You don’t get famous by coaching at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL. That’s why you may not know Smesko’s name. But soon you will. This 54-year-old won 84% of his games with the Eagles (nearly 500 wins), and now he’s ready to tackle the WNBA as the Atlanta Dream’s new head coach.
The big question is whether Smesko’s success will translate to the pros. But Atlanta is not all about him. With four WNBA championships and ten Olympic gold medals among current roster players, Dream faithful have reason to believe that a WNBA Championship is a right-now thing, not an in-the-future thing with a work in progress.
Consider who’s playing? There’s WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner (center), three-time Olympic gold medalist Brionna Jones (forward), four-time gold medalist and double WNBA champion Jordin Canada (guard), WNBA champ Shatori Walker-Kimbrough (forward), and Dream veteran Allisha Gray (guard).
Smesko has the team to make a deep playoff run and fight for a championship.
Atlanta tips off its 2025 season Friday, May 16, at 7:30 pm, when they take the road to play the Washington Mystics at CareFirst Arena. You can watch the game on ION.
