ATLANTA DREAM Roster | 2008 Schedule Head coach: Marynell Meadors enters her first season with the team. Purchase Dream tickets now! Fan Voice: Talk about the Dream! 2008 PROJECTED STARTERS: C: Katie Feenstra PF: Kristen Mann SF: Iziane Castro Marques SG: Betty Lennox PG: Ivory Latta 2008 DRAFT RESULTS: Rd. 1: Tamera Young Rd. 2: Chioma Nnamaka (via trade) Rd. 3: Danielle Hood

Feenstra

Many of the Dream's selections from the expansion draft included young players who have yet to reach their potential because of the experience that stood in front of them on their previous teams. Players like Kristen Mann, Erika Desouza, Ivory Latta, Kristin Haynie, Carla Thomas and Katie Feenstra all will be asked to step up more than in years past. Atlanta still has its share of veterans, highlighted by Iziane Castro Marques and Betty Lennox, who will provide the team with seasoned talent and leadership. However, the team's success will likely depend on how well the unproven players can fulfill the responsibilities of their new and larger roles.

The Summer Olympics in Beijing could cast an imposing shadow on the Dream this summer, however. Castro Marques and Desouza are likely to spend at least some of the regular season training with their native Brazilian national team in hopes of helping it to qualify for Beijing.

Little

After using some of her expansion draft selections to trade for draft picks, coach/GM Marynell Meadors and the Dream appeared to help themselves on Draft Day, snagging James Madison scorer Tamera Young with the 8th pick overall, getting Chioma Nnamaka via trade and selecting Danielle Hood in the third. Perhaps even more significantly, Meadors sent expansion pick Ann Wauters to the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for second-year forward Camille Little , who could come in and start immediately for the inexperienced Dream.

But it is Castro Marques and Lennox who possess the Dream's best WNBA resumes, combining for 13 years of experience. Each started all 34 games last season for Seattle and thus will probably be expected to carry the Dream on their shoulders as the team goes through its growing pains. Veteran free agent Stacey Lovelace, a 6-4 forward, will also help bolster Atlanta's front line.

Latta

Youngsters like Latta, Little and even Young will be thrown right into the fire, allowing them to blossom more quickly than your typical WNBA newbies. For Latta, minutes will definitely increase from last season, which she spent with the veteran-laden Detroit Shock. Besides being a strong outside shooter just a year removed from a very successful career at UNC, the South Carolina native will no doubt be a fan favorite because of her Southern roots and her passionate style of play.

While the Dream may not possess a true superstar, they do have a well-balanced roster that is full of potential. Their ability to compete and succeed in their inaugural season will depend greatly on how quickly the team develops chemistry. Because of the youth that dominates this roster, there could very well be some growing pains in Atlanta this season. But within a few years, expect several of the youngsters on this team to develop into fine WNBA players.