Tanisha Wright and Dan Padover selected Haley Jones, Laeticia Amihere and Leigha Brown in their second Draft with Atlanta

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ATLANTA, Ga. (April 10, 2023) – The Atlanta Dream selected guard Haley Jones with the No. 6 overall pick, Laeticia Amihere with the No. 8 pick, and Leigha Brown with the No. 15 pick (second round) Monday night in the 2023 WNBA Draft.

“We targeted two players at 6 and 8 and feel very fortunate to have landed both of them,” said General Manager Dan Padover. “Haley has played at an elite level her entire life and is a versatile guard who will complement our backcourt in a variety of ways. Laeticia is a unique talent with endless potential, and we are looking forward to seeing her growth at the pro level. Leigha is an ultra-competitor who can play multiple positions. We are excited that this year’s draft will bring another influx of youth and excitement to this roster.”

 

No. 6 – Haley Jones

Guard | 6’1” | Stanford | Santa Cruz, Calif.

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Jones, a four-year starter for Stanford, finished her career in Palo Alto averaging 13.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. She helped lead the Cardinal to an NCAA Championship in her sophomore season and won the Most Outstanding Player nod after defeating current Dream guard Aari McDonald and the Arizona Wildcats with 17 points and 8 rebounds in the championship game.

“We’re excited to have Haley as a part of the Dream,” head coach Tanisha Wright said. “Haley is somebody who we know is a good kid and she is going to be a great culture fit here. She shows extreme versatility in her game, has the ability to play multiple positions and does a lot of different things well while also making others around her better.”

The 6-1 guard averaged career-high numbers across the board in her senior season with 13.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 0.9 steals in 35 games. A first team All-American and Pac-12 Co-Player of the Year in 2022, Jones also helped lead the Cardinal to three-straight regular season Pac-12 titles and two conference tournament championships. Jones also helped lead Team USA to a gold medal at the FIBA U17 Women’s Basketball World Cup in 2018, where she was named to the All-Star Five along with current Dream forward Iliana Rupert, who was representing France in the tournament.

 

No. 8 – Laeticia Amihere (luh-TEE-shuh ah-ME-hear)

Forward | 6’4” | South Carolina | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

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Amihere comes to Atlanta from Columbia, South Carolina, where she averaged 6.3 points and 4.1 rebounds in four years for Dawn Staley’s Gamecocks. She closed out her college career with her best offensive season, averaging 7.1 points on 48.7 percent shooting as a senior. She helped lead the Gamecocks to three NCAA Final Four Showings, including the 2022 National Championship, along with three SEC regular season championships and three SEC Tournament titles.

“Laeticia’s size and athleticism are going to translate very well and will turn her into a long-term player in this league,” Wright said. “Her work ethic and willingness to come in and get better are really going to make her a special player for us. We are excited to have her here in Atlanta and are looking forward to watching her grow.”

With the Canadian National Team, Amihere was a member of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament team that went 3-0 and secured Canada’s third consecutive Olympic appearance – making her the first Gamecock women’s basketball player to compete in an Olympics during her college career. She has competed with Team Canada since 2015, when she was named to the cadet national team that won Canada’s first ever gold at the Under-16 FIBA Americas Championship.

Amihere is now the second Gamecock on the Dream’s preseason roster, joining guard Allisha Gray in Atlanta this summer.

 

No. 15 – Leigha Brown (LEE-uh)

Guard | 6’1” | Michigan | Auburn, Ind.
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Brown joins the Dream after three years at Michigan, where she averaged 16.5 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 72 games. She put up career-high numbers in the 22-23 season, averaging 5.1 rebounds and 5.8 assists as Michigan advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

“There’s a toughness and a tenacity about Brown that I really like,” Wright said. “She plays with a chip on her shoulder and isn’t afraid to go to battle – that mindset will give her an advantage as she comes in every day and competes for us.”

Prior to her time with the Wolverines, Brown was named the Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year as a sophomore with Nebraska. She averaged 14.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in her second collegiate season, producing double figures 23 times, including eight 20-point games.

Brown is the second Wolverine on Atlanta’s preseason roster, joining her former Michigan teammate and current Dream forward Naz Hillmon in Atlanta this summer.

 

About the Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream is a professional women’s basketball team based in Atlanta, Ga. that strives to build a place where our team, our fans and our city come together to represent the community we seek to serve. We celebrate diversity, represent Atlanta, reward innovation and imagination, and aim to empower women both on and off the court. 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 15 seasons. To learn more about the Dream and purchase 2023 season and group tickets, please visit dream.wnba.com/tickets or call 877-977-7729.

