The WNBA kicked off its historic 25th anniversary season with a slew of televised games, a new look, a new theme – Count It – and for one team, some new faces.
For the first time in team history, the Atlanta Dream home games – played at the Gateway Center Arena at College Park – will be called by an all-female and all-Black broadcast team this season.
Renee Montgomery, a former WNBA player who is now co-owner and vice-president of the team – and who is Black – announced the historic hirings recently.
“This broadcast team of all women is another positive step in our goal of providing empowerment to the diverse Atlanta community. It’s exciting knowing that moments such as these will create momentum, and we plan to keep that same level of energy moving forward,” Montgomery said.
The broadcast team is made up of industry veterans LaChina Robinson, Tabitha Turner, Angel Gray, and Autumn Johnson. Robinson returns to the Dream for her 12th season after serving as the primary color analyst for the franchise’s first 11 seasons. An award-winning basketball analyst, her work around the sport as both an analyst and reporter spans a wide range of collegiate and WNBA events as she enters her 14th season of basketball coverage.
“When Renee called me about coming back to the Dream it was a no-brainer,” Robinson said. “There is a palpable energy around the WNBA and the city of Atlanta that is undeniable. I’m honored to be a part of what the Dream is building under new leadership in this historic 25th season of the league.”
Tabitha Turner was a four-year letter winner with Georgia Tech women’s basketball. She has covered her alma mater, ACC men’s and women’s basketball, the Georgia Swarm professional lacrosse team and the NLL draft, along with the Atlanta Dream in 2017 and 2018.
“Excited is an understatement for me,” Turner said. “I truly feel blessed to be back with such an amazing, talented team that led the way in the fight for social justice and equality throughout the pandemic. Between the leadership of everyone involved and the high level of talent on this team, waiting to get started is the hardest part and I’m glad to be along for the ride!”
Angel Gray also joins the Dream for her third season in 2021 after serving as a sideline
reporter and color commentator for the franchise in 2015 and 2016. Gray was a four-year letter winner at Florida State before going on to cover collegiate basketball, the WNBA and the NBA on a number of national and regional networks.
“It’s really exciting to get the opportunity to go back home and cover such a young, talented and explosive team,” Gray said. “Their speed is their strength and it will be fun to cover not only the speed and athleticism of this team, but how they lead off of the floor and in the Atlanta community as well. These women are true game changers on and off the court.”
Autumn Johnson is currently a host and sideline reporter for the NBA 2K League and the women’s college basketball digital beat reporter for NCAA Digital. She also serves as an executive producer and host for the 2K League’s weekly IGTV series, NBA 2KL Story Mode. Johnson most recently earned the 2020 Game HERs ESPORTS Top Analyst of the Year award.
“I’m beyond excited to join the Atlanta Dream’s broadcast for opening night,” Johnson said.
“Being a Georgia native, the Dream was the first professional team I covered when I started my journalism career, so this is a full-circle moment to have the opportunity to call my first WNBA game for my home team.”