Dan Padover

Dan Padover

Atlanta Dream
Position	General Manager Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations
League	WNBA
Personal information
Born	Somers Point, New Jersey, U.S.
Career information
College	University of Connecticut New York University
Career highlights and awards
2x WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year (2020, 2021)

Dan Padover is an American basketball executive who is the General Manager and Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations of the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).^[1] He previously worked for the New York Liberty in a multitude of roles, before moving to the Las Vegas Aces as the General Manager.

Early life

Padover attended University of Connecticut for his undergraduate degree in psychology and business administration, while then attending New York University's Stern School of Business for business administration.^[2]

He worked two seasons with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights women's basketball team as their video coordinator.^[3] He also interned for the Philadelphia 76ers in their video department.^[4]

Executive career

New York Liberty

Padover began his career in the WNBA with the New York Liberty by being their video coordinator in 2012. He was promoted numerous times while with the Liberty and was a part of being their Basketball Operations Manager, Director of Basketball Operations, and finally their Vice President of Basketball Operations.^[5][6] During his time with New York, the Liberty made the playoffs four times, going to the Conference Finals in 2015.

Las Vegas Aces

Padover joined the Aces's franchise in 2018, reuniting with former head coach Bill Laimbeer. The two worked previously together while both with the Liberty. He was named the General Manager in 2019.^[7] Following the 2020 season, Padover was named the WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year Award.^[8] Padover won the Executive of the Year Award again in 2021, after signing Chelsea Gray, Riquna Williams, and Kiah Stokes to help the Aces's efforts during the year.^[9][10]

Atlanta Dream

In October 2021, Padover left the Aces organization to become the General Manager and Executive Vice President for the Atlanta Dream.^[11][12] One of the first things he did with the Dream was trade for the #1 overall pick in the 2022 WNBA Draft. This allowed the Dream to select Rhyne Howard, who would be named the WNBA Rookie of the Year.^[13] After one season with the Dream, Padover and head coach Tanisha Wright signed five-year contract extensions with the Dream.^[14]

See also

• Atlanta Dream

References

1. Voepel, M.V. "Atlanta Dream continue to rebuild: hire Aces exec Dan Padover as GM, name Darius Taylor assistant GM". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
2. Gordan, Sam. "Aces GM Dan Padover relishes role ahead of WNBA Draft". reviewjournal.com. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
3. "Dan Padover". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
4. "Locked on Women's Basketball: Building a championship contender with Atlanta Dream GM Dan Padover". thenexthoops.com. The Next. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
5. "Dan Padover". linkedin.com. Linked In. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
6. Connolly, Daniel. "UConn alumnus Dan Padover named general manager of Atlanta Dream". theuconnblog.com. SB Nation. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
7. Akers, Mick. "Aces two-time executive of the year hired away from team". reviewjournal.com. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
8. "Las Vegas' Dan Padover Named 2020 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
9. "Las Vegas Aces General Manager of Basketball Operations Dan Padover Named the 2021 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
10. "Las Vegas Aces general manager of basketball operations Dan Padover named the 2021 WNBA Basketball Executive of the Year". sportingnews.com. The Sporting News. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
11. "Atlanta Dream names Dan Padover as General Manager, Darius Taylor as Assistant General Manager". dream.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
12. Voepel, M.V. "Atlanta Dream continue to rebuild: hire Aces exec Dan Padover as GM, name Darius Taylor assistant GM". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
13. Zucker, Joseph. "Atlanta Dream Acquire No. 1 Pick in 2022 WNBA Draft in Trade with Mystics". bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
14. Merchant, Sabreena. "Dream sign coach Tanisha Wright, GM Dan Padover to 5-year contract extensions". theathletic.com. The Athletic. Retrieved 29 June 2023.