–Signings increase training camp roster to 11-
ATLANTA (March 2, 2016) — The Atlanta Dream have announced that it has re-signed forward Cierra Burdick and guard Ariel Massengale to contracts. Per team policy, terms of the contracts are not disclosed.
Burdick was signed by the Dream as a free agent on June 17, 2015 after being drafted in the second round (No. 14 overall) of the 2015 WNBA Draft by the Los Angeles Sparks. Burdick appeared in a total of 11 games with Atlanta last season while totaling 4.4 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.
The 6-2 forward was named to the Coaches All-SEC First Team as a senior, and also made the NCAA Spokane Regional All-Tournament Team and the SEC All-Tournament Team. A four-time gold medalist with USA Basketball, Burdick finished her four-year career at Tennessee with career totals of 1,072 points and 794 rebounds.
Burdick is currently competing overseas for Saces Mapei Napoli and is posting averages of 11.0 points, 8.9 rebounds and 32.2 minutes over 18 games.
Massengale was drafted by the Dream in the third round (29th overall) of the 2015 WNBA Draft but was forced to sit out last season while she was recovering from knee surgery. Massengale finished her career at Tennessee as the program’s second-leading scorer (11.5) and posted the best free throw pct. at .860 (74-for-86) by a Lady Vol. In addition to handing out over 500 assists in her Tennessee career, the 5-7 point guard was also a capable scorer as she rang up double-figure points 21 times during her senior season and led Tennessee in three-pointers made in 18 contests.
The Dream will open the 2016 regular season at the San Antonio Stars on Saturday, May 14. Atlanta’s home opener at Philips Arena will take place on Sunday, May 22 vs. the Chicago Sky in a 3 p.m. ET tip. Training camp begins on April 23.
Atlanta Dream season tickets are available now by logging for more information on at Atlanta Dream Membership Central or clicking HERE to buy directly via Ticketmaster.
TRANSACTION: Atlanta Dream signs Cierra Burdick and Ariel Massengale to contracts.
2016 Atlanta Dream Roster (as of March 2, 2016)
| No. | Player | Pos | Ht. | Wt. | Birth Date | Exp | From |
| 10 | Matee Ajavon | G | 5-8 | 160 | 05/07/86 | 8 | Rutgers |
| 11 | Cierra Burdick | F | 6-2 | 162 | 09/30/93 | 1 | Tennessee |
| 8 | Carla Cortijo | G | 5-8 | 135 | 7/21/87 | 1 | Texas |
| 12 | Damiris Dantas | F | 6-3 | 196 | 11/17/92 | 2 | Brazil |
| 21 | Reshanda Gray | F | 6-2 | 192 | 6/1/93 | 1 | California |
| 15 | Tiffany Hayes | G | 5-10 | 155 | 09/20/89 | 4 | Connecticut |
| 20 | Sancho Lyttle | F | 6-4 | 175 | 09/20/83 | 11 | Houston |
| 35 | Angel McCoughtry | G/F | 6-1 | 160 | 09/10/86 | 7 | Louisville |
| — | Ariel Massengale | G | 5-7 | 149 | 06/10/93 | R | Tennessee |
| 23 | Shoni Schimmel | G | 5-9 | 161 | 05/04/92 | 2 | Louisville |
| 52 | Elizabeth Williams | C/F | 6-3 | 192 | 06/23/93 | 1 | Duke |
The three-time Eastern Conference Champion Atlanta Dream is entering its ninth season in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA).
The Dream plays their home games at Philips Arena. Atlanta has qualified for the playoffs six times, winning conference titles in 2013, 2011 and 2010.