Last Updated on September 2, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
The Atlanta Dream 2016 relied on Angel McCoughtry as their primary offensive engine, with Tiffany Hayes providing efficient secondary scoring and Layshia Clarendon directing the offense. Elizabeth Williams anchored the frontcourt through rebounding and shot-blocking, while Sancho Lyttle added interior production and defensive versatility. Atlanta’s statistical profile reflects a balanced, defense-oriented team that excelled on the glass but depended heavily on its core scorers for offensive consistency.
Roster
| NO. | PLAYER NAME | POS. | HT | WT | DOB | COLLEGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Meighan Simmons | G | 5-9 | 140 | January 25, 1992 | Tennessee |
| 7 | Avery Warley-Talbert | C | 6-3 | 202 | May 17, 1987 | Liberty |
| 8 | Carla Cortijo | G | 5-8 | 135 | July 21, 1987 | Texas |
| 10 | Matee Ajavon | G | 5-8 | 160 | May 7, 1986 | Rutgers University |
| 11 | Cierra Burdick | F | 6-2 | 172 | September 30, 1993 | Tennessee |
| 14 | Rachel Hollivay | C | 6-4 | 210 | October 24, 1993 | Rutgers University |
| 15 | Tiffany Hayes | G | 5-10 | 155 | September 20, 1989 | UConn |
| 20 | Sancho Lyttle | F | 6-5 | 175 | September 20, 1983 | Houston |
| 21 | Reshanda Gray | F | 6-2 | 192 | June 1, 1993 | California |
| 23 | Layshia Clarendon | G | 5-9 | 158 | May 2, 1991 | California |
| 32 | Bria Holmes | G | 6-3 | 170 | April 19, 1994 | West Virginia |
| 34 | Markeisha Gatling | C | 6-5 | 195 | July 14, 1992 | NC State |
| 35 | Angel McCoughtry | F-G | 6-1 | 173 | September 10, 1986 | Louisville |
| 52 | Elizabeth Williams | C-F | 6-3 | 200 | June 23, 1993 | Duke |
Regular Season Per Game
| PLAYER | POS | AGE | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOVPG | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angel McCoughtry | — | 29 | 33 | 32 | 30.0 | 19.5 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 15.6 | 6.8 | .434 | 2.6 | 0.8 | .302 | 6.6 | 5.2 | .788 |
| Tiffany Hayes | — | 26 | 33 | 33 | 30.8 | 15.0 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 10.5 | 4.6 | .441 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .274 | 5.9 | 4.7 | .804 |
| Elizabeth Williams | — | 23 | 34 | 34 | 34.7 | 11.9 | 8.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 2.3 | 1.2 | 10.4 | 4.6 | .442 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 3.9 | 2.7 | .692 |
| Layshia Clarendon | — | 25 | 34 | 32 | 28.2 | 10.4 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 2.2 | 7.8 | 3.6 | .466 | 1.5 | 0.5 | .346 | 3.4 | 2.6 | .765 |
| Bria Holmes | — | 22 | 33 | 10 | 21.3 | 7.5 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 6.3 | 2.8 | .435 | 1.9 | 0.5 | .274 | 1.9 | 1.5 | .774 |
| Sancho Lyttle | — | 32 | 19 | 18 | 30.1 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 7.8 | 3.3 | .416 | 0.5 | 0.1 | .222 | 1.3 | 1.0 | .760 |
| Carla Cortijo | — | 28 | 27 | 1 | 10.9 | 4.7 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 4.7 | 1.7 | .354 | 1.7 | 0.5 | .289 | 1.2 | 0.9 | .781 |
| Matee Ajavon | — | 30 | 32 | 2 | 10.6 | 3.3 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 3.7 | 1.1 | .305 | 0.4 | 0.1 | .231 | 1.3 | 0.9 | .750 |
| Reshanda Gray | — | 23 | 28 | 5 | 9.6 | 3.4 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 1.4 | .521 | 0.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 1.3 | 0.7 | .556 |
| Meighan Simmons | — | 24 | 25 | 0 | 5.9 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 3.6 | 1.0 | .289 | 2.2 | 0.6 | .286 | 0.5 | 0.4 | .833 |
| Markeisha Gatling | — | 23 | 16 | 2 | 10.5 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.6 | 2.4 | 1.1 | .447 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.5 | .889 | |
| Rachel Hollivay | — | 22 | 32 | 1 | 8.9 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 0.4 | .316 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | .469 | |
| Cierra Burdick | — | 22 | 8 | 0 | 3.6 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | .125 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.1 | .500 | |
