2022. The team currently plays home games at the Gateway Center Arena @ College Park and has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in nine of its first 14 seasons. To learn more about the Dream and purchase 2022 season tickets, please visit www.dreamelitemembership.com, call 877-977-7729 or email tickets@atlantadream.net.
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