The Atlanta Dream have fired coach Tanisha Wright after three seasons, the WNBA franchise announced Wednesday.
Wright took over in 2022 and helped the team reach the playoffs the past two seasons. The Dream lost both years in the opening round of the postseason, including to the top-seeded New York Liberty last week after earning the 12-team league’s eighth and final playoff berth on the final day of the regular season. They were swept in two games both years.
Wright, who turns 41 next month, was a first-time head coach in Atlanta, joining the Dream after spending the previous two seasons as an assistant for the Las Vegas Aces.
“Tanisha was an important contributor in our efforts to rebuild the Dream and we want to thank her for her hard work and dedication to the Dream over the last three seasons and wish her the best in the future,” Dan Padover, the Dream’s general manager, said in a team release. “At this time we believe a change is needed to lead our players and organization to the next chapter in our efforts to be a top team in the WNBA.”
The Dream haven’t had a winning record since the 2018 season.
Atlanta went 15-25 this year and had to win its last few games to qualify for the playoffs. There’s a strong young nucleus on the roster with Rhyne Howard — the former Bradley Central High School standout who was the No. 1 draft pick and rookie of the year in 2022 — and Allisha Gray leading the way, along with veteran center Tina Charles.
Wright is the third WNBA coach to be fired in the past few weeks. Curt Miller was let go by the Los Angeles Sparks after two seasons, while Teresa Weatherspoon was dismissed by the Chicago Sky after just one.
The Dream said they would begin their search for a new coach immediately.