| Avery Warley-Talbert | — | 29 | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||
| Team Totals | — | — |
Playoff Per Game
| Player | Pos | Age | GP | GS | MPG | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | TOV | FGA | FGM | FG% | 3PA | 3PM | 3P% | FTA | FTM | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angel McCoughtry | — | 29 | 2 | 2 | 35.0 | 32.0 | 4.5 | 8.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 21.0 | 11.5 | .548 | 5.0 | 3.5 | .700 | 7.5 | 5.5 | .733 |
| Tiffany Hayes | — | 26 | 1 | 1 | 37.0 | 30.0 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 17.0 | 10.0 | .588 | 7.0 | 3.0 | .429 | 8.0 | 7.0 | .875 |
| Bria Holmes | — | 22 | 2 | 2 | 35.0 | 15.5 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 12.0 | 6.0 | .500 | 3.5 | 1.0 | .286 | 4.0 | 2.5 | .625 |
| Elizabeth Williams | — | 23 | 2 | 2 | 38.5 | 11.5 | 12.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 10.5 | 4.0 | .381 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 4.5 | 3.5 | .778 |
| Layshia Clarendon | — | 25 | 2 | 2 | 32.0 | 11.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 7.5 | 4.0 | .533 | 2.0 | 0.5 | .250 | 4.0 | 2.5 | .625 |
| Matee Ajavon | — | 30 | 2 | 1 | 15.5 | 7.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 4.0 | 2.0 | .500 | 0.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.000 |
| Meighan Simmons | — | 24 | 2 | 0 | 12.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.0 | 0.5 | .100 | 3.5 | 0.5 | .143 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |
| Markeisha Gatling | — | 23 | 2 | 0 | 7.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 2.0 | 1.5 | .750 |
| Carla Cortijo | — | 28 | 2 | 0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | .500 | 0.5 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |
| Reshanda Gray | — | 23 | 2 | 0 | 3.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0.0 | 0.0 | — |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Regular Season Team Impact Spotlight
| PLAYER NAME | ROLE TIER | MPG | USAGE TIER | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | IMPACT INDEX | NOTES | AWARDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angel McCoughtry | Starter/Star (1.10) | 30.0 | High (1.20) | 19.5 | 5.7 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 79.99 | Atlanta’s offense still began with McCoughtry breaking down defenses off the dribble, but she mixed timely playmaking with her scoring instead of forcing every possession. Late-season coverage highlighted how she delivered in pressure games, including a 31-point performance that kept the Dream in the playoff race. (Swish Appeal) | WNBA All-Star (2016); All-WNBA Second Team (2016); WNBA All-Defensive First Team (2016) |
| Elizabeth Williams | Starter/Star (1.10) | 34.7 | High (1.20) | 11.9 | 8.1 | 1.2 | 3.1 | 63.10 | Rather than chasing touches, Williams transformed Atlanta with rim protection and pick-and-roll defense. Independent film analysis credited her arrival with turning one of the league’s weakest defenses into a far more disciplined unit, while her offensive rebounding created valuable second chances. (Swish Appeal) | WNBA Most Improved Player (2016); WNBA All-Star (2016) |
| Tiffany Hayes | Starter/Star (1.10) | 30.8 | High (1.20) | 15.0 | 3.4 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 58.08 | Hayes became the ideal secondary scorer, attacking open lanes whenever defenses overloaded toward McCoughtry. Her breakout campaign gave Atlanta another reliable late-clock option, and observers viewed her improved efficiency as one of the team’s biggest offensive developments. (Swish Appeal) | WNBA All-Star (2016) |
| Layshia Clarendon | Starter/Star (1.10) | 28.2 | High (1.20) | 10.4 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 50.95 | Clarendon quietly held the backcourt together by pushing tempo, defending multiple positions and making connective plays. Teammates and coaches consistently praised the energy and competitiveness that rarely appeared fully in the box score. (Swish Appeal) | None |