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Gold medalist Gray returns home to the southeast through a trade with the Dallas Wings

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ATLANTA, Ga. (January 21, 2023) – The Atlanta Dream have acquired Olympic gold medalist Allisha Gray in a trade that sent the team’s 2023 No. 3 pick and 2025 first round pick to the Dallas Wings, the organization announced today.

“Adding Allisha Gray is a huge step for our organization and we are all celebrating a big win today,” said Dream General Manager and Executive Vice President Dan Padover. “She is one of the best two-way guards in the world and is in the prime of her career. The intensity in her style of play will fit perfectly here in Atlanta. We can’t wait to watch our group, now with Allisha, grow together as we continue to build towards becoming a perennial contender in this league.”

Gray, a graduate of Washington County High School in Sandersville, Ga., returns to the southeast for the first time in her career since winning the NCAA National Championship with the South Carolina Gamecocks in 2017. She joins the Dream after a career-best season with the Wings in 2022, where she averaged 13.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

The 2017 WNBA Rookie of the Year, Gray took home a gold medal in the first Olympics 3×3 competition at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics. She was named the 2021 USA Basketball 3.3 Athlete of the Year after helping lead the USA to their gold medal, and is now 27-3 all-time representing USA five-on-five and 3×3 national teams.

This is the Dream’s second trade of 2023 after the team acquired veteran guard Danielle Robinson in a trade with Indiana earlier this month.

 

About the Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream is a professional women’s basketball team based in Atlanta, Ga. that strives to build a place where our team, our fans and our city come together to represent the community we seek to serve. We celebrate diversity, represent Atlanta, reward innovation and imagination, and aim to empower women both on and off the court. 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 15 seasons. To learn more about the Dream and purchase 2023 season tickets, please visit dream.wnba.com/tickets or call 877-977-7729.

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Dream partners with SkateLyfe TV to announce record 20-game home stand

Atlanta Dream 2023 Schedule Release Video Presented by Coca Cola

Schedule Information

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ATLANTA, Ga. (November 30, 2022) – The WNBA’s Atlanta Dream will tip off their 16^th season in May 2023, starting the summer on the road against the Dallas Wings on Saturday, May 20, the league announced Wednesday afternoon.

“We look forward to building on a foundational 2022 season and bringing a new level of excitement to the court in 2023,” said head coach Tanisha Wright. “We can’t wait to play in front of our fans and showcase the greatest athletes in the world right here in our hometown of Atlanta.”

The Dream will open their season at home in Gateway Center Arena on Sunday, May 28, hosting the Indiana Fever at 3:00 p.m. ET. The game marks the first of a five-game homestand to open the season, where the Dream will host the Chicago Sky, Las Vegas Aces, New York Liberty and the Connecticut Sun.

The expanded 2023 WNBA Schedule will see each team play 40 games (up from 18 in 2022), the most in the league’s 26-year history. In the expanded schedule, the Dream will face all Eastern Conference opponents – Chicago, Connecticut, Indiana, New York and Washington – along with Los Angeles and Las Vegas four times each. Seven of the Dream’s first 10 games are Commissioner’s Cup matchups, giving Atlanta a chance to jump out to an early lead in the competition.

“Our passionate fans show up for the city of Atlanta every game and provide one of the most authentic and energetic home court advantages in the league,” Wright said. “We are excited about the growth of the WNBA schedule and the opportunity to play more games in Atlanta.”

Atlanta’s 2023 home schedule includes 13 weekend dates, comprised of six Friday night games and six Sunday afternoon games, and a lone Saturday daytime matchup against Connecticut on July 22. The Dream recorded eight sellouts in the 2022 regular season at Gateway Center Arena – Wright’s and general manager Dan Padover’s first season with Atlanta.

The Dream will play two preseason games this year, heading up to Washington to face the Mystics on Wednesday, May 10 at 11:30 a.m. ET and hosting the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, May 14 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

The Schedule Release video content taps into both the nostalgia and recent resurgence roller skating has seen in Atlanta, which has (as expected) influenced everyone.

A full broadcast schedule with national and locally broadcasted games will be announced on a later date.

2023 Atlanta Dream Schedule Release Video presented by Coca Cola

The Atlanta Dream teamed up with renowned skate videographer and owner of SkateLyfe TV, Chad Harrell, to announce the Dream’s 2023 schedule. The backdrop highlights Sparkles, a staple rink famous in the Atlanta community, and features roller skating talent such as celebrity skate instructor P.U.S.H., local skate crews, and a cameo from Dream co-owner and vice president Renee Montgomery.

