WNBA: Dan Padover Wins Executive of the Year – 3rd Time!

Atlanta Dream’s Dan Padover Achieves Unprecedented Third WNBA Executive of the Year Honor

In a landmark achievement for the Women’s National Basketball Association, Dan Padover, the General Manager of the Atlanta Dream, has been named the 2025 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year. This prestigious award marks a historic moment, as Padover becomes the first executive in the league’s history to secure this honor three times.His previous victories came in 2020 and 2021 while leading the Las Vegas Aces, positioning him ahead of other notable figures like Cheryl Reeve, a two-time recipient (2019, 2024).

The selection process involved a vote by the General Managers of all thirteen WNBA teams, along with the GM of the incoming Toronto Tempo franchise, set to join the league in 2026. Each GM was tasked with ranking their top three choices, with the crucial stipulation that they could not vote for themselves. Padover garnered important recognition, appearing on twelve ballots, including eight first-place votes. He outranked Ohemaa Nyanin of the Golden State Valkyries, who received ten mentions, and Nick U’ren of the Phoenix Mercury, who was named on nine ballots.

Reflecting on this remarkable accomplishment, Padover expressed his gratitude, stating, “None of this would be possible without the support of our owners, Larry and Robyn Gottesdiener, Suzanne abair and Renee Montgomery.They entrusted me with the task of shaping the future of the Dream, and I am grateful to them for their vision and their partnership. I also want to thank our coaches, our players and our staff, all extremely talented, hardworking, and selfless, who make this institution such a special team.”

Under Padover’s astute leadership, the Atlanta Dream experienced a transformative 2025 regular season, finishing with an remarkable 30-14 record.This performance more than doubled their win total from the previous year and secured them the third seed in the WNBA Playoffs. Padover’s strategic vision was evident throughout the offseason. He made a pivotal move by hiring Karl Smesko as the head coach. Smesko, who previously led Florida Gulf Coast University, set a WNBA rookie coaching record with thirty victories in his inaugural season.

Further bolstering the roster, Padover successfully recruited veteran talent, including the impactful additions of Brionna Jones and Brittney Griner. These seasoned players joined an already strong core led by Allisha Gray and Rhyne Howard, creating a formidable lineup. Padover also demonstrated his keen eye for talent in the 2025 WNBA Draft, selecting point guard Te-Hina Paopao with the 18th overall pick.

the impact of these strategic decisions was immediate and profound. The Atlanta Dream not only achieved their best season in franchise history with thirty wins but also saw significant improvements across all major team statistics. Their offensive rating surged from twelfth to second in the league (108.2),while their defensive rating climbed from sixth to second (98.9).Moreover, the team’s assist numbers rose dramatically, moving from twelfth to third in the league with an average of 21.4 assists per game.

The collective success translated into outstanding individual performances. Allisha Gray earned Eastern Conference Player of the month honors three times, finished fourth in the MVP voting, and made her first career All-Star start. Rhyne Howard, a three-time All-Star, led the league in three-pointers made per game. brionna Jones dominated the boards, leading the WNBA in offensive rebounds with 136, and participated in her fourth All-Star Game.Naz Hillmon, a 2022 draftee, was recognized as the Sixth Player of the Year, capping off a career-best season.

While Padover’s success is undeniable, some might question if such a rapid turnaround is enduring or if the team’s strong performance was a result of luck rather than strategic planning. Tho, the consistent improvement across multiple statistical categories, coupled with the acquisition of both proven veterans and promising draft picks, strongly suggests a well-executed, long-term vision. The fact that Padover has achieved this level of success with two different franchises further solidifies his expertise and ability to build winning teams.