Despite a disappointing exit after claiming the franchise's first No. 1 seed for the playoffs, first-year coach Michael Cooper sees a lot to like on his Atlanta Dream roster.
"I think we've got a great foundation.," he said. "I thought we did tremendously good job."
The Dream lost 2-1 to the Chicago Sky in the opening around, culminating in a one-point loss in Game 3, which Atlanta led by 20 points. Resigned to watching the WNBA Eastern Conference Finals play out on television, general manager Angela Taylor said it's only underscored the players' dissatisfaction in their season.
"They realized we could have done better," she said.
First and foremost this offseason, as the Dream eye a seventh playoff berth in eight years, is keeping its core together. That begins with re-signing Erika de Souza.
One of three free agents on the Atlanta roster -- along with guard Matee Ajavon and forward DeLisha Milton-Jones -- De Souza averaged a career-high 13.8 points and 8.7 rebounds in the regular season. The 6-foot-5 center went to supply 12.7 points and 5.3 boards in the playoffs.
"She had a tremendous year ... and is widely recognized as one of the top post players, not only in the Eastern Conference but in the WNBA," Taylor said. "For us to continue moving in the direction we want to go ... Erika is a large part of our core."
The Dream had already kept Sancho Lyttle in place, agreeing to a multi-year extension with the 6-4 forward. A member of the WNBA All-Defensive team, she combined with Angel McCoughtry to give Atlanta the only two players in the league to average more than two steals per game.
Cooper has a wish list of what he wants the Dream to add this offseason. It includes a perimeter shooter or a ball hawking guard, but what he really wants is a presence down low.
While De Souza, Lyttle and Aneika Henry (6-4) are capable of playing under the basket, Cooper is looking for an intimidating power forward or center to aid De Souza.
"We need a physical, physical big down low," he said. "We need that beast in the post in that four spot or five spot and we'll definitely be looking to shore up there."
Picking 10th in the upcoming draft, at least one projection has the Dream taking Tear'a Laudermill, a 5-9 guard from Nebraska. But Atlanta already added a star in Shoni Schimmel, who was taken eighth overall and went on to claim All-Star Game MVP with 29 points in the East's win.
The perceived top-rated centers on the board, South Carolina's Elem Ibiam (6-4) and Tennessee's Isabelle Harrison (6-3), and forwards, UConn's Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis (6-0), Duke's Elizabeth Williams (6-3), Cal's Reshanda Gray (6-3) and the Gamecocks' Aleighsa Welch (6-0) are expected to be off the board before the Dream pick.
Also of interest in the Dream's roster make-up is their collection of international players.
The European Women Basketball Championships will be held from June 11-28, which could delay the return of point guard Celine Dumerc, who is the captain of the French national team. Meanwhile, Lyttle has played for Spain in the past and they are also among the 20 qualified nations for the tourney.
Taylor said there will be ongoing discussions with those players with international options.
"Our ownership has been very supportive of us going out and finding the top talent from an international perspective and making sure we work around their schedule," Taylor said.
Aside from the amount of minutes McCoughtry (31.3), De Souza (29.9), Tiffany Hayes (28.4) and Lyttle (31.3) played, Cooper said he was pleased with the current roster, which lost its momentum when the coach was unexpectedly out.
Standing at 15-6 on July 16, Cooper went to a doctor to have a small spot on his tongue looked at. He was diagnosed with tongue cancer and underwent surgery on July 24.
The team went 2-5 without him, and then 2-4 to end the regular season once he returned to the bench. In all, the tailspin included dropping 10 of their last 14 games.
"It was one of those types of seasons when we got there," Cooper said. "Were it not for my illness, this probably would have been a different outcome."
