LaToya Sanders received a WNBA title as a athlete. Now she desires the identical for the Atlanta Dream as a play-caller.

Summarize this content material to max 500 phrases in knowledgeable sports activities journalism information model, highlighting key information:

On the afternoon of Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals final week, Atlanta Dream guard Rhyne Howard warmed up on a stationary bike simply exterior the guests’ tunnel of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The Dream had been one conquer shy of sweeping the New York Liberty and clinching the franchise’s first WNBA Finals look since 2013. Understandably, Howard appeared locked in, sporting a gradual sport face as she pedaled out the ultimate moments of the squad’s media availability earlier than shootaround.

Her demeanor shifted after a query concerning the affect of LaToya Sanders, one in all her assistant coaches. A full smile now radiated throughout Howard’s face as she sat again in her seat, her expression answering the query earlier than she even mentioned a phrase.

“My mom, she’s like, ‘[LaToya]’s your big sister.’ We’re so much alike. I think that’s what helps [LaToya] to keep me grounded,” Howard mentioned. “I think she’s been perfect thus far. I hope that I can have her for the rest of my career.”

In her second campaign with the Dream, and her fifth as an assistant play-caller, Sanders has change into a pivotal sideline contributor to Atlanta’s on-court success. Those near Sanders, whose 12-year skilled profession included seven WNBA seasons and a 2019 top spot, laud her basketball mind and meticulous work ethic. Her pursuit of excellence in basketball, whether or not as a play-caller or a athlete, has been tireless.

Ultimately, her work is for one aim: to drag the most effective out of her gamers, to conquer a top spot and in the future, hopefully quickly, to change into a head play-caller. For now, she’s searching for her first title as an assistant.

“You sacrifice a lot as a player. You sacrifice a lot as a coach,” Sanders mentioned. “To then come out with the ultimate prize, a championship, it would be wonderful.”

Sanders (proper) and Angel Reese (left) of the Atlanta Dream evaluate movie earlier than a sport towards the Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 18 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. David Becker/NBAE through Getty Images

Among Sanders’ duties is working individually with Howard and Angel Reese, two of the Dream’s All-Stars. She helps craft coaching plans and watches movie with them, tailoring her displays to dope moment how they’ll use their ability units to take advantage of defenses in upcoming video games.

Sanders’ key to the pair’s success? Finding methods to raise their teammates’ sequence.

“Both of them know that when other players get involved and have success, that the game is easier for them,” Sanders mentioned. “We feel like no matter how good you are, there’s always areas that even the best players can improve in. We try to focus on those so they can be unstoppable.”

Howard lauded Sanders’ suggestions model.

“I know that whatever she’s saying is not coming from a bad place,” Howard mentioned. “The impact that she’s had on me, the impact that she’s had on Angel, I think has helped us become better players this year.”

One space Sanders has labored on with Reese is free throw taking pictures. During the playoffs, Reese has shot 87.1 p.c from the road. In Game 2 towards the Liberty, Reese got here up massive with a number of late-game free throw makes to safe the Dream’s extra time conquer. After the sport, Reese referenced the free-throw routine Sanders has crafted for her.

“I got to shoot 10 in a row with Toya. Last one got to be a swish coming right back to me,” Reese advised Holly Rowe, a sideline reporter for ESPN and ABC.

Added Reese a couple of days afterward Sanders: “We have honest conversations. We watch a lot of film. She’s been great for me.”

Among the duties of Atlanta Dream assistant play-caller LaToya Sanders (proper) is working individually with Rhyne Howard (left) and Angel Reese. Adam Hagy/NBAE through Getty Images

This weekend, Howard and Reese will make their WNBA Finals debuts. Until ahead DeWanna Bonner arrived in late August, guards Jordin Canada and Shatori Walker-Kimbrough had been the one gamers on the Atlanta roster to carry a WNBA top spot trophy. As a end result, Sanders — who understands the pressures of a Finals run after successful the 2019 title with the Washington Mystics — has been an integral useful resource for Dream gamers, answering their questions on what it takes to conquer in October.

“I know a lot of players on this team, [and] they really haven’t been out of the first round of the playoffs until this year,” Sanders mentioned. “So understanding while that is an accomplishment, it’s not our end goal and we’re all going to just have to take a step forward to win a championship. I mean, it took me 12 years to get to the Finals — then 13 to win a championship. So, it’s not easy.”

Sanders’ position on the 2019 Mystics was that of the beginning lineup’s dependable anchor, particularly defensively. She was adaptable and will fill the gaps the place the squad wanted her, serving to the franchise to its first ring.

