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Dream waive Elīna Babkina; Maite Cazorla, Mikayla Pivec will miss 2020 WNBA season

By Bailey Johnson

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 21: Nicki Collen of the Atlanta Dream goes over the game plan during the game against the Washington Mystics on July 21, 2019 at the St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, DC. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 21: Nicki Collen of the Atlanta Dream goes over the game plan during the game against the Washington Mystics on July 21, 2019 at the St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena in Washington, DC. 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 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Dream make first cuts on the road to get roster to 12 before May 26.

The Atlanta Dream have waived guard Elīna Babkina, the team announced on Saturday. The Dream signed Babkina to a training camp contract in February.

Babkina, a 5-foot-8 point guard from Latvia, most recently played for Gundogdu Adana Basketbol in the Turkish league prior to the coronavirus pandemic suspending play. In Turkish league play this season, Babkina averaged 19.4 points and 7.5 assists in 34.8 minutes per game.

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Babkina has played on various teams throughout Europe in the last 10 years after being drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks with the No. 29 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft. She attended Sparks training camp in both 2011 and 2015 but did not make the final roster either time. Babkina has also represented Latvia at the international level in multiple competitions.

This cut is the first for the Dream as they whittle their roster from 16 to 12 in the coming days. The team also announced that Maite Cazorla will remain in Spain and miss the 2020 WNBA season.

UPDATE: MAY 25, 1:20 PM EST: Mikayla Pivec, another player on the edge of the Atlanta roster, is sitting out 2020 for personal reasons. This allows the Dream to keep her rights.

Though what will happen with the WNBA season is currently unknown, players will receive their first paycheck on June 1 and teams need to get their rosters to 12 players by May 26 in order for that to happen, as reported by Doug Feinberg of the Associated Press.

The Dream’s roster is now down to 12 to meet the deadline. It was also reported that players waived in the next few days will receive benefits until June 30.

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