The players on the bench bought in last year, true. But it also helped that they were extremely talented, as well.<\/p>\n
WNBA legend Brittney Griner<\/a> came off the bench in the second half of the season. Sixth Player of the Year Naz Hillmon<\/a> came off the bench in the early part of the season. Backup point guard Te-Hina Paopao played a huge role for the Dream, leading the team in effective field goal percentage last year. Maya Caldwell<\/a>, Nia Coffey<\/a> and Walker-Kimbrough all excelled when called upon.<\/p>\n It was a unit that knew its role and played it well.<\/p>\n But the bench unit has a different look in 2026 for the Dream.\u00a0<\/p>\n Walker-Kimbrough, gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n Coffey, gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n Caldwell, gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n Griner, gone.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Dream will hope to replicate the success of its bench in 2025, but during the preseason, the unit has had its struggles. The games don\u2019t count, but they\u2019re also critical for evaluating the talent early.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to develop this bench. We have a lot of good players, and their time to play against another team is very valuable,\u201d head coach Karl Smesko said after the Dream\u2019s preseason loss to the Mystics on Sunday. \u201c\u2026 I think it\u2019s only fair that they get enough time out there to show what they can do.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s clear that Paopao will be back in her backup role at point guard. No concerns there.<\/p>\n It\u2019s clear that once Brionna Jones<\/a> returns from her offseason meniscus surgery, Hillmon will reprise her award-winning role from the bench. No concerns there.<\/p>\n Rookie Madina Okot<\/a> is expected to play a big role for the Dream off the bench. The team has made their plans for her clear, and it\u2019s been evident in the preseason.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really impressed with Madina\u2019s potential and all of the things that she can do,\u201d Smesko said. \u201cShe makes defensive plays, alters shots, scores in the post, and has a nice drive. She\u2019s still learning a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n But after Okot, it gets interesting.<\/p>\n The Dream are still rounding out their roster as of Tuesday. The players competing for the last roster spots are: Sika Kon\u00e9<\/a>, Isobel Borlase<\/a>, Indya Nivar<\/a>, Taylor Thierry<\/a>, Maite Cazorla<\/a>, Stephanie Jones<\/a>, and Holly Winterburn<\/a>.<\/p>\n Of that group of reserves, only Borlase, Cazorla, and Thierry are positive in plus-minus during the preseason.<\/p>\n For Cazorla, she\u2019s one of a group of three \u2013 Stephanie Jones and Winterburn being the others \u2013 who were late arrivals to camp due to overseas commitments.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s tough, and it\u2019s not totally fair to them,\u201d Smesko said. \u201cThey only get a week to show what they can do. We are very familiar with what they\u2019ve done overseas, but now it\u2019s how do they fit in what we are doing? It\u2019s hard in a short time, and I imagine that it can be overwhelming, but hopefully they go out there and just play.\u201d<\/p>\n Those players, though, do have a leg-up in one area: They are professional veterans, even if they aren\u2019t seen as such within the WNBA lens.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cazorla was drafted out of the University of Oregon in the 2019 draft and has enjoyed a lot of success overseas. Stephanie Jones, the sister of Brionna Jones, is 27 and went undrafted in the 2020 WNBA Draft. Winterburn, 25, is a EuroCup champion.<\/p>\n \u201cSome of us were talking, and we said, \u2018They look good,\u2019\u201d Hillmon said Sunday. \u201cIt\u2019s because they aren\u2019t rookies, you know? They\u2019ve been playing for a long time. (They) know what they bring to the table.\u201d<\/p>\n Not only does Kon\u00e9 have the potential to make the team, but she could also play a pivotal role while Brionna Jones heals up.<\/p>\n Last year, she played in eight games for the Dream and was used sparingly. However, she had a standout season overseas and is looking to carry that same energy over to the WNBA.<\/p>\n Listen now to The IX Sports Podcast and Women\u2019s Sports Daily<\/strong> \u201cComing from the bench, I\u2019m trying to bring the energy, and that is something that (Smesko) wants from me,\u201d Kon\u00e9 said Sunday. \u201cFor me, that\u2019s something that I always bring. At any moment when I hear my name called, I want to give 100%.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s something that Smesko has talked about at length, too.<\/p>\n During Kon\u00e9\u2019s first practice after arriving at training camp ahead of the matchup against the Sky, Smesko expressed how much he loved her \u201chustle\u201d and how excited he was to have her back. Smesko is counting on her to use the aforementioned energy on both sides of the floor.<\/p>\n \u201cShe has great energy when she\u2019s out there. She\u2019s enthusiastic about playing, and she\u2019s very talented,\u201d Smesko said. \u201cShe can really stretch the floor, put it on the floor and get to the rim. Defensively, she can get to the rim. She\u2019s had a really good camp.\u201d<\/p>\n Kon\u00e9\u2019s inclusion still leaves two roster spots available. All eyes are on Thierry, Nivar, and Cazorla to see which one is the odd player out.<\/p>\n During the first week of practice, Thierry ran with the first team to give her some work with that unit after not playing much last year.<\/p>\n That could be viewed as a sign that Smesko wants to give her a bigger role this year, or it could be considered a test to see if she\u2019s even capable of doing and being more assertive.<\/p>\n During the Dream\u2019s game against the Mystics, she played 13 minutes, grabbing four rebounds and going 2-of-4 from three-point range.<\/p>\n \u201cShe makes plays, she gets deflections, and she\u2019s someone who makes plays on the defensive end,\u201d Smesko said of Thierry. \u201cShe\u2019s a good shooter. We\u2019re trying to get her to take those shots. I think she did very well.\u201d<\/p>\n Nivar, who had 94 steals last season in college at North Carolina, hasn\u2019t recorded one yet in the preseason, but the Dream remain high on her. And if there\u2019s something that she or the other players get wrong, the vets are there to help.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.theixsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/USATSI_26548222-1024x683.jpg\")
Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner (42) reacts after a basket against the Minnesota Lynx during the second half at Gateway Center Arena in College Park, Georgia, on June 27, 2025. (Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine | Imagn Images)<\/p>\n
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We are excited to announce the launch of TWO new podcasts for all the women\u2019s sports fans out there looking for a daily dose of women\u2019s sports news and analysis. Stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or anywhere you listen to podcasts, and make sure to subscribe!<\/p>\n