Highlighting the signings is guard Courtney Clements, who played in 30 games for the Dream last season, and guard Samantha Prahalis - a member of the 2012 WNBA All-Rookie Team. Other training camp signees include Brazilian center Nadia Gomes Colhado, former Baylor guard Jhasmin Player, and guard Jacki Gemelos, who played for Dream head coach Michael Cooper at USC.
"As we focus on building a championship contender, it is imperative that we add versatile players in free agency and through the draft who will provide quality depth at all positions," said Dream Executive Vice President and General Manager Angela Taylor." We are pleased that Courtney Clements has agreed to return to the Dream, and are excited that former first-round pick and WNBA All-Rookie Team member Samantha Prahalis will be joining us as well.
"ll five players have competed at high levels in college and overseas, and bring something special and unique that will enhance our roster and complement our core players, making our training camp extremely competitive."
Clements played in 26 regular-season games for the Dream last season, plus an additional four games during the team's playoff run. She averaged 2.2 points and 0.9 rebounds per game, and scored a career-high 12 points July 14 at Seattle. Clements made the Dream roster after signing a training camp contract after an honorable mention All-American season at San Diego State during which she averaged 17.9 points per game.
Prahalis earned 2012 WNBA All-Rookie Team honors after averaging 11.6 points, 4.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game for the Phoenix Mercury. She had four games with at least 20 points, and was named WNBA Rookie of the Month for June after averaging 13.8 points and 5.1 assists per game. She played in 11 games in 2013 between Phoenix and New York. The former Ohio State standout was a finalist for the Wade Trophy, Wooden Award and Lieberman Award in 2012 and was the Big Ten Player of the Year.
Colhado, a 6-4 center, was a teammate of Dream center Erika de Souza on the 2012 Brazilian Olympic team, averaging 1.5 points and 1.8 rebounds per game in London. At the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship for Women, she averaged 8.5 points and 8.8 rebounds. The 25-year-old is also currently a teammate of de Souza and Tiffany Hayes on the Brazilian team Sport Club Recife, averaging nine points and a league-best 9.1 rebounds per game.
Player averaged 10.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while helping Baylor to the 2009 Sweet 16. The 5-10 guard earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors in 2008 after averaging 12.2 points, 6.0 boards and 3.5 assists, and was a member of the 2007 All-Big 12 Defensive Team. She is currently averaging 40.6 points, 9.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game for Uniao Sportiva in the Portuguese League
Gemelos, a six-foot guard, was widely regarded as the top recruit in the nation before a string of knee injuries hindered her career. She played in 57 games over five seasons at USC, averaging 11.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, before being selected in the third round of the 2012 WNBA draft by Minnesota. She had averaged 39.2 points, 8.9 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 2.7 steals as a senior at St. Mary's (Calif.) High School en route to being named a McDonald's All-American and the 2006 National Player of the Year by MaxPreps and Scout.com. During the 2012-13 European season, she averaged 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game for Panathinaikos in Greece.
The three-time Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream tips off its seventh season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) on May 16 against the San Antonio Stars in Philips Arena. The Dream has qualified for the playoffs in each of the past five seasons, including conference titles in 2013, 2011 and 2010. Season tickets and single-game tickets for the 2014 season are now available and can be purchased by calling (877) 977-7729 or visiting www.AtlantaDream.net.