Apr 29, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Atlanta Dream forward Angel Reese (5) jokes with her teammates during the second half of a WNBA preseason game against the Chicago Sky at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images ©Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Every player imagines their WNBA debut to be in a certain way. But for Holly Winterburn, her welcome to the league came in one of the harshest ways possible. When the young star was supposed to kick off the 2026 season alongside Angel Reese and the Atlanta Dream after spending an entire year fighting just to get back on the court, she saw everything take a U-turn.

On May 7th, the Dream announced their team’s roster for this season, which featured “a blend of established stars, rising young talent and key offseason additions.” For Winterburn, this announcement felt like the moment where everything finally came together. But just when it looked like the British guard would finally make her long-awaited debut, she was waived off.

However, instead of staying silent, she has decided to address the emotional moment head-on.

“I thought my welcome to the W moment would happen on the court, not as I’m getting on the bus for my first ever game. But that’s the reality of this business & I will always be grateful for the opportunity Atlanta gave me,” she wrote on her Instagram Story. “I’m built for this. Thank you to everyone who has checked in on me & sent love. Everything happens for a reason and I’m so excited for what’s next.”

Back in 2025, Atlanta first signed the Northampton, England native to a training camp contract under the rookie scale. They saw some serious upside in her résumé, where she entered the camp as a three-time WBBL Young Player of the Year, a EuroCup Women champion with the London Lions, and major experience representing Great Britain in FIBA competition.

At that time, even the Dream general manager Dan Padover sounded genuinely excited about what she could bring to the table. “Holly is a versatile guard with extensive professional and international experience. We’re excited to see her compete at this level,” he said.

But before her WNBA journey could even begin, Winterburn suffered an injury that forced her to miss the entire 2025 season. Still, Atlanta retained her exclusive WNBA rights, which gave many fans hope that the organization still viewed her as part of its future plans.

All that wait finally seemed ready to pay off this season, as Winterburn went on to record 12 points, two rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 22 minutes when her former team locked horns with the Washington Mystics in preseason. She looked comfortable, confident, and aggressive on both ends of the floor. Though just when that momentum was supposed to translate, she was waived while boarding the team bus en route to Atlanta’s first regular-season game against the Minnesota Lynx. But why?

The move appeared to be tied to Atlanta securing Aaliyah Nye, who won a championship with the Las Vegas Aces in 2025. “The Dream claimed guard Aaliyah Nye off waivers,” the franchise announced. “In doing so, the Atlanta Dream also waived guard Holly Winterburn.”

Still, the situation left plenty of fans feeling for Winterburn, especially considering how close she came to finally stepping onto a court after waiting through an entire season.

What’s Next for Angel Reese and the Dream After Atlanta’s Early Roster Shake-Up

Amid early roster movement, Atlanta wasted no time getting into action as their season opener delivered instant intensity. The Dream opened their 2026 campaign against the Lynx and took home the win with a narrow 91-90 victory