The Atlanta Dream made notable selections in the 2025 WNBA Draft by choosing Te-Hina Paopao with the 18th pick and Taylor Thierry with the 36th. Both players bring a wealth of college experience and achievements that are expected to bolster the team’s performance.
Head Coach Karl Smesko expressed enthusiasm about the new additions, stating, “I’m really excited with the two players that we were able to acquire through the draft. We’ve got competitors, good athletes, people that have played on the big stage and been really successful, great shooters, and good all-around basketball players.”
Te-Hina Paopao, a guard from South Carolina, is recognized for her shooting ability and leadership. During South Carolina’s national title run in 2023-24, she led the nation in three-point shooting percentage at 46.8% and made a significant impact in the NCAA Tournament with 14 three-pointers. Smesko highlighted Paopao’s versatility: “We definitely wanted to add some shooting to the roster, that was really important to us as we were evaluating players. Paopao is more than a shooter, she competes on the defensive end, she can handle the ball, she’s somebody under pressure situations is able to stay calm.”
Taylor Thierry, from Ohio State, offers a dynamic presence as a guard/forward. She showcased her defensive skills by being a semifinalist for the 2025 Naismith Defensive Player of the Year and maintained high efficiency on the court. Smesko noted, “Taylor had exceptional shooting percentage, exceptional finishing percentage at the rim, and has great length, can guard on the perimeter and has twice as many steals as turnovers, that’s a pretty rare thing to find.”
The Atlanta Dream, established in 2008, is Atlanta’s only WNBA team, hosting games at the Gateway Center Arena @ College Park. The team broadcasts its games locally and is committed to building a strong roster for future championship pursuits.
