Despite being a late-third round selection in the 2025 WNBA draft, former Ohio State guard Taylor Thierry has earned herself an opening day roster spot on the Atlanta Dream.
Thierry, who was the third-to-last pick in the draft (No. 36) by the Dream on April 14, was named one of 11 players who made the franchise’s opening day roster on Thursday, a list that also includes notable names such as veteran center Brittney Griner and former Michigan and South Carolina stars Naz Hillmon and Te-Hina Paopao.
Thierry likely made the team after showing out in training camp and in preseason for Atlanta this spring. She recorded eight points, two steals and five rebounds across the team’s two preseason games against the Washington Mystics and Indiana Fever.
Thierry was able to show off the versatile skill set she developed in her four seasons at Ohio State (2021-25), where she became one of the more feared defenders in the Big Ten, finishing her career with 234 steals. That number ranks 10th in program history.
Thierry also became a more formidable offensive threat as her Buckeye career progressed. After totaling just 2.9 points per game as a freshman in 30 games (zero starts), she combined for 11.7 points per game on 60.2 percent shooting in 101 career games (all starts) from 2022-25. Those improved offensive numbers earned her a pair of second-team All-Big Ten selections in 2022-23 and 2023-24 as well as an honorable mention all-conference honor this past season by the media.
Thierry will now look to bring her production on both ends to a Dream team that went 15-25 last season and lost in two games to the eventual WNBA champion New York Liberty in the first round of the postseason. She will make her professional debut Friday night when Atlanta travels to Washington, D.C., to take on the Mystics to open their 2025 season. Tip off is set for 7:30 with the game streaming on Fubo and Youtube TV.
