Your Dream begins here

First off, apologies from b5 as well as myself for the delay in updates. The server issues seem to have been resolved, so here’s the catch up on the blogs I wrote while offline.

The WNBA’s expansion draft went out without a hitch — so to speak — but there were two surprising moves made by the newest franchise, netting them some great players to build around.

Immediately after selecting Roneeka Hodges from the Houston Comets, the Dream traded her along with the fourth pick in the upcoming draft to the Seattle Storm for Brazilian sensation Iziane Castro Marques.

According to Dream coach and GM Marynell Meadors, Marques is a key addition to the franchise:

“To give up the No. 4 pick in the draft for her, it’s obvious that I like Izi a lot at the three. Izi and I go back a long way to when she first came to the WNBA when I was instrumental in bringing her to Miami. She brings championship experience and had a breakout year last season. And with her ability to run the floor with that blazing speed, break down defenses, shoot the three and get to the rim just about any time she wants, she’ll play a big role for us on offense. She brings emotion, she brings leadership, she’s one of the faces of the Brazilian national team and she’s a great get for us.”

Here’s the rest of the list, but by the time you read this, you’ll have found more analysis, so my next post will focus on local reactions to the new squad.

The newest members of the Dream are: forwards Carla Thomas, Erika DeSouza, Kristen Mann and Jennifer Lacy, centers Yelena Leuchanka, Chantelle Anderson (my friend Billy is crushed), Ann Wauters and Katie Feenstra, and guards Marques, Ann Strother, Ivory Latta (via trade), Betty Lennox and Kristin Haynie.