{
  "id": 14717053,
  "title": "Karl Smesko took a bold leap from FGCU to the Atlanta Dream. It paid off with a WNBA Finals run",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/karl-smesko-took-a-bold-leap-from-fgcu-to-the-atlanta-dream-it-paid",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-15T14:35:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/sports/basketball/2026/10/15/karl-smesko-took-a-bold-leap-from-fgcu-to-the-atlanta-dream-it-paid-off-with-a-wnba-finals-run"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Karl Smesko, a former coach at Florida Gulf Coast, made a bold move from the college basketball circuit to the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA. His tenure at FGCU produced eight 30-win seasons and 10 appearances in the NCAA tournament, but a national championship remained elusive. When the Dream approached Smesko with an offer, he saw it as an opportunity to reach a higher level. Smesko admitted that making a championship run at FGCU was highly unlikely, but the WNBA provided a more equal playing field. He has led the Dream to back-to-back 30-14 regular season records and to the WNBA Finals, where they face the favored Golden State Valkyries. Smesko's systems at FGCU emphasized three-pointers, layups, and free throws, a strategy that proved effective in the WNBA as well.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Karl Smesko moved from FGCU to Atlanta Dream in WNBA.",
    "FGCU produced eight 30-win seasons under Smesko.",
    "Dream reached WNBA Finals with Smesko's strategic systems."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}