UCLA Women's Basketball: How Bruins Alum Brought Her WNBA Team Back To Playoffs
Former UCLA Bruins small forward Monique Billings has emerged as a critical reason the WNBA franchise that drafted her, the Atlanta Dream, has returned to its first playoff berth in five years.
The Dream sported a 19-21 record this season, good for the fifth seed in the eight-time playoff hunt. Atlanta is thus facing off against the fourth-seeded Dallas Wings, trailing 1-0 after Satou Sabally's 32 points in Game 1 helped power Dallas to a 94-82 win over Billings and co.
Michael Voepel of ESPN notes that Billings, selected with the No. 15 pick in the second round of her draft, is the only player still on the club.
"Basketball is a sport we play, but there's so much more to life," Billings reflected, per Voepel. "Everything I've gone through the last few years is just life experiences. I just want to continue to grow as a person and as a player."
"I've felt support since Day 1. I'm a [Californian], but it feels like I'm from Atlanta. It's been a while; I've got a couple miles on my legs since [2018]. Last season we came so close. Me being a vet now, I feel ... maybe it is pressure, but it's a good type of pressure."
The 6'4" wing, 27, is averaging 4.8 points on 40.7% shooting from the floor and 5.0 rebounds a night for his franchise.
