COLLEGE PARK – It was 2022 when Naz Hillmon was drafted by the Atlanta Dream, along with Rhyne Howard. They call themselves the “drywall” of the organization, just because they've seen and been through it all in five years.
They've experienced losing seasons, with some of them actually leading to playoff apperances. In those appearances, they've lost in the first round. Fast forward to this season, and they're reaping the benefits of all the hard work they've put in, and they're four wins away from winning the franchise's first championship.
“It’s really special, because when me and Rhyne got drafted, Dan [Padover] had a goal for us to win multiple championships, and now seeing that we have the opportunity to do that, it’s been really special,” Hillmon said in an exclusive interview with ClutchPoints. “Things have changed a lot in the organization from our first year to now, but some things have stayed constant, and those things that have stayed constant have definitely helped us to get to this point.”
Some of those constants happen to be surrounding the players: Allisha Gray, whom the Dream traded for in 2023. The following year, they acquired Jordin Canada from the Los Angeles Sparks. From there, they plugged in other pieces, as well as head coach Karl Smesko, who has helped the team win 30 games in his first two seasons at the helm. All of that has led to the Dream heading to the WNBA Finals to face the Golden State Valkyries.
Of course, there's excitement surrounding the fans, team and the entire organization, but they also know the job is far from finished.
“Something I took from college, my coaches would tell me you can’t get too high, and you can’t get too low,” Hillmon said. “That’s what this moment is. It’s an exciting moment; who knows when you’ll get back, so you want to enjoy it. But at the same time, you want to be the one holding the trophy, so you can’t celebrate too early.”
For Hillmon, her game has evolved since coming into the league. Over the last two seasons, her 3-point shot has improved, thanks to Smesko, and she's been able to take on any defensive assignment given to her. What sticks out the most about Hillmon goes beyond her game, and it's her voice, as she's been the leader on the team in that department.
“I think I've had that role for a while now, even in college, going back to when I was a freshman,” Hillmon said earlier in the season. “My seniors were great, and I really learned from them. I found a way to use my voice in the way that I know how.”
Hillmon isn't afraid to have the hard conversations with the team, but she's also the first to let them know how good they're doing. Heading into the playoffs, she received some extra help on the vocal side, as DeWanna Bonner has brought along her championship pedigree.
“Sometimes I come in the huddle, and she’s already talking,” Hillmon said. “She’s a vet’s vet. She always knows what to say, whether it’s to pick us up, hype us up or calm us down.
“Sometimes I’m not the only one in the huddle talking, and now I don’t have to say anything because she’s talking. When you hear yourself talking all the time, I think, ‘What am I missing?’ and she fills in those gaps for me.”
That strong communication has helped the Dream become one of the best defensive teams in the league, and it's bled into their offense.
Article Continues Below“I think the reason our defense is so good is because of communication, the way we talk to each other. Sometimes that helps you get over the hump, whatever you’re doing on the floor,” Hillmon said. “On offense, it’s what plays we’re running; there are so many things that’s going on in the game, and it’s very easy to sit there and not talk and assume what everyone is going to say, but the hard thing is to communicate with each other because it makes things easier on the backend.”
The Dream are going to need that defense against the Valkyries, who they didn't have much success against in the regular season. Since then, the Dream have been a much improved team, winning their last ten games, including the playoffs.
“Our defense is a lot better. We’ve taken what coach has given us as far as technique and putting our energy and effort into it. I think that makes a huge difference,” Hillmon said. “We used to let people just walk to the paint on us, and that’s a point of emphasis.
“I think defensively it’s been a huge difference, and our defense leads to our offense. When you’re able to get easy layups because you’re getting steals, what’s better than that?”
If the Dream can continue their strong play on both sides of the ball, they have a good chance of holding the WNBA championship in the end. For Hillmon, it could be a dream come true for her to win with the team she's seen and been through it all with.