Atlanta Dream off to hot start under brand-new coach Karl

NEW YORK CITY (AP)– The Atlanta Dream made a lot of moves in the offseason, employing Karl Smesko from Florida Gulf Coast and generating Brittney Griner and Brionna Jones to complement Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.So far the moves have settled as the Dream have the third best record in the league behind Minnesota and New York. Atlanta (8-3) is off to one of the franchise’s best marks through 11 games considering that entering the league as an expansion team in 2008. The 2016 team likewise won 8 of its first 11 games however then went on to drop its next six games.Advertisement Gray has grown in Smesko’s system, shooting a career-high 51 %from the field consisting of 42 % from behind the 3-point line. She made the league’s Eastern Conference Gamer of the Month for Might.”I think it’s the offense and simply

discovering my shots,”Gray stated. “I seem like Karl puts in an offense and the method he takes note of the information and truly helps me. Tells me if I’m open shoot the ball. Instills that self-confidence in me, that’s been a huge part of my success.”Griner concerned the group as a complimentary representative after spending the first 11 seasons with Phoenix after the Mercury prepared her No. 1 in 2013. With so much skill around her she does not seem like she has to carry the load every night for the Dream to win. In a 33-point victory over Washington on Sunday, she took simply 4 shots. The game before, a rout of Chicago, the 6-foot-8 star took just 3 shot efforts. “Before you understand if I only took 3 shots in the game it’s a loss. Here you search for and we’re beating a group by 25,”she stated at practice Monday.”It simply takes a lot pressure off of me. “Ad Power survey rankings New York City and Minnesota both suffered their first losses of the season recently and the Lynx passed the Liberty for the leading spot in the survey. Atlanta

moved up to third with Phoenix and Seattle the next 2. Indiana was sixth with Golden State behind them. Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Washington were next. Chicago, Connecticut and Dallas completed the poll.Paint the line orange The WNBA launched a new initiative recently intending to bring the females’s professional game better to neighborhoods by painting the official WNBA 3-point line on park basketball courts throughout

the nation. It was debuted in New York on Thursday at a park in Brooklyn.Advertisement” I’m excited about what this effort means in terms of gain access to and representation,”said WNBA Head of League Operations Bethany Donaphin, who grew up in New york city.” I think it’s simply additional evidence of the manner in which we want to be able

to get in touch with

young girls who are motivated by the WNBA.”Player of the week Gray earned Gamer of the Week honors for the 2nd time this season. The Dream wing balanced 23.3 points, 6 rebounds and 4.3 assists to assist the team go 3-0 on the week. Other players getting factor to consider were Napheesa Collier of Minnesota, Sabrina Ionescu of New York City, Caitlin Clark of Indiana and Satou Sabally of Phoenix.Game of the week Advertisement Indiana at Las Vegas, Sunday. With Clark back in the lineup, the Fever continue a western journey in Las Vegas. It’s unclear if A’ja Wilson will be back for the game as the Aces’star is in concussion procedure. ___ AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball