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Atlanta Dream promote Chris Sienko to team president

By Howard Megdal

Chris Sienko. (photo courtesy of Atlanta Dream)
Chris Sienko. (photo courtesy of Atlanta Dream) /
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A new role for the WNBA’s Executive of the Year.

With the help of first year head coach Nicki Collen, who he hired, Chris Sienko constructed a roster for the Atlanta Dream that won a franchise record 23 regular season games in 2018.

The Dream made the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs, and Sienko — the team’s general manager — was named as the league’s Executive of the Year. Collen was named Coach of the Year and two Dream players, Tiffany Hayes and Jessica Breland, made All-WNBA teams.

It was quite the turnaround for the Dream, who won just 12 games in 2017, prior to Sienko’s arrival.

The team decided to reward Sienko for his accomplishments, announcing in a release on Thursday that his role would be expanded to include the title of Team President.

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Sienko will pick up the duties formerly carried out by Theresa Wenzel, who had been the Dream’s Team President since 2016. A spokesperson for the Dream said she will not return to the team for the upcoming season and that co-owners Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler “went in a different direction.”

“As we enter the Atlanta Dream’s 12th season, we are proud to build on what the Dream brings to our city and in extending the basketball community with an exciting professional women’s team,” Brock and Loeffler said in a prepared statement. “Not only does the Dream represent the best of basketball, but reflects the spirit of Atlanta’s diverse and inclusive community. We look forward to building on the success the Dream achieved in 2018.”

Prior to joining the Dream, Sienko worked for the Connecticut Sun for 14 seasons, serving as vice president, COO and general manager. During his tenure, the Sun became the first profitable team in WNBA history, according to the Dream’s release. Sienko also orchestrated 25 trades during his Sun tenure and the team made the playoffs eight times, reaching the WNBA Finals twice.

UNCASVILLE, CT – JUNE 12: Connecticut Sun Vice President and General Manager Chris Sienko presents Chiney Ogwumike the WNBA Rookie of the Month Award before the game against the Phoenix Mercury on June 12, 2014 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
UNCASVILLE, CT – JUNE 12: Connecticut Sun Vice President and General Manager Chris Sienko presents Chiney Ogwumike the WNBA Rookie of the Month Award before the game against the Phoenix Mercury on June 12, 2014 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2014 NBAE (Photo by Steven Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /

One of the major turning points for the Dream this past season came on July 9, when Sienko traded Layshia Clarendon and a draft pick back to his old team, the Sun, in exchange for Alex Bentley. The Dream went 14-2 after the trade as Bentley often provided them with scoring off the bench.

Sienko also re-signed Tiffany Hayes to multi-year extension this season. Hayes, a UConn graduate like Sienko, had arguably the best season of her career in 2018. She made the All-WNBA First Team after averaging 17.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per-game while shooting 44 percent from the floor.

In 2013, Sienko was chosen to serve on the USA Basketball Women’s National Team Player Selection Committee. He helped pick the rosters for the 2014 USA World Championship and 2016 U.S. Olympic team during the four-year commitment.

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