ATLANTA — Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko just completed his first week of training camp with his new team, but he’s already leaving his fingerprints all over the franchise.
Smesko, who was hired in November, joined the Dream after 25-plus years in the college ranks where he earned a NAIA DII championship in 1998. His decision to leave his bread and butter turned heads, but the former FGCU coach seemed resolute about his choice to join Atlanta.
“I’m a big WNBA fan,” Smesko told the media at his introductory press conference. “I love the roster [Atlanta has] … what they said they were looking for, I thought I have.”
Atlanta Dream head coach Karl Smesko
General manager Dan Padover supported that notion, expressing that Smesko was a proven leader with a history of creating a winning culture. Moreover, Padover bought in to his new coach’s system, an all important first step for a franchise that is chomping at the bit to get the most of its star-studded roster that failed to advance past the first round of the WNBA playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
“His fast-paced, innovative style of play will be attractive to our players and fans alike,” Padover said in a statement. “We are excited to have Karl bring his incredible basketball IQ to the Dream.”
Atlanta Dream’s offense moves quickly
Through the first week of training camp, Smesko’s more than delivered on speeding up Atlanta’s offense.
There’s little time to process what’s really happening if you’re unfamiliar with how he operates. Everyone from star Rhyne Howard to center Brittney Griner to rookie Te-Hina Paopao is running the floor. The team is moving is blistering fast on the court, a noticeable departure from the past several seasons. Sometimes that leaves players with hands on their knees as they adjust in real time to Smesko’s expectations. It’s a real “run-and-gun” situation.
But, that’s just the way newcomer Shatori Walker-Kimbrough likes it. “I can’t find a better fit,” Walker-Kimbrough shared Friday. “I don’t know if I can find a better fit. I love to do both of those things — run and gun.”
Forward Bri Jones, who also joined Atlanta in the off-season also couldn’t help but smile when speaking about Smesko’s offense. This is Jones’ 9th training camp, but she revealed that she’s fully embracing the challenge which includes not only adjusting to doing things she hasn’t done as much, like shooting 3-pointers and playing more outside, but also Smesko’s unique pace.
“I think just the pace of play he wants us to play with is exciting and kinda what drew me to come to Atlanta,” Jones explained.
Dream coach Karl Smesko has a knack for player development
But it’s not just the pace and the three-pointing shooting that will be staples of a Karl Smesko-coached team, it’s the player development as well. Perhaps no one is seeing the early dividends of the Dream’s investment into Smesko’s coaching chops than guard Haley Jones.
Jones spent that last two seasons in Atlanta, struggling to find her footing and her confidence as she played a position (point guard) that wasn’t really suited for her. She never complained publicly, but for what feels like the first time, she recently opened up about her struggles.
“I think that I did the best I could,” Jones said candidly. “But I think moving into this system where Karl [Smesko’s] allowing me to play one, two, three — four — where it’s a lot of movement … I feel like my entire skill set is really being used.”
Jones has been mostly playing shooting guard and small forward through the first few days of camp with power forward sprinkled in. Smesko’s fully leaning into her versatility as a longer and taller guard, which should help as Atlanta works through learning its new coach’s system and philosophy. Still, Jones seems confident that under Smesko, she can find success. What does that look like for the three-year vet?
“Getting back to Haley Jones,” she said. “Getting back to what I do. Playing the open court, having [an] aggressive mindset. These past two years, I’ve been kind of passive.”
Dream’s Karl Smesko has to win now
Unlocking Jones’ true potential would be an early win for Smesko in year one, and as one of seven new coaches across the WNBA, Smesko has to stack the wins at multiple levels very quickly.
The league’s influx of new faces seemingly signals that not only is the proverbial leash short, but several franchises want to win now. That list includes the Atlanta Dream who haven’t been past the first round of the playoffs since 2016 and have never won a championship, falling short to the Minnesota Lynx in 2013.
However, if Smesko is feeling any pressure to produce, we likely won’t outwardly see it from him anytime soon. He has expectations that he feels his team should meet, and he will let them know if they aren’t.
“I’m not somebody who does much screaming or loses control out there,” Smesko revealed.
“These are pros. They want to be good. You just gotta hold a standard there, let them know when they’re not meeting it, and then they typically rise to the occasion.”
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