| Sancho Lyttle | Starter/Star (1.10) | 30.1 | Medium (1.10) | 7.6 | 7.8 | 1.8 | 3.1 | 49.37 | Before a season-ending foot injury, Lyttle anchored Atlanta’s defensive identity with versatile switching and relentless rebounding. Her absence forced major lineup adjustments, underscoring how important her mobility had become to the Dream’s system. (Swish Appeal) | None |
| Bria Holmes | Key Contributor (1.05) | 21.3 | Medium (1.10) | 7.5 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 28.24 | Holmes settled into a scoring role off the wing, showing flashes of the shot-making that made her a high draft pick. Atlanta relied on her athleticism to provide offense when the starting unit needed another creator. (Swish Appeal) | WNBA All-Rookie Team (2016) |
| Aneika Henry-Morello | Key Contributor (1.05) | 17.9 | Low (1.00) | 5.2 | 4.7 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 24.99 | Henry-Morello earned minutes with physical rebounding and dependable interior defense rather than scoring. Her willingness to embrace a low-usage role gave Atlanta steady production from the second unit. (WNBA) | None |
| Carla Cortijo | Bench (1.00) | 10.9 | Low (1.00) | 4.7 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 16.40 | Cortijo brought pace and ball movement whenever she entered the rotation. Contemporary independent coverage of her season was limited, but game reports frequently noted her ability to change tempo in short bursts. (WNBA) | None |
| Matee Ajavon | Bench (1.00) | 10.6 | Low (1.00) | 3.3 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 13.60 | Ajavon filled a utility guard role, contributing defensive pressure and veteran decision-making despite an inconsistent offensive workload. She was primarily used to stabilize reserve lineups. (WNBA) | None |
| Reshanda Gray | Bench (1.00) | 9.6 | Low (1.00) | 3.4 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 12.40 | Gray supplied energetic minutes around the basket and attacked the offensive glass whenever called upon. Independent reporting on her individual season was limited, with most attention focused on Atlanta’s veteran frontcourt. (WNBA) | None |
| Markeisha Gatling | Bench (1.00) | 10.5 | Low (1.00) | 2.6 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 12.00 | Gatling filled a reserve interior role, using size to battle inside in short appearances. Contemporary coverage of her contributions was sparse outside rotation updates and game notebooks. (WNBA) | None |
| Meighan Simmons | Bench (1.00) | 5.9 | Low (1.00) | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 8.00 | Simmons was used almost exclusively as an instant-offense option from the perimeter. Limited playing time meant independent reporting centered more on roster depth than individual performances. (WNBA) | None |
| Rachel Hollivay | Bench (1.00) | 8.9 | Low (1.00) | 1.2 | 2.1 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 7.80 | Hollivay’s role revolved around rebounding and interior defense in brief stretches. Contemporary player-specific coverage was limited beyond routine game reports. (WNBA) | None |
| DeLisha Milton-Jones | Bench (1.00) | 8.9 | Low (1.00) | 2.1 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 9.60 | Near the end of her career, Milton-Jones was valued as much for leadership as for production. Atlanta’s younger frontcourt frequently benefited from her experience and communication. (WNBA) | None |
| Cierra Burdick | Bench (1.00) | 3.6 | Low (1.00) | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.80 | Burdick saw only limited opportunities, leaving little season-specific independent analysis beyond roster and transaction coverage. Available reporting primarily viewed her as developmental depth. (WNBA) | None |
| Avery Warley-Talbert | Bench (1.00) | 4.0 | Low (1.00) | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.00 | Warley-Talbert appeared only once, and no meaningful independent season-specific reporting discussed her on-court role beyond roster depth. (WNBA) | None |
| ATLANTA DREAM TOTALS | 315.2 | 115.2 | 49.5 | 23.2 | 17.5 | 437.42 | WNBA Most Improved Player (2016): Elizabeth Williams; WNBA All-Star (2016): Angel McCoughtry, Elizabeth Williams, Tiffany Hayes |
