Angel McCoughtry is now playing for Las Vegas, but Atlanta remains her home.
On Thursday, McCoughtry, a forward and guard, returned to her hometown, where she had played for a decade in WNBA, as a Aces member for the first time. McCoughtry was injured in the ACL in May which ended her season. However, Aces coach Bill Laimbeer hoped McCoughtry could still enjoy a moment in front of Dream fans.
That was at the end of Aces' 78-71 win.
McCoughtry was replaced in the game with 7.9 seconds remaining and the win secured. There was a standing ovation from the crowd. Jackie Young gave McCoughtry a pass and she went to the far side of the court. McCoughtry made an uncontested shot just inside the arc. It was sunk and rebounded by Tiffany Hayes of Dream, who gave McCoughtry a hug.
Renee Montgomery, vice president and co-owner of Dream, took a photograph of Angel McCoughtry after Thursday's Aces game in Atlanta. Adam Hagy/NBAE via Getty Images
McCoughtry replied, "When Bill asked my if I wanted to play today, get into the game for a few seconds, I was ecstatic," adding that she didn’t know she would be passing the ball. "So that's how I missed the shot.
The feeling is hard to express. It was an incredible day. It is good to be home, because I live here. It was a wonderful experience.
McCoughtry was drafted first overall by Atlanta in 2009 out of Louisville. She led the Dream to three WNBA Finals appearances (2010, ’11, and '13). After many years of playing in the WNBA and abroad, she sat out 2017 to rest. In 2018, she was an All-Star again, but a knee injury in the final season kept her out the playoffs.
McCoughtry was recovering from an injury and made a special appearance in one of the 2019 Dream games. McCoughtry signed in 2020 as a free agent with Las Vegas, and she helped the Aces reach the WNBA Finals. She didn't make it to Atlanta last year because she was playing in Bradenton, Florida.
Laimbeer spoke of McCoughtry's decision to be given time on Thursday, saying that she had "thought about it today during shootaround". "I told her that if there's a spot, I could put you in the game to receive an ovation from everyone. I'll do my best.'
"Angel isn't overly emotional, but it was a good thing that she did. It would have been two years ago if it were next year. She agreed that this was something she should do.
Hayes thanked McCoughtry for helping to adjust to the league in 2012 as a rookie. She added, "It was nice to see Angel touch the floor tonight."
After a 76-62 defeat to Connecticut, the Aces rebounded. Laimbeer scored his 300th regular season WNBA win. This was second only to Washington's Mike Thibault (354) Laimbeer, who has 35 playoff wins and previously coached in New York and Detroit in the WNBA is second to Minnesota coach Cheryl Reeves' 41.
Along with 19-6 Connecticut, and 18-8 Seattle, the 18-7 Aces have already secured a playoff spot. These teams are competing for the top two spots on the standings. This guarantees a bye to the best-of-5 semifinals.
