Atlanta Dream add veteran Lynetta Kizer to roster
Another big for Nicki Collen.
Fresh off their first conference finals appearance since 2013, the Atlanta Dream announced the signing of seven-year veteran forward Lynetta Kizer. The University of Maryland product joins her sixth WNBA organization after spending the 2018 season with the Minnesota Lynx. She has averaged 5.8 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per game over her career.
Kizer currently is playing for CCC Polkowice in Poland along with her new Dream teammate Tiffany Hayes. In Polish League play, she is averaging 10 points and 5.1 rebounds per game while playing just under 19 minutes per game. In nine Euroleague contests, her averages are 7.8 points and 5.6 rebounds.
“Lynetta will give us a veteran look in the post with the ability to play both power forward and center positions,” Head Coach Nicki Collen said in a press release. “She has a great combination of strength inside with the skill set to stretch the floor to the perimeter, as well as a real passion for the game.”
Kizer played for the Connecticut Sun in 2017 when Collen was an assistant coach on staff.
She joins a crowded Atlanta frontcourt, where she’ll battle Elizabeth Williams, Imani McGee-Stafford and Monique Billings for minutes at the four and five.
Drafted in the third round by the Tulsa Shock in 2012, Kizer proved to be most effective in 2016 with the Indiana Fever, where she scored 9.6 ppg while shooting 55.6% from the field.
The signing of Kizer comes just days after Damiris Dantas, the 26-year-old Brazilian forward who appeared in 59 games for Atlanta over the past two seasons, signed an offer sheet with the Minnesota Lynx that the Dream declined to match.
While this is the first addition to their roster this off-season, the Dream organization has been plenty busy preparing for the future. In addition to extending head coach Nicki Collen through the 2020 season, they also promoted the 2018 WNBA Executive of the Year Chris Sienko to team president.
The Dream currently have 9/1 odds on winning the 2019 WNBA championship according to Vegas Insider, putting them behind the Seattle Storm, Washington Mystics, Connecticut Sun and Las Angeles Sparks.