New faces covering the Atlanta Dream
By Katie Benzan
May 11, 2021
Image Credit: Courtesy of Lorie Shaull for Flickr
The Atlanta Dream has hired an all-Black, all-female broadcast team. LaChina Robinson, Tabitha Turner, Angel Gray and Autumn Johnson comprise the first all-Black and all-female broadcast group in the Dream’s history.
“As the Atlanta Dream experiences new beginnings we are extremely excited to announce our new broadcast team for the 2021 season,” said Renee Montgomery, Dream co-owner and vice president. “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.”
LaChina Robinson returns to the Dream for her 12th season. She has been the primary color analyst for the team’s first 11 seasons. Robinson is an award-winning basketball analyst; her work as both an analyst and a reporter covers both collegiate and WNBA events over 14 years.
“When Renee called me about coming back to the Dream it was a no-brainer … I’m honored to be a part of what the Dream is building under new leadership in this historic 25th season of the league,” said Robinson in the Dream’s press release.
Tabitha Turner, first, was a four-year letterwinner with Georgia Tech women’s basketball team before she took off as an analyst and reporter in Atlanta. She has covered her alma mater, ACC men’s and women’s basketball, 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.”
Angel Gray joins the Dream for her third season in 2021 after being a sideline reporter and color commentator for the team in 2015 and 2016. Gray was a four-year letterwinner at Florida State before covering collegiate basketball, the WNBA and the NBA.
“It’s really exciting to get the opportunity to go back home and cover such a young, talented and explosive team,” said Gray. “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 a sideline reporter for the women’s college basketball digital beat reporter for NCAA Digital. Johnson earned the 2020 GameHERs ESPORTS Top Analyst of the Year award.
Johnson said, “I’m beyond excited to join the Atlanta Dream’s broadcast for opening night. 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.”
With new ownership, the Atlanta Dream is moving in a new direction.
Former Senator Kelly Loeffler was critical of the league’s efforts to draw attention to social justice and the Black Lives Matter movement. The players then initiated a campaign of support for Raphael Warnock, who ran against Loeffler in the Senate election last year.
Many even wore “Vote Warnock” shirts during pre-game warmups.
The boards of the WNBA and the NBA unanimously voted for the sale of the Dream to an investor group led by Montgomery, Northland real estate Chairman Larry Gottesdiener and company COO Suzanne Abair.
The Atlanta Dream will tip off their season Friday night against the Connecticut Suns.
“As the Atlanta Dream experiences new beginnings we are extremely excited to announce our new broadcast team for the 2021 season,” said Renee Montgomery, Dream co-owner and vice president. “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.”
LaChina Robinson returns to the Dream for her 12th season. She has been the primary color analyst for the team’s first 11 seasons. Robinson is an award-winning basketball analyst; her work as both an analyst and a reporter covers both collegiate and WNBA events over 14 years.
“When Renee called me about coming back to the Dream it was a no-brainer … I’m honored to be a part of what the Dream is building under new leadership in this historic 25th season of the league,” said Robinson in the Dream’s press release.
Tabitha Turner, first, was a four-year letterwinner with Georgia Tech women’s basketball team before she took off as an analyst and reporter in Atlanta. She has covered her alma mater, ACC men’s and women’s basketball, 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.”
Angel Gray joins the Dream for her third season in 2021 after being a sideline reporter and color commentator for the team in 2015 and 2016. Gray was a four-year letterwinner at Florida State before covering collegiate basketball, the WNBA and the NBA.
“It’s really exciting to get the opportunity to go back home and cover such a young, talented and explosive team,” said Gray. “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 a sideline reporter for the women’s college basketball digital beat reporter for NCAA Digital. Johnson earned the 2020 GameHERs ESPORTS Top Analyst of the Year award.
Johnson said, “I’m beyond excited to join the Atlanta Dream’s broadcast for opening night. 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.”
With new ownership, the Atlanta Dream is moving in a new direction.
Former Senator Kelly Loeffler was critical of the league’s efforts to draw attention to social justice and the Black Lives Matter movement. The players then initiated a campaign of support for Raphael Warnock, who ran against Loeffler in the Senate election last year.
Many even wore “Vote Warnock” shirts during pre-game warmups.
The boards of the WNBA and the NBA unanimously voted for the sale of the Dream to an investor group led by Montgomery, Northland real estate Chairman Larry Gottesdiener and company COO Suzanne Abair.
The Atlanta Dream will tip off their season Friday night against the Connecticut Suns.