The video taps into both the nostalgia and recent resurgence roller skating has seen in Atlanta, which has expectedly led to a renaissance of the sport nation-wide. Roller skating has an enduring legacy with a rich history woven throughout Atlanta’s culture dating back to the early 1900’s. In metro Atlanta today, the skating community is vibrant and continues to thrive and flourish.

SkateLyfe TV is a roller skating entertainment platform based here in Atlanta. The company was founded in 2017 by Harrell with a mission to shine a light on the talent and positivity that roller staking provides to the world.

Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase

The Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase, an in-season tournament pitting conference rivals against each other during the first half of the regular season, will return for its third season. The 10 designated “Cup games” per team will be the first home game and first road game each team plays against its five conference rivals, all completed from May 19 – July 12. The team from each conference with the top record in Commissioner’s Cup presented by Coinbase games will compete for a half-a-million-dollar prize pool in the Commissioner’s Cup Championship presented by Coinbase on Tuesday, Aug. 15. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

AT&T WNBA All-Star 2023

AT&T WNBA All-Star 2023, the 19th All-Star Game in league history, will be played on Saturday, July 15. More information about AT&T WNBA All-Star will be forthcoming.

About the Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream is a professional women’s basketball team based in Atlanta, Ga. that strives to build a place where our team, our fans and our city come together to represent the community we seek to serve. We celebrate diversity, represent Atlanta, reward innovation and imagination, and aim to empower women both on and off the court. 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 15 seasons. To learn more about the Dream and purchase 2023 season tickets, please visit dream.wnba.com/tickets or call 877-977-7729.

Certified Hospitality Sales Professional Joins Gateway Center Campus Sales and Marketing Team

ATLANTA – January 6, 2023 – The Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), the second largest convention center in the state, today announced the appointment of Ricki VanDuvall as director of sales and marketing. VanDuvall is a Certified Hospitality Sales Professional (CHSP) bringing more than 20 years of hotel industry experience to the GICC team. In her new role, she will oversee the team responsible for selling the convention space, as well as Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course. She will also be responsible for driving growth to the destination by raising awareness for all hotels and venues situated on the GICC campus and collaborating with the ATL District Airport CVB to deliver meaningful revenue-generating events to the market.

“We are delighted to welcome such a strong industry professional with renowned hospitality experience to our family,” said Mercedes Miller, executive director of the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) and the Gateway Center Arena. “With deep roots in the College Park community and exceptional interpersonal skills, we are confident Ricki will be of great value in continuing the growth of our destination.”

VanDuvall, an Atlanta native, spent her high school years in College Park before moving to Washington, D.C., where she earned her bachelor’s degree from Howard University. Before joining the GICC team, she served as a valuable asset at various hotel brands including the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Airport, Radisson Hotel Group and Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Airport.

Throughout her career, VanDuvall gained experience overseeing a team of sales professionals, growing topline revenue and managing budgets to ensure positive flow. She has also demonstrated the ability to cultivate a creative and customer-focused environment. During her tenure with Radisson Hotel Group, she received the Golden Rose award for revenue generation – the organization’s highest recognition.

For more information, visit www.gicc.com. To stay updated on all things at the Gateway Center Campus, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC)

Georgia’s second largest convention center, the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), is uniquely positioned to offer guests and clients unprecedented convenience. As the world’s only convention center directly connected to a major airport, this modern facility embodies the grace and efficiency of flight itself. The GICC is also home to three new LEED-certified convention hotels; the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway and the Springhill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway. Equipped with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including a 9,800 square foot Culinary Arts Center and Georgia’s largest ballroom at 40,000 square feet, this event space provides solutions tailored to each convention’s unique needs. The GICC has also successfully achieved GBAC Star Facility Accreditation and is committed to protecting the health and safety of all attendees at every event.

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Media Contact

Cameron Trice, Hemsworth Communications

770-286-2207 | GICCPR@HemsworthCommunications.com

 

Industry Veteran to Enter Enhanced Role Responsible for
Selling Gateway Center Campus Venues

ATLANTA – February 17, 2023 – The Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), the second largest convention center in the state, today announced the promotion of Darcel Ivey to senior sales manager. Ivey is a skilled and detail-oriented sales professional who has worked with the GICC team for nearly 25 years.

In her expanded role, Ivey solicits new and existing business for the Gateway Center Campus which includes the convention center, Gateway Center Arena and the Historic College Park Golf Course. She works to secure the event space for both corporate and public community events, as well as tradeshows and conferences. In addition, she is responsible for generating proposals and contracts and also attends industry events and tradeshows while working with several departments to ensure event success.

