Atlanta’s aspirations have taken a new turn this season. They’ve brought in former FGCU women’s basketball coach Carl Smesco, who’s tasked with recruiting talents like Brittney Griner and Breonna Jones. This move has sparked plenty of questions, especially regarding how well Gleaner and Jones will mesh together. Smesco’s coaching style, known for its emphasis on outside shooting during his NCAA tenure, raises eyebrows—how does he plan to integrate two players who excel in the post?
Fans had a lot on their minds heading into Atlanta’s first preseason game against the Mystics. Questions like, “How’s this going to work?” and “Who’s going to start?” swirled around, especially with a tip-off scheduled for 11:30 AM ET to accommodate local students on field trips. For fans on the West Coast, it was likely a caffeine-fueled scramble to catch the game.
Imagine their surprise—when the game kicked off, Atlanta’s very first play was a three-pointer from Gleaner. She made the shot, reminding everyone that Griner, although not known for her outside shooting, has a 36.4% success rate from beyond the arc over her extensive career.
The online excitement echoed this surprise at the season’s initial play.
As Griner drained another three-pointer and racked up 10 points, Atlanta quickly built a double-digit lead before the first quarter ended. It’s a fascinating question: could she sustain such dominance while also being a reliable force in the post? If so, Atlanta’s standing in the league might elevate significantly. More importantly, having Jones filling in while Griner catches her breath is a tremendous asset.
Yet, there remain doubts about how effectively both Jones and Griner can be utilized together on the court. Moreover, it’s critical to observe how Atlanta measures up against frontrunners like Las Vegas, New York, Minnesota, and Indiana.
On a down note, the team’s first game also saw an injury, as Jordyn Canada went down while driving and hurt her knee. She was escorted to the locker room and wouldn’t return. As for Channe Celers, the newest player who previously claimed exemption from Golden State, she hasn’t joined the team yet and was not active during the game.
