Atlanta owns top pick for only second time in franchise history
ATLANTA, GA – The Atlanta Dream have acquired the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft from Washington, the team announced today.
In exchange, the Dream sent their 2022 No. 3 overall pick and 2022 No. 14 pick (second round) to the Mystics. Washington also has the right to swap its own 2023 first round pick with the 2023 first round pick Atlanta acquired from Los Angeles earlier this year (received along with Erica Wheeler).
The Dream now hold the No. 1 and the No. 15 pick (second round) in the 2022 WNBA Draft.
Atlanta will pick first in the Draft for only the second time in franchise history. The team’s only other top pick was Angel McCoughtry in 2009, who went on to became Atlanta’s franchise player with five WNBA All-Star appearances, seven WNBA All-Defensive First Team selections and two All-WNBA First Team nods, leading the Dream to all three of the team’s WNBA Finals appearances (2010, 2011, 2013).
The 2022 WNBA Draft Presented by presented by State Farm® will air on ESPN Monday, April 11 at 7:00 p.m. ET. General Manager Dan Padover will be available on the WNBA Pre-Draft Media Conference Call Thursday, April 7 at 2:00 p.m. ET. Details for the call can be found here.
| History of first overall picks in WNBA Draft | |||
| Year | Player | School/Club | Selecting team |
| 2021 | Charli Collier | Texas | Dallas Wings (from New York via Seattle) |
| 2020 | Sabrina Ionescu | Oregon | New York Liberty |
| 2019 | Jackie Young | Notre Dame | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2018 | A’ja Wilson | South Carolina | Las Vegas Aces |
| 2017 | Kelsey Plum | Washington | San Antonio Stars |
| 2016 | Breanna Stewart | UConn | Seattle Storm |
| 2015 | Jewell Loyd | Notre Dame | Seattle Storm |
| 2014 | Chiney Ogwumike | Stanford | Connecticut Sun |
| 2013 | Brittney Griner | Baylor | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2012 | Nneka Ogwumike | Stanford | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2011 | Maya Moore | UConn | Minnesota Lynx |
| 2010 | Tina Charles | UConn | Connecticut Sun (from Liberty, via Sparks, via Lynx) |
| 2009 | Angel McCoughtry | Louisville | Atlanta Dream |
| 2008 | Candace Parker | Tennessee | Los Angeles Sparks |
| 2007 | Lindsey Harding | Duke | Phoenix Mercury (to Lynx) |
| 2006 | Seimone Augustus | LSU | Minnesota Lynx |
| 2005 | Janel McCarville | Minnesota | Charlotte Sting |
| 2004 | Diana Taurasi | UConn | Phoenix Mercury |
| 2003 | LaToya Thomas | Mississippi State | Cleveland Rockers |
| 2002 | Sue Bird | UConn | Seattle Storm |
| 2001 | Lauren Jackson | Canberra | Seattle Storm |
| 2000 | Ann Wauters | Valenciennes | Cleveland Rockers |
| 1999 | Chamique Holdsclaw | Tennessee | Washington Mystics |
| 1998 | Małgorzata Dydek | Poland | Utah Starzz |
| 1997 | Tina Thompson | USC | Houston Comets |
The Atlanta Dream is a professional women’s basketball team based in Atlanta, Ga. that strives to build a place where our team, our fans and our city come together to represent the community we seek to serve. We enter our 15th year in 2022 with new ownership, new leadership, and a commitment to building the best franchise in the WNBA. We celebrate diversity, represent Atlanta, reward innovation and imagination, and aim to empower women both on and off the court.
The team currently plays home games at the Gateway Center Arena @ College Park and has qualified for the WNBA Playoffs in nine of its first 14 seasons. To learn more about the Dream and purchase 2022 season tickets, mini plans and single game tickets, please visit www.dreamelitemembership.com or call 877-977-7729.
