WNBA’s Monique Billings returns to Atlanta with new team

returned to Atlanta and made sure she made a statement when she did. The ATL is after all where she was drafted by the Atlanta Dream in 2018 and spent the first six seasons of her WNBA career before joining the Dallas Wings. Off the court for those six years, Billings blossomed in her modeling and broadcast careers and released her first book, finding balance.

Although her new team, the Dallas Wings, lost to the Atlanta Dream 83-78, Billings finished with 20 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

“Good for Mo,” Atlanta Dream head coach Tanisha Wright said after the game. “Twenty points, double double, she was all that defensively against us tonight. I thought she just did a great job of executing her role, and because of that, she had a stellar game. I said, ‘Good for Mo,’ because I want what’s best for Mo. She was somebody who was here for a long time, and that’s to be celebrated.”

Hey @moniquebillings 👋! #DoItForTheDream pic.twitter.com/RrrNgRib7b

— Atlanta Dream (@AtlantaDream) May 21, 2024

Billings is currently with the Dallas Wings on a hardship deal after forward Natasha Howard was expected to be out three-to-six weeks with a broken foot. After the 2023 season with the Dream, Billings signed with her hometown team, the Los Angeles Sparks, but was cut in the preseason.

“She’s great,” Wings star guard Arike Ogunbowale told rolling out after the game. “I don’t understand how she was waived because she deserves to be in this league. She’s been doing well her entire career, but I’m glad she ended up on our team.

“She’s another vet, especially while Tasha and [Satou Sabally] are gone. She’s that vet, she’s stepping up and she’s doing what she has been her entire career. I’m really happy for her.”

While Billings focused on her team’s huddle during the in-game arena tribute to her, after the game, she shared her raw reaction to the entire return to rolling out in the postgame presser.

How was it playing in Atlanta against your old team?

A lot of emotions. I felt like I was just embraced by everyone in Atlanta. From the fans, the people in the organization, my teammates, coaches, I’m really grateful for that.

I’m grateful for my new team. They’ve embraced me too. It’s crazy. A week ago, I wasn’t even on a team and here I am. Honestly, I can’t believe that. God bless. But yeah, just all the feels. Taking nothing for granted. I’m very grateful. I’d be better with a win, but I’m proud of our fight. We’re young. I think we’re going to have to go through these growing pains until we get tired of it. I think we’ll be in a good place.

What was working for you tonight?

Obviously, Tea  [Teaira McCowan] and Arike [Ogunbowale]. As a unit, we’re still trying to get our chemistry, but I think our will to fight will get things right. There are still a couple of things we need to clean up, but for the most part, our energy was solid.