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Winterburn Waived: Dreams Deferred in Harsh WNBA Welcome
13 May
Summary
- Holly Winterburn was waived by the Atlanta Dream on May 7th.
- She faced this setback while boarding the bus for her first game.
- Winterburn missed the 2025 season due to injury.
Holly Winterburn's anticipated WNBA debut with the Atlanta Dream was unexpectedly halted on May 7th, 2026. The British guard, who had spent the entire 2025 season recovering from an injury, was waived by the team as she boarded the bus for the Dream's first regular-season game. Winterburn shared her disappointment on Instagram, calling it a harsh reality of the business, but expressed gratitude for the opportunity.
Atlanta originally signed Winterburn in 2025, recognizing her potential with accolades like three WBBL Young Player of the Year awards and a EuroCup Women championship. However, a significant injury prevented her from playing in the 2025 season. Despite this, the Dream retained her WNBA rights, fueling hopes for her eventual debut. Her strong preseason performance, with 12 points against the Washington Mystics, seemed to signal her readiness.
The decision to waive Winterburn was made after the Dream claimed guard Aaliyah Nye off waivers. This roster move occurred just before the Dream's season opener against the Minnesota Lynx on May 7th, which Atlanta won 91-90. Meanwhile, new acquisition Angel Reese made an immediate impact in her debut, contributing 11 points and 14 rebounds.