“Darcel’s industry experience, knowledge and attention to detail, alongside her passion, dedication, and renowned interpersonal skills, have made her an incredible asset to our team,” said Mercedes Miller, executive director of the GICC and the Gateway Center Arena. “We feel privileged to have worked with her for over two decades and look forward to watching her continue to succeed in her new role.”

Ivey joined the GICC team in April of 1998 bringing multiple years of hospitality industry experience and outstanding customer service and communication skills. Before joining the GICC, she served on the Embassy Suites Atlanta Airport team for over seven years, achieving multiple promotion advancements from administrative assistant to sales manager. Ivey graduated from Berry College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in computer science.

As a Berry College alumnus, she served as an officer for the Berry College African American Alumni Association. Ivey is also a former member of the Georgia Chapter of Meeting Professionals International (GaMPI) and the Professional Convention Managers Association (PCMA). She is an active board member of the Ringer Center of Excellence Board of Directors, as well as a member of the Georgia Society of Association Executives (GSAE) and the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA).

For more information, visit www.gicc.com. To stay updated on all things at the Gateway Center Campus, follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC)

Georgia’s second largest convention center, the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), is uniquely positioned to offer guests and clients unprecedented convenience. As the world’s only convention center directly connected to a major airport, this modern facility embodies the grace and efficiency of flight itself. The GICC is also home to three new LEED-certified convention hotels; the Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway, the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway and the Springhill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway. Equipped with a wide range of cutting-edge facilities, including a 9,800 square foot Culinary Arts Center and Georgia’s largest ballroom at 40,000 square feet, this event space provides solutions tailored to each convention’s unique needs. The GICC has also successfully achieved GBAC Star Facility Accreditation and is committed to protecting the health and safety of all attendees at every event.

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Media Contact

Cameron Trice, Hemsworth Communications

770-286-2207 | GICCPR@HemsworthCommunications.com

Limited Tickets Remain for the 85 South Show: Return of the Ghetto Legends Live at the Arena Stage on December 28 & 29; Tickets on Sale Now for the Inaugural Winter Cabaret Ball Taking Place on January 21

 

ATLANTA – December 14, 2022 – Gateway Center Arena, a state-of-the-art 5,000-seat sports and event venue located in South Atlanta, today announced it will host the 85 South Show: Return of the Ghetto Legends and the inaugural Winter Cabaret Ball as part of a new partnership with Ticketmaster.

“The 85 South Show: Return of the Ghetto Legends is the first of many events we will host at Gateway Center Arena via a new official partnership with Ticketmaster,” Mercedes Miller, executive director of the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC) and the Gateway Center Arena, said. “We will kick off 2023 with another amazing performance and Gateway Center Arena’s first-ever Winter Cabaret Ball. While our arena is well-known for hosting Atlanta Dream and College Park Skyhawks games, we are excited to expand our entertainment offerings with more concerts, comedy shows and beyond.”

Presented by Outback Presents, two back-to-back nights of raw comedy will feature Wild’n’Out stars DC Young Fly, Karlous Miller and Chico Bean. Limited tickets remain exclusively via Ticketmaster for the Wednesday, December 28 and Thursday, December 29 shows.

DC Young Fly, Atlanta’s own westside comedian, became a recurring cast member in Season 7 of the improv comedy show Wild ‘N Out and was named “Rookie of the Year” in his first season. Chico Bean, a seasoned comedian, began his career in Greensboro, North Carolina. Karlous Miller is the world’s only comedian born in Oxford, Mississippi, who relocated to Atlanta to pursue a career in stand-up. Bean and Miller joined as recurring cast members in the fifth season of Wild ‘N Out and are well-known for their “Sucka MC Battles.” In October 2020 and 2021, the trio hosted the BET Hip-Hop Awards. They will bring all the freestyles, roasts and comedy to Atlanta this December!

Hosted by the hilarious MC Lightfoot, the inaugural Winter Cabaret Ball features an incredible lineup starring R&B legends – The Stylistics, Freddie Jackson, The Manhattans, Heatwave, Lenny Williams, Enchantment, and Ray Goodman and Brown. Doors will open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, January 21, with the show beginning at 7 p.m. Fans are encouraged to wear their winter white and, with a limited number of tables available, get tickets now via Ticketmaster.

As part of its new Ticketmaster partnership, tickets for all events at the Gateway Center Arena can be purchased directly from mobile devices, a convenient improvement to the overall fan experience.

