The Unexpected Connection: Players Who Bridged Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream
In the complex tapestry of the Women’s National Basketball Association, where franchises often develop distinct identities and rarely share significant personnel connections, the relationship between the Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream presents a fascinating case study of how professional basketball careers can create unexpected bridges between organizations that, on the surface, appear to have drastically different trajectories and organizational philosophies. While these two franchises have experienced vastly different levels of success and stability in recent years, with Chicago capturing the WNBA championship in 2021 despite their subsequent struggles and coaching instability, and Atlanta consistently making playoff appearances under the steady leadership of head coach Tanisha Wright, the hidden thread that connects these organizations lies in the remarkable number of players who have worn both uniforms throughout their professional careers.
The most compelling aspect of this Chicago-Atlanta connection becomes apparent when examining the career trajectories of players like Jessica Breland, whose journey from New York Liberty to Chicago Sky and eventually to Atlanta Dream exemplifies the nomadic nature of professional basketball careers and the way talented players can leave their mark on multiple organizations. Breland’s four seasons with Chicago Sky from 2014 onwards established her as a reliable forward presence, and her subsequent two-year tenure with Atlanta Dream demonstrated her ability to adapt to different team cultures and coaching systems, ultimately achieving career-high statistics in rebounding and shot-blocking during her time in Atlanta while maintaining the exceptional three-point shooting percentage she had developed during her Chicago years.
Perhaps no player better illustrates the modern WNBA journey between these franchises than Chennedy Carter, whose controversial yet undeniably talented career has taken her from Atlanta Dream rookie stardom to Los Angeles Sparks disappointment, through a sabbatical year, and finally to Chicago Sky where she achieved career-best statistics across multiple categories including scoring, field goal percentage, rebounding, and steals. Carter’s initial success with Atlanta Dream, where she averaged an impressive 15.8 points per game across 27 appearances, showcased the raw talent that would later flourish in Chicago’s system, and her well-documented confrontation with Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark during the 2024 season only served to heighten her profile as one of the league’s most polarizing yet skilled players.
The veteran presence of Ruth Riley adds another layer to this organizational connection, as her career trajectory from defunct franchises like Portland Sol and Detroit Shock to San Antonio Stars and eventually to both Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream represents the kind of journeyman career that was more common in the WNBA’s earlier years when roster stability was less predictable. Riley’s transformation from a starting player averaging significant minutes with San Antonio to a more specialized role coming off the bench for Chicago Sky, and finally to her final professional season with Atlanta Dream where she achieved career-low turnover rates, demonstrates how experienced players can adapt their games to fit different team needs and contribute meaningfully even as their roles evolve with age and changing team dynamics.
The current connection between these franchises continues through players like Courtney Williams, whose career path from Phoenix Mercury through Connecticut Sun to Atlanta Dream and eventually to Chicago Sky before her recent stint with Minnesota Lynx illustrates the ongoing player movement that keeps these organizational relationships alive and relevant. Williams’ recent performances against her former Chicago teammates, including her two three-point baskets in a recent matchup, serve as a reminder that professional basketball relationships extend far beyond contract signings and trades, creating ongoing storylines that enrich the competitive landscape of the WNBA and provide fans with compelling narratives about loyalty, adaptation, and professional growth.
The coaching connections between Chicago Sky and Atlanta Dream extend beyond player personnel, as evidenced by the presence of former Atlanta Dream players Courtney Paris and Tamera Young on Chicago’s current coaching staff, creating institutional knowledge transfer that goes beyond what any single player movement could accomplish. Paris’s journey from her collegiate success at Oklahoma through her playing career with four different WNBA teams including Atlanta Dream, followed by her transition into coaching with Dallas Wings and eventually Chicago Sky, represents the kind of career evolution that strengthens the professional basketball community and ensures that knowledge and experience are passed down to new generations of players and coaches.
Tamera Young’s extensive tenure with Atlanta Dream, spanning nearly a decade from 2009 to 2017, followed by her current role as an assistant coach with Chicago Sky, creates a direct pipeline of institutional knowledge and cultural understanding between these two franchises that extends far beyond simple player transactions. Young’s long-term commitment to Atlanta Dream during her playing career, combined with her current role in developing Chicago Sky players, represents the kind of organizational bridge-building that can influence team culture, player development strategies, and even game preparation approaches when these teams face each other in direct competition.
The broader implications of these Chicago-Atlanta connections extend throughout the WNBA landscape, as evidenced by the additional notable players who have worn both uniforms including legendary figures like Swin Cash, whose Hall of Fame career touched both organizations, and contemporary players like Kaela Davis, Jordan Hooper, Cathrine Kraayeveld, Betnijah Laney-Hamilton, Stacey Lovelace-Tolbert, Imani McGee-Stafford, and Michelle Snow, all of whom have contributed to the rich tapestry of shared history between these franchises.
As Chicago Sky prepares to host Atlanta Dream at Wintrust Arena, the convergence of these historical connections, current coaching relationships, and ongoing player movements creates a compelling backdrop for what might otherwise be viewed as a routine regular season matchup between two franchises with different recent trajectories. The presence of former Atlanta players on Chicago’s coaching staff, combined with the ongoing careers of players who have represented both organizations, transforms this game into a celebration of the complex professional relationships that make the WNBA such a tightly knit yet competitively intense league where personal and professional histories intersect in fascinating and unpredictable ways.