Atlanta Dream coaching hires demonstrate the value of WNBA experience

The Dream hired two assistant coaches with significant WNBA coaching experience — LaToya Sanders and Brandi Poole — to bolster their coaching staff.

With WNBA free agency beginning later this month, teams across the league are continuing to finalize their 2025 coaching staff and front office members. On Monday afternoon, the Atlanta Dream announced several new hires; the organization will bring in LaToya Sanders and Brandi Poole as brand-new assistant coaches while promoting Brooklyn Cartwright to assistant general manager.

Two experienced WNBA assistants join Karl Semsko on the Atlanta Dream

In November, the Dream officially hired Florida Golf Coast University’s head coach, Karl Smesko, to take over head coaching duties from Tanisha Wright. (Wright will be an assistant head coach on the Chicago Sky next season). Smesko has long been regarded as one of women’s college basketball’s top coaches, but he didn’t have any WNBA coaching experience.

His two assistants, however, do have extensive WNBA experience, and therefore, they should augment Semsko’s skillset nicely.

LaToya Sanders served as an assistant coach on the Washington Mystics for three years, most recently as the team’s associate head coach. Prior to that, she played in the WNBA for 7 years, winning a championship with the Mystics in 2019.

Poole, meanwhile, has extensive coaching experience in both the WNBA and in college. She was an assistant coach on the Connecticut Sun for five years, where she helped lead the team to a 105-53 record and two Finals appearances. She also previously served as an assistant coach at Texas Tech, Indiana, Bowling Green, and West Virginia.

“LaToya and Brandi bring invaluable WNBA experience, including deep postseason success, to our staff,” said Smesko, in the team’s official statement. “Their leadership, knowledge, and passion for the game will be instrumental as we continue to build a winning culture in Atlanta. We are fortunate to have them join the Dream.”

Sanders and Poole both expressed their excitement about joining Smesko’s team.

“I’m excited to join the Atlanta Dream and work with such a talented team and staff,” said Sanders. “This is a tremendous opportunity to contribute to the continued growth and success of the organization.”

“Karl Smesko is a highly respected coach, and I look forward to learning from and working beside him,” said Poole. “His basketball acumen and character are second to none. I am grateful to both him and Dan Padover for believing in my abilities to contribute positively to the future of the Atlanta Dream and compete for a WNBA Championship.”

It’s likely that other teams who opted to hire new head coaches without WNBA experience will follow suit in selecting assistants who do have that kind of experience. For example, the Los Angeles Sparks hired Lynne Roberts out of the University of Utah, and may similarly choose to add multiple assistants with WNBA experience. The Connecticut Sun hired French coach Rachid Meziane and also may want to supplement his experience with assistants who have more direct WNBA experience.

Dream promote Brooklyn Cartwright to assistant general manager

In addition to the two assistant coach hires, the Dream announced the promotion of Brooklyn Cartwright to serve as the team’s new assistant general manager. Cartwright, who joined the Dream as the director of basketball operations in 2021, has worked closely with general manager Dan Padover for four seasons.

“This promotion is a testament to the incredible culture we’ve built—a culture that champions hard work, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Cartwright in the team’s official press release.

Padover expressed his enthusiasm for Cartwright’s promotion.

“Brooklyn’s growth within our organization has been remarkable,” Padover said. “She has quickly become one of the rising leaders and basketball executives in the WNBA.”

In 2025, the Dream will look to improve upon last year’s 8th-place finish. Last season, they finished the year with a 15-25 record, losing to the New York Liberty in two games in the first round of the playoffs.

In 2024, Atlanta was led by Rhyne Howard (17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists), Allisha Gray (15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists), Tina Charles (14.9 points, 9.6 rebounds), and Jordin Canada (10.6 points, 5.8 assists). That’s a solid core of two All-Stars in Howard and Gray, one of the greatest post players in WNBA history in Charles, and one of the best guard defenders in the league in Canada.

But, the team dealt with a myriad of injuries, with Howard missing most of the first half of the season and Canada being in and out of the lineup with injury.

Howard, Gray, and Canada are all playing in Unrivaled this offseason, the new 3-on-3 basketball league that will tip-off on Jan. 17 in Miami. If that core can stay healthy, and if the Dream can make a splash in free agency, Atlanta will look to make a more significant playoff push next season.