Laeticia Amihere #7 of the Atlanta Dream drives to the basket during the game against the Washington Mystics on June 30, 2023 at Gateway Center Arena at College Park in College Park, Georgia. Copyright 2023 NBAE (Photo by Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images)

Rookie Is Soaking In All Of The Lessons 

By: Jameelah Johnson 

In the second half of the season, Atlanta Dream’s Laeticia Amihere reflects on what she’s experienced throughout her first year in the WNBA. As with many rookies, it has been a year full of ups and downs for Amihere, but she continues to take the lessons in stride, “I think just learning every day and being able to get acclimated to the league has been beneficial to me.”

At just 22 years old, Amihere carries herself with the poise and professionalism of a tenured veteran in the game. She powers through her warmups with the fervor of a player sure of their abilities, whether it’s backing down the assistant coaches in the post or pulling up from midrange over one of them.

“When I was younger, I always played against guys so just being able to be super competitive, I think that’s one thing that I definitely model myself over.” Growing up, Amihere didn’t look towards well-known basketball players to model her game, she instead looked towards her family. Her drive is very important to her. “It’s not like a skill thing, it’s just how passionate I am. I think I got that from my brothers, from my siblings honestly.”

“LA is somebody super aggressive, smart, understands what we’re trying to do on any given night in terms of our schemes, things like that. Plays with an aggressiveness that forces you to pay attention to her, especially on the offensive end,” Dream head coach Tanisha Wright spoke highly of Amihere’s strengths. On the defensive end, as is often common upon entering the league, there is still a bit to learn and Amihere recognizes that. 

“Obviously coming into the league, where it’s a lot of stronger veterans. Being able to just hone myself in by being more physical.” Amihere not only wants to use her physicality more, she is also working on improving her shooting and overall game. She set a career-high of nine points on 3-for-3 shooting, 3-of-4 from the line and also grabbed three rebounds in 12 minutes in Atlanta’s July win against the Sparks. “And the players are very calculated because they’ve been in the league for a while.”

Amihere came to Atlanta from the University of South Carolina under the tutelage of head coach Dawn Staley. Coming from one former player head coach to another in Wright, Amihere appreciates that her coaches have firsthand experience with the basketball player lifestyle. “I think just being able to have a coach that understands how we feel as athletes.”

With South Carolina just a few hours away by car, it’s natural to see (and hear) Gamecock fans make their way to Gateway Center Arena. Whenever Amihere’s name is called, the crowd becomes larger than life and she values every ounce of it.  

“It’s amazing, they don’t understand how much it helps me honestly. Mainly that I know that I have support wherever I go no matter how many minutes I’m playing,” said Amihere. “I know that people believe in me and that it’s just so comforting to be able to feel that love.”