HeatingUp Impact Index: Playoff Team Impact Spotlight
| Player Name | Role Tier | MPG | Usage Tier | PPG | RPG | APG | STK (SPG + BPG) | Impact Index | Notes | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angel McCoughtry | Starter/Star (1.1) | 35.0 | High (1.2) | 32.0 | 4.5 | 8.0 | 0.5 | 118.80 | Atlanta’s offense revolved almost entirely around McCoughtry, who created shots late in possessions while also functioning as the primary playmaker. Contemporary coverage highlighted her aggressive downhill attacks and expanded passing responsibility as defenses trapped her throughout the playoff series rather than allowing single coverage. | WNBA All-Star (2015), All-WNBA First Team (2015) |
| Tiffany Hayes | Starter/Star (1.1) | 37.0 | High (1.2) | 30.0 | 6.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 102.96 | Hayes played as the explosive secondary scorer but frequently became Atlanta’s best perimeter shot creator when possessions broke down. Playoff reporting praised her willingness to attack the rim relentlessly while confidently stepping into transition threes. | None |
| Elizabeth Williams | Starter/Star (1.1) | 38.5 | Medium (1.1) | 11.5 | 12.5 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 68.97 | Williams anchored the interior on both ends, spending much of the series protecting the basket instead of chasing offensive numbers. Analysts consistently pointed to her timing as a rim protector and the trust Atlanta placed in her to erase defensive mistakes behind the perimeter line. | WNBA All-Rookie Team (2015) |
| Bria Holmes | Starter/Star (1.1) | 35.0 | Medium (1.1) | 15.5 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 59.29 | Holmes filled an important complementary scoring role, working off McCoughtry’s attention while attacking open driving lanes. Coverage from her rookie season noted her poise and confidence despite being asked to contribute meaningful playoff minutes immediately. | WNBA All-Rookie Team (2015) |
| Layshia Clarendon | Starter/Star (1.1) | 32.0 | Medium (1.1) | 11.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 1.0 | 58.08 | Clarendon operated as Atlanta’s primary organizer, balancing pace with ball security while keeping teammates involved. Writers frequently highlighted the value of her decision-making and leadership, even when she wasn’t carrying the scoring load herself. | None |
| Matee Ajavon | Key Contributor (1.05) | 15.5 | Low (1.0) | 7.0 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 21.00 | Ajavon provided experienced backcourt minutes off the bench, supplying steady ball handling and physical perimeter defense. Her role centered on stabilizing second-unit possessions rather than creating offense in volume. | None |
| Meighan Simmons | Bench (1.0) | 12.5 | Low (1.0) | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 7.00 | Simmons was used primarily as an instant-offense reserve, although the playoff sample never allowed her to establish rhythm. Independent coverage noted her shooting confidence remained intact despite inconsistent opportunities. | None |
| Markeisha Gatling | Bench (1.0) | 7.0 | Low (1.0) | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 5.00 | Gatling’s minutes were matchup-driven, with her size valued around the rim for brief defensive stretches. Limited contemporary playoff coverage was available beyond noting her situational frontcourt role. | None |
| Carla Cortijo | Bench (1.0) | 3.0 | Low (1.0) | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.00 | Cortijo appeared only in short reserve stints as Atlanta leaned heavily on its veteran guards. Limited contemporary independent playoff coverage was available regarding her role during this series. | None |
| Reshanda Gray | Bench (1.0) | 3.5 | Low (1.0) | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.00 | Gray saw only brief frontcourt minutes with little opportunity to influence the rotation. Limited contemporary independent reporting discussed her playoff usage beyond emergency depth responsibilities. | None |
| Totals | 219.0 | 121.5 | 39.5 | 22.0 | 7.5 | 444.10 | 2 season honors |