and WNBA As free agency begins later this month, teams around the league continue to finalize their 2025 coaching staffs and front office members. On Monday afternoon, the Atlanta Dream announced several new employees. The organization will welcome LaToya Sanders and Brandi Poole as new assistant coaches and promote Brooklyn Cartwright to assistant general manager.
Two experienced WNBA assistants join Atlanta Dream with Karl Semsko
In November, the Dream officially hired Florida Golf Coast University head coach Carl Smesko to take over the head coaching position from Tanisha Wright. (Wright will be an assistant head coach with the Chicago Sky next season). Smesko has long been considered one of the top coaches in women's college basketball, but she has no experience coaching in the WNBA.
However, his two assistants have extensive WNBA experience and should complement Semsko's skillset well.
LaToya Sanders served as an assistant coach for the Washington Mystics for three years, most recently as the team's associate head coach. Prior to that, he played seven years in the WNBA, winning a championship with the Mystics in 2019.
Poole, on the other hand, has extensive coaching experience in both the WNBA and college. She served as an assistant coach for the Connecticut Sun for five years, leading 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 valuable WNBA experience to our staff, including deep postseason success,” Smesko said in the team's official statement. “Their leadership, knowledge and passion for the game will help us continue to build a winning culture in Atlanta. We are fortunate to have them join the Dream.”
Both Mr. Sanders and Mr. Poole expressed their excitement to join Mr. 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 great 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 with him,” Poole said. “His basketball acumen and character are second to none, and I would like to thank him and Dan Padover for believing in my ability to actively contribute to the future of the Atlanta Dream and compete for a WNBA Championship. I am grateful to both of them.”
Presumably, other teams that choose to hire new head coaches without WNBA experience will choose assistants with similar experience. For example, the Los Angeles Sparks may choose to hire Lynn Roberts from the University of Utah and add multiple assistants with WNBA experience as well. The Connecticut Sun hired French coach Rachid Meziane and may want to supplement his experience with an assistant with more direct WNBA experience.
Dream promotes Brooklyn Cartwright to assistant general manager
In addition to hiring two assistant coaches, the Dream announced the promotion of Brooklyn Cartwright as the team's new assistant general manager. Cartwright, who joined the Dream in 2021 as director of basketball operations, has worked closely with general manager Dan Padover for four seasons.
“This promotion is a testament to the great culture we have built – one that champions hard work, collaboration and the relentless pursuit of excellence,” Cartwright said in the team's official press release.
Mr. Padover expressed his enthusiasm for Mr. Cartwright's promotion.
“Brooklyn's growth within our organization has been remarkable,” Padover said. “She has quickly become one of the WNBA's emerging leaders and basketball executives.”
In 2025, Dream aims to improve on last year's 8th place finish. Last season, they lost to the New York Liberty in two games in the first round of the playoffs, finishing the season with 15 wins and 25 losses.
Atlanta's 2024 lineup includes Rhyne Howard (17.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists), Alisha Gray (15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists), Tina Charles (14.9 points, 9.6 rebounds), and Jordan Canada (10.6 points). points, 5.8 assists). This is a solid core of two All-Stars in Howard and Gray, one of the best post players in WNBA history in Charles, and one of the best guard defenders in the Canadian league.
However, the team was plagued by a myriad of injuries, with Howard missing much of the first half of the season and Canada being sidelined on and off with injuries.
Howard, Gray and Canada have all played in unrivaled games this offseason. Unrivaled is a new 3-on-3 basketball league that will tip off on January 17th in Miami. If its core players can stay healthy and the Dream is successful in free agency, Atlanta will be looking to make a bigger playoff push next season.
