In a season marked by transformation, the Atlanta Dream’s front office made a bold statement — and it paid off. On September 23, 2025, the WNBA announced that Dan Padover, General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Dream, had been named the 2025 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year. With this award, Padover became the first executive in league history to win the honor three times (having previously won in 2020 and 2021). ESPN.com+3WNBA+3dream.wnba.com+3
From Rebuild to Breakout — The Road to the Award
When Padover joined Atlanta in October 2021, the Dream were still in a rebuilding phase. Over his tenure, he steadily reshaped the roster and reimagined the organization’s identity. ESPN.com+3dream.wnba.com+3dream.wnba.com+3
But 2025 was different. The Dream posted a 30–14 regular season record — the best win total in franchise history — tying for second-best in the league. WNBA+1 More importantly, Atlanta’s improvement was not merely quantitative, but qualitative: statistical upgrades across offense, defense, and playmaking. WNBA+1
Key moves underscored Padover’s vision:
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He brought in Karl Smesko as head coach. In Smesko’s first WNBA season, the Dream reaped the benefits of his leadership and tactical acumen. WNBA+1
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He added veteran All-Stars Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner to complement building blocks like Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard. WNBA+2dream.wnba.com+2
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He balanced star power with depth: bench contributor Naz Hillmon earned Sixth Player of the Year honors, and rookie guard Te-Hina Paopao showed promise. dream.wnba.com+1
The results spoke for themselves. The Dream leapt from a middling position in advanced metrics to near the top in offensive rating (108.2) and defensive rating (98.9). WNBA
Why the Award Was More Than Symbolic
Winning Executive of the Year is a peer-voted honor: the general managers of all 13 WNBA teams (and the Toronto Tempo’s GM) cast ballots in first-, second-, and third-place categories — and they cannot vote for themselves. WNBA+1
Padover appeared on 12 ballots and collected eight first-place votes — numbers that underscore both respect and recognition for what he built in Atlanta. WNBA+2dream.wnba.com+2
In winning, Padover also surpassed longtime rival Cheryl Reeve (of the Minnesota Lynx), breaking a tie and becoming the lone three-time recipient. WNBA+2dream.wnba.com+2
But beyond accolades, this award signals a maturity for the Dream organization. It affirms that the roster, coaching staff, and front office are operating in harmony — that the culture being built is one of purpose and upward trajectory.
What Comes Next — Expectations & Challenges
With success comes expectation. As the Dream move forward:
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Sustaining the jump. It’s one thing to leap upward; it’s another to stay near the summit. Opponents will gameplan Atlanta’s star blend, so depth, adaptability, and health management will matter.
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Maintaining balance. Padover will need to continue seasoning youth, managing contracts, and ensuring that the mix of veterans and younger talent meshes on and off the court.
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Playoff execution. Atlanta fell in the first round of the 2025 playoffs. To fully validate the rebuild, the team must translate regular season dominance into postseason success.
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Managing expectations. With recognition comes media spotlight, player interest, and organizational pressure. The team must guard against complacency and distraction.
Final Thoughts
Dan Padover’s 2025 Executive of the Year award is not just another trophy for the shelf — it’s a milestone in Atlanta’s resurgence. It recognizes the hard, often unseen work of talent evaluation, roster construction, and culture-building. In earning it a third time (and with a new franchise), Padover has cemented his place among the elite builders in the WNBA.
The Dream may be poised for their brightest era yet — and now, the expectations match the potential.
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
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