MKRob Sports

The Atlanta Dream announced today the signing of WNBA All-Star Chamique Holdsclaw, officially ending her retirement and welcoming her back to the league.

“This is such a great day for our organization to sign a player the caliber of Chamique Holdsclaw,” said Dream General Manager & Head Coach Marynell Meadors. “Chamique is probably the best women’s basketball player in the world and I think that the WNBA deserves to have her in our league. She needs to be here. She’s just a great player and I’m excited that she is ready to be a part of our team.”

Holdsclaw, a nine-year veteran, retired from the WNBA in 2007 while with the Los Angeles Sparks. In December, the Dream acquired the rights to Holdsclaw from Los Angeles in exchange for the 13th pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft. A WNBA All-Decade Team honorable mention, Holdsclaw is averaging 17.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game in her career.

“I’m really excited for this opportunity. It’s a new opportunity and a new day,” said Holdsclaw. “It all comes to an end one day and that’s why I came back… because I realized once it’s over, that’s it. I’m excited that every time I step out on the court here I have people supporting me, not just the fans, but an entire support system. My family, all my friends from Knoxville and my friends here in Atlanta will get the opportunity to see me play again, and that means a lot to me.”

The first overall draft pick in the 1999 WNBA Draft, Holdsclaw earned WNBA Rookie of the Year honors and was named a starter in the inaugural WNBA All-Star game. In six seasons with the Mystics, Holdsclaw averaged 19 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. In 2000, Holdsclaw was named to the U.S. Olympic team and earned a gold medal in Sydney.

Holdsclaw last appeared in the WNBA for the Los Angeles Sparks, after being acquired in a 2005 trade for DeLisha Milton-Jones. She spent two full seasons in Los Angeles before announcing her retirement from the league in June 2007. At the time, Holdsclaw was averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Holdsclaw most recently played professionally in Poland this winter where she was one of the top performers in EuroLeague action.