September 8, 2010

Atlanta Dream: From Eblen Center to the WNBA Finals

When the Atlanta Dream dropped an exhibition game to Washington in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd in Eblen Center last May, few would have projected coach Marynell Meadors' team would be playing in the WNBA Final. Surprise!

Photo: Members of the Golden Eagle women's basketball team meet and gets autographs from former Tennessee Tech coach Marynell Meadors when her Atlanta Dream team played an exhibition game in Eblen Ceenter in May.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- When the Atlanta Dream dropped an exhibition game to Washington in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd in Tennessee Tech's Eblen Center last May, few would have projected coach Marynell Meadors' team would be playing in the WNBA Finals.

Surprise! The former Tech coach has guided her squad through the playoffs to the WNBA Finals. They will begin play Sunday at 2 p.m. CDT on ABC against the Seattle Storm.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the Dream's game vs. Washington in Eblen Center

In May, Meadors spoke softly but confidently about the unlimited prospects of Angel McCoughtry. Turns out, Meadors was right on about her star as the former Louisville standout set a WNBA playof record with 42 points to lift her Dream team to the finals. The paragraphs below are the first part of the story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

McCoughtry leads Dream to WNBA Finals

By Pierce W. Huff
For the AJC

Red, white and blue streamers were draped over the court at Philips Arena, having just fallen from the rafters in a gentle rain, when Dream guard Angel McCoughtry finally got a chance to bask in the moment of her still continuing season.

The Dream are going to the WNBA Finals.

McCoughtry wore a smile on her face as big as her game Tuesday. She tugged on a white Atlanta Dream championship cap. Then she celebrated with her teammates.

Locked in a scorer’s duel for the WNBA ages with noted sharp-shooter Cappie Pondexter, McCoughtry didn’t blink, and neither did her teammates.

McCoughtry scored 42 points, a WNBA playoff record, and had five steals and four assists to lead the Dream to a 105-93 victory to sweep the Eastern Conference series 2-0.

Pondexter scored 36 points, which was the third most in WNBA playoffs history, and had nine assists, but she couldn’t get the ball in the basket enough to extend the Liberty’s season.

“[McCoughtry] was in a great rhythm,” Pondexter said. “She did a great job against us.”

The game secured the first finals appearance for the Dream, an expansion team in its third season.

Click here to read the complete story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution