Every player imagines their WNBA debut to be in a certain way. But for Holly Winterburn, her welcome to the league came in one of the harshest ways possible. When the young star was supposed to kick off the 2026 season alongside Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream after spending an entire year fighting just to get back on the court, she saw everything take a U-turn.
On May 7th, the Dream announced their team’s roster for this season, which featured “a blend of established stars, rising young talent and key offseason additions.” For Winterburn, this announcement felt like the moment where everything finally came together. But just when it looked like the British guard would finally make her long-awaited debut, she was waived off.
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However, instead of staying silent, she has decided to address the emotional moment head-on.
“I thought my welcome to the W moment would happen on the court, not as I’m getting on the bus for my first ever game. But that’s the reality of this business & I will always be grateful for the opportunity Atlanta gave me,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “I’m built for this. Thank you to everyone who has checked in on me & sent love. Everything happens for a reason and I’m so excited for what’s next.”
Back in 2025, Atlanta first signed the Northampton, England native to a training camp contract under the rookie scale. They saw some serious upside in her résumé, where she entered the camp as a three-time WBBL Young Player of the Year, a EuroCup Women champion with the London Lions, and major experience representing Great Britain in FIBA competition.
At that time, even the Dream general manager Dan Padover sounded genuinely excited about what she could bring to the table. “Holly is a versatile guard with extensive professional and international experience. We’re excited to see her compete at this level,” he said.
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But before her WNBA journey could even begin, Winterburn suffered an injury that forced her to miss the entire 2025 season. Still, Atlanta retained her exclusive WNBA rights, which gave many fans hope that the organization still viewed her as part of its future plans.
All that wait finally seemed ready to pay off this season, as Winterburn went on to record 12 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 22 minutes when her former team locked horns with the Washington Mystics in preseason. She looked comfortable, confident, and aggressive on both ends of the floor. Though just when that momentum was supposed to translate, she was waived while boarding the team bus en route to Atlanta’s first regular-season game against the Minnesota Lynx. But why?
The move appeared to be tied to Atlanta securing Aaliyah Nye, who won a championship with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025. “The Dream claimed guard Aaliyah Nye off waivers,” the franchise announced. “In doing so, the Atlanta Dream also waived guard Holly Winterburn.”
Still, the situation left plenty of fans feeling for Winterburn, especially considering how close she came to finally stepping onto a court after waiting through an entire season.
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What’s Next for Angel Reese and the Dream After Atlanta’s Early Roster Shake-Up
Amid early roster movement, Atlanta wasted no time getting into action as their season opener delivered instant intensity. The Dream opened their 2026 campaign against the Lynx and took home the win with a narrow 91-90 victory.
May 9, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) celebrates a basket against the Minnesota Lynx during the first half at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
While Nye is still yet to play a game with this franchise, Angel Reese stepped straight into the spotlight in her debut and finished the game with 11 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks, two steals, and two assists. While her shot was still finding rhythm early in her Dream tenure after being traded from the Chicago Sky last month, she made her presence felt in every other aspect of the game.
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Her impact went beyond the box score as she battled through both ends of the floor in a game that came down to the final possession. Her defining moment arrived in the closing seconds when she rotated perfectly to block a potential game-winning layup, sealing Atlanta’s comeback win and giving the Dream a strong start to their season.
Even after the win, Reese admitted she wasn’t fully satisfied with her performance, calling it a “rough” outing personally but emphasizing her confidence in the system and support around her.
So now, with the season underway, all eyes turn to whether the Dream can turn this momentum into consistency as Angel Reese settles further into her role in Atlanta.
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