The Atlanta Dream is a women's professional basketball team in the WNBA, hailing from the Atlanta metropolitan area and participating in the Eastern Conference, the team was founded in 2008. While the Atlanta Dream shares its market with the NBA's Hawks, it remains unaffiliated with them. The Dream has yet to capture a WNBA championship, but they have won Conference titles three times (2010, 2011, 2013). In their thirteen years in Atlanta, the Dream has reached the WNBA Playoffs eight times. Key players such as Angel McCoughtry, Shoni Schimmel, Finals MVP Betty Lennox, and Brazilian sharpshooter Izi Castro Marques have been instrumental in establishing the team's reputation. Currently, Rhyne Howard, Allisha Gray, and Tina Charles are working to propel the Dream back into championship contention.
Atlanta Dream Owners
The ownership of the Dream includes real estate investors Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair, along with Renee Montgomery, a former player for the Dream.
Larry Gottesdiener
In February 2021, Larry Gottesdiener took on the role of managing partner for the Atlanta Dream, where he is in charge of establishing the long-term strategic direction of the team. He aims to create a leading franchise in women's sports, built on the principles of respect, integrity, and honesty. His focus areas include investing in the players, the organization, and the local Atlanta community, as well as providing career opportunities in sports management for former WNBA players.
Gottesdiener is also the Founder and Chairman of Northland Investment Corporation. In this capacity, he guides the company's long-term strategic planning. Northland is a real estate private equity firm with $8 billion in assets, encompassing more than 26,000 residential units and 2.1 million square feet of commercial space, along with a $3 billion development pipeline.
Suzanne Abair
Suzanne Abair joined the Atlanta Dream as a partner in February 2021, where she manages the organization's daily operations. She works closely with the senior leadership team to ensure the organization's goals are achieved and serves as the team's liaison to the WNBA Board of Governors. In addition to her role with the Dream, Abair is the President and Chief Operating Officer at Northland Investment Corporation. Before joining Northland, she was a partner at the Boston law firm Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo PC and an associate at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP in New York City.
Suzanne holds a Bachelor of Science degree, magna cum laude, from Ithaca College and a Juris Doctor degree, summa cum laude, from SUNY Buffalo School of Law. She is also a board member of YW Boston and participates in its Executive and Finance Committees, supporting the organization's mission to eradicate racism and empower women.
Renee Montgomery
In 2021, Renee Montgomery achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first former WNBA player to acquire ownership and serve as Vice President of the Dream. Montgomery brings invaluable insights from her playing career and strong leadership as a former team captain to the front office.
Originally from West Virginia, Montgomery was drafted fourth overall in the 2009 WNBA Draft by the Minnesota Lynx. Throughout her professional tenure, she clinched WNBA Championships with the Lynx in 2015 and 2017. Her achievements include being named a WNBA All-Star in 2011 and receiving the Sixth Woman of the Year award in 2012. Montgomery concluded her impressive 11-year career with the Dream, taking a hiatus during the 2020 season to focus on social reform and justice initiatives.
FAQ's On Atlanta Dream's owner
A. The Atlanta Dream was founded in 2008 and has played in 13 seasons of the WNBA.
A. As of 2024, the Atlanta Dream have not won an WNBA championship.
A. Dan Padover is the GM of Atlanta Dream.
A. As of June 2024, Tanisha Wright is the Head Coach of the Atlanta Dream team.
