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Atlanta Dream sign Yelena Leuchanka

By Ben Dull

Australia's centre Elizabeth Cambage (R) defends against Belarus' centre Yelena Leuchanka during a Women's round Group A basketball match between Australia and Belarus at the Youth Arena in Rio de Janeiro on August 13, 2016 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. / AFP / Andrej ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images)
Australia's centre Elizabeth Cambage (R) defends against Belarus' centre Yelena Leuchanka during a Women's round Group A basketball match between Australia and Belarus at the Youth Arena in Rio de Janeiro on August 13, 2016 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. / AFP / Andrej ISAKOVIC (Photo credit should read ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images) /
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The Atlanta Dream have signed Yelena Leuchanka to a training camp contract.

The four-year WNBA veteran last played in the league in 2012 with the Dream.

“I am excited to re-welcome Yelena Leuchanka to the Atlanta Dream,” head coach Nicki Collen said in a release on Thursday announcing the move. “Yelena will bring a veteran presence to training camp after many successful seasons overseas.”

Leuchanka brings some familiarity with the city of Atlanta and the Dream franchise, having played for the franchise in 2010 and 2012. More recently, she spent some time playing with new Dream power forward Jessica Breland. The two played for Homentmen and led them to a Lebanese Championship title in the 2017-2018 season.

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“Yelena is a very talented and efficient offensive player that plays with poise and patience in the post and has solid range,” Collen added.  She is in incredible shape after coming off stints in China and Lebanon this winter. Her national team experience with Belarus gives her a confidence to consistently compete against the best in the world.”

Leuchanka began her WNBA career in 2006 with the Charlotte Sting, logging 38 minutes in four games. She then appeared in six games with Washington the following season. The 6’5 center resurfaced with the Dream in 2010, averaging 10.6 minutes per game as a reserve. The Dream advanced to the WNBA Finals that season but were swept by the Seattle Storm in the best-of-five series. (Each game was decided by three points or fewer.)

Leuchanka averaged 13.7 minutes per game in 2012 with the Dream and started five games. She’ll compete for a roster spot alongside Imani McGee-Stafford, Breland, Damiris Dantas and 2017 All-Star Elizabeth Williams.

McGee-Stafford, a 23-year-old 6’7 center, was acquired last season prior to the trade deadline in a trade with the Chicago Sky. The previous regime shipped out Atlanta’s 2018 first round pick (fourth overall) in the deal. Breland, who also played for the Sky last season, signed with the Dream this offseason as an unrestricted free agent. Dantas, a reserved free agent, re-signed with Atlanta in February. Williams, who is entering the final year of her rookie scale contract, signed a multi-year extension with the franchise earlier this week.

Keep an eye on Atlanta’s draft night decisions. Selecting a frontcourt player or two would add more competition to the mix up front for the final roster spots with the Dream this season.

Atlanta has 10 players under contract for the 2018 WNBA season. Blake Dietrick and Adaora Elonu have also been signed to training camp contracts. Two-year pro Bria Holmes will miss the upcoming season due to pregnancy.

Related Story: Angel McCoughtry to return to Dream on multi-year deal

As of Thursday, the Dream hold the 16th and 27th overall picks in the upcoming WNBA Draft. Head over to the latest edition of our WNBA Draft Big Board to see who our own Howard Megdal expect the Dream to select in the second and third rounds.

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