For more information about the 85 South Show visit, www.85SouthShow.com or www.ArenaGatewayCenter.com/events/85south. Stay up-to-date on the latest news by following @85SouthShow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Those interested in purchasing tickets to events at the Gateway Center Arena, visit www.ticketmaster.com/gateway-center-arena-tickets-college-park/venue. For more information on all things at the Gateway Center Arena, visit www.ArenaGatewayCenter.com or follow @GatewayArena on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

About Gateway Center Arena

Gateway Center Arena is a state-of-the-art 5,000-seat venue located in Metro Atlanta’s Southside, just minutes from downtown Atlanta via MARTA or the highway and a three-minute Skytrain ride from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. With the help of their award-winning staff, the Gateway Center Arena is every guest’s ticket to quality entertainment and events. Line-ups include a variety of professional sporting events, concerts, family events, graduations, conventions and more. As the official home to the WNBA team Atlanta Dream and the Atlanta Hawks G-League team, the College Park SkyHawks, the Gateway Center Arena is designed with sports fans in mind. Event planners have everything they need to bring the experiences they imagine to life in this world-class facility.

About Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket marketplace and the global market leader in live event ticketing products and services. Through official partnerships with thousands of venues, artists, sports teams, festivals, performing arts centres and theatres, Ticketmaster processes 500 million tickets per year across 30+ different countries. Ticketmaster is a part of Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV).

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Media Contact

Cameron Trice, Hemsworth Communications

770-286-2207 | GICCPR@hemsworthcommunications.com

Chef Blake to Lead All Culinary Operations and Concessions
for Popular College Park Sports and Event Venue

ATLANTA – December 19, 2022 – Gateway Center Arena, a state-of-the-art 5,000-seat sports and event venue located in South Atlanta, today announced the recent promotion of Blake White to Executive Chef. In this new role, White will manage all of the arena’s food and beverage operations, including overseeing concessions and maintaining quality service standards, as well as focusing on the creation of new culinary experiences with unique event and game day menus.

“Since joining the GICC Campus team earlier this year, Chef Blake has made a tremendous impact, working alongside Chef Matt Finley to take our food and beverage operations to a new level,” said Mercedes Miller, executive director of the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC), Gateway Center Arena and Historic College Park Golf Course. “We are excited to watch Chef Blake flourish in his elevated role!”

Chef Blake joined the Proof of the Pudding @ GICC team as executive sous chef at the beginning of 2022, bringing more than 15 years of culinary experience to the team.  In that role, he oversaw the culinary staff and kitchen operations for all GICC and Gateway Center Arena events. Growing up in Decatur, Georgia fostered Chef Blake’s passion for Southern comfort food and BBQ, and ultimately inspired him to pursue a career in the culinary industry. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu College for Culinary Arts, he worked in the kitchen for various catering event operations. Chef Blake brings a fresh perspective and unparalleled talent to the Proof of the Pudding @ GICC team.

“Chef Blake has been a great addition to the GICC family, and to watch his incredible growth has been a privilege,” said Howard Hickman, food service general manager at the GICC Campus. “As Chef Matt transitions into developing and managing campus-wide catering efforts, we look forward to watching Chef Blake continue to enhance the Arena’s amazing culinary program.”

For more information on the Gateway Center Arena, visit www.ArenaGatewayCenter.com or follow @GatewayArena on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

 

About Gateway Center Arena

Gateway Center Arena is a state-of-the-art 5,000-seat venue located in Metro Atlanta’s Southside, just minutes from downtown Atlanta via MARTA or the highway and a three-minute Skytrain ride from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. With the help of their award-winning staff, the Gateway Center Arena is every guest’s ticket to quality entertainment and events. Line-ups include a variety of professional sporting events, concerts, family events, graduations, conventions and more. As the official home to the WNBA team Atlanta Dream and the Atlanta Hawks G-League team, the College Park SkyHawks, the Gateway Center Arena is designed with sports fans in mind. Event planners have everything they need to bring the experiences they imagine to life in this world-class facility.

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Media Contact:

Blake Hamilton, Hemsworth Communications

864-918-1089

GICCPR@hemsworthcommunications.com

 

The Atlanta Dream will tip off their 15^th season against the Dallas Wings on the road on Saturday, May 7, the WNBA announced Thursday as part of the 2022 schedule.

The Dream will make their first appearance on the Gateway Center Arena hardwood Wednesday, May 11 against Los Angeles as part of a Home Opening Week Celebration. The week will also include Head Coach Tanisha Wright’s first meeting against her former team, the Las Vegas Aces, who will come to town Friday, May 13.

“I think this schedule provides a good opportunity for us to be really competitive in the league this year,” Wright said. “Our schedule is really balanced between multi-game homestands and long road trips. We will use those road trips to build character before we’re deep into our schedule. The competition against this caliber of teams will really help us build as a young team.”

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