“She did all the little things,” mentioned Dream guard Shatori Walker-Kimbrough, one other member of the 2019 Mystics. “Whenever we needed her to step up, she definitely did that. We counted on her all the time defensively, and she always showed up.”

Beyond her time within the WNBA, Sanders had a formidable profession abroad. She performed alongside stars Diana Taurasi and Maya Moore in Russia and received the EuroLeague with UMMC Ekaterinburg in 2018. She turned a naturalized Turkish citizen in 2012, representing the nation at each the 2014 FIBA World Championships and the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Atlanta Dream assistant play-caller LaToya Sanders (left) and Angel Reese (proper) work out earlier than a WNBA sport towards the Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 18 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Mike Thibault, the second-winningest play-caller in WNBA historical past, coached Sanders for 4 seasons in Washington. He mentioned he all the time noticed a future play-caller in her due to how she learn the sport.

“She was smart, as smart as players that I’ve had,” Thibault mentioned. “She knew scouting reports, knew the game, and studied other players. She really, really studied the game.”

Thibault wasn’t positive, nonetheless, whether or not Sanders can be the “super outgoing” or “demonstrative” presence that teaching calls for.

“I don’t think she knew if she was good enough at that, if she would let herself kind of go,” Thibault mentioned. “When she and I talked about it, that was not a concern, but just something where she was [asking], ‘Are you sure I can do this?’”

Sanders joined Thibault’s teaching workers as an assistant in 2022. Just as she was throughout her taking part in days, Sanders was persistently the primary individual within the gymnasium. Thibault remembers being impressed by her curiosity as a play-caller. In addition to the X’s and O’s, she expressed an curiosity in studying concerning the workings of the entrance workplace, from wage caps to trades.

“As a coach, that gives you an appreciation for all that has to go into building a roster, camaraderie and a culture,” Thibault mentioned of Sanders, who was promoted to affiliate head play-caller in November 2022 and employed as an assistant with the Dream in 2025. “A lot of young coaches who come from being players assume they know a lot more, and she does not. … There’s a process to this, and [she] was willing to go through the process.”

Now in her fifth 12 months on the sidelines, Sanders has seemingly discovered her voice. Thibault mentioned Sanders has grown extra snug standing up and saying what’s wanted, whereas Walker-Kimbrough added that one in all Sanders’ strengths is holding gamers accountable. Most importantly, Walker-Kimbrough mentioned, Sanders does it authentically.

“I feel like sometimes when you’re trying to step into a new role, you kind of sometimes lose yourself or try to overdo it,” Walker-Kimbrough mentioned. “[Sanders] has stayed herself and she’s been honest and she’s been blunt when she needs to be.”

Those round Sanders, from Thibault to Walker-Kimbrough to Dream head play-caller Karl Smesko, mentioned she’s able to take the subsequent step in her teaching profession.

“She’s ready to be a head coach right now,” Smesko advised reporters final month. “She knows basketball at an exceptionally high level and she connects with people at an exceptionally high level. When you have those two things, you’re going to have a lot of success.”

Sanders continues to develop as a play-caller, even shadowing Atlanta Hawks practices throughout the offseason, however she is unsure of her subsequent step. While she enjoys her time with the Dream, she mentioned she would by no means flip down a head play-caller alternative — supplied it’s the proper match, together with a possible transfer to the faculty ranks.

“I learned a lot from my coaching experiences in Washington, definitely for myself. I learned a lot from my coaching experience here with Karl so, yeah, you know I think I would be a good [head coach],” she mentioned. “When that situation presents itself, I think I’ll be ready for it.”

As Sanders mirrored on her journey within the league and her probability to conquer her first title as a play-caller, she thought of how a lot has modified in each her life and the WNBA since 2019. 

Standing on the sidelines of Barclays Center, Sanders recalled that the Liberty performed in suburban Westchester County, not Brooklyn, in 2019. Back then, 4,000 followers watched the Mystics increase the WNBA top spot trophy. Now, the Dream and Golden State Valkyries will sequence their Finals video games in arenas seating greater than 17,000.

And Sanders’ 5-year-old son, Semih Sway Sanders, wasn’t born but — she wish to give him a top spot expertise.

“It’s kind of just like a full circle. I poured a lot into playing in the WNBA, made a lot of sacrifices, continue to make sacrifices, you know, as a coach. So, it’s the same feeling,” Sanders mentioned. “I would love the opportunity to win the championship as both player and coach.”

Sean Hurd is a senior author for Andscape who primarily covers ladies’s basketball. His athletic peak got here on the age of 10 when he was named camper of the week at a Josh Childress basketball camp.