Princeton University Athletics
Photo by: Beverly Schaefer
Dietrick '15 and Atlanta Dream Ready For WNBA Playoffs
August 24, 2018 | Women's Basketball
ATLANTA – Four years ago at this time, Blake Dietrick '15 was preparing for her senior year at Princeton University. Now … she's getting ready for the Women's Basketball Association (WNBA) Playoff Semifinals.
Dietrick has been key bench cog for the No. 2 seeded Atlanta Dream this season. She's played in 26 games, averaging 7.2 minutes per contest, shooting 39.3 percent from beyond the arc. Her best performance of the season came against the Chicago Sky (June 27) where she posted 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting and knocked down three treys in 23 minutes.
"You can never be satisfied where you are as a basketball player," said Dietrick about how Princeton prepared her for professional career. "My freshman year, I thought I was good and it was a rude awakening. Every year, I worked to improve and as a professional, it's the same. You're not going to be the same player in your first year as you are in your second and third seasons as long as you keep working."
"Blake's won at every level, every season it seems, dating back to when she was a young girl in Wellesley, Massachusetts," said Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart. "Therefore, it's no surprise that her WNBA team is one of the best in the league. As a coach, however, to have a player playing and contributing at the highest level in the world, on a team that is hunting a championship is such a treat. The Dream has been a really fun team to watch all season and the whole staff and I are already counting down to Sunday's playoff! We need all of Tiger Nation to tune in!"
Atlanta will take on the No. 3 seeded Washington Mystics in a five-game series beginning Sunday at 3 p.m. Game Two is Tuesday (8 p.m.) with Game Three on Friday. The first two contests can be seen on ESPN2.
The Dream started the season 4-6 before rolling off seven consecutive victories. Following a loss to Washington, the group rallied together six straight wins before splitting the last two games of the regular season. They finished with the top record (23-11) in the Eastern Conference and as the second seed overall in the playoffs.
"We had a couple of injuries early in the season (Brittany Sykes and Tiffany Hayes)," noted Dietrick about the team's early struggles. "It took us a little bit of time to adjust to each other and once they got back from their injuries healthy, it all clicked."
Dietrick is the first Princeton player to ever play in the WNBA and just the second in the Ivy League's history.
"It means the world to me," stated Dietrick when asked about those achievements. "I can show athletes from Princeton can play at the professional level. To be here is such an honor and to represent Princeton on this stage is an honor because of how much the school gave to me basketball-wise and academically. To be a demonstration for women that you can get an education and play professionally without sacrificing either is a great message to send."
An Associated Press and WBCA Honorable Mention All-American as well as a two-time first-team All-Ivy selection, Dietrick is fourth on the Princeton charts in three-pointers made (210), three-point shooting percentage (.395), assists (346) and 12th in scoring (1,233).
Dietrick has been key bench cog for the No. 2 seeded Atlanta Dream this season. She's played in 26 games, averaging 7.2 minutes per contest, shooting 39.3 percent from beyond the arc. Her best performance of the season came against the Chicago Sky (June 27) where she posted 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting and knocked down three treys in 23 minutes.
"You can never be satisfied where you are as a basketball player," said Dietrick about how Princeton prepared her for professional career. "My freshman year, I thought I was good and it was a rude awakening. Every year, I worked to improve and as a professional, it's the same. You're not going to be the same player in your first year as you are in your second and third seasons as long as you keep working."
"Blake's won at every level, every season it seems, dating back to when she was a young girl in Wellesley, Massachusetts," said Princeton head coach Courtney Banghart. "Therefore, it's no surprise that her WNBA team is one of the best in the league. As a coach, however, to have a player playing and contributing at the highest level in the world, on a team that is hunting a championship is such a treat. The Dream has been a really fun team to watch all season and the whole staff and I are already counting down to Sunday's playoff! We need all of Tiger Nation to tune in!"
Atlanta will take on the No. 3 seeded Washington Mystics in a five-game series beginning Sunday at 3 p.m. Game Two is Tuesday (8 p.m.) with Game Three on Friday. The first two contests can be seen on ESPN2.
The Dream started the season 4-6 before rolling off seven consecutive victories. Following a loss to Washington, the group rallied together six straight wins before splitting the last two games of the regular season. They finished with the top record (23-11) in the Eastern Conference and as the second seed overall in the playoffs.
"We had a couple of injuries early in the season (Brittany Sykes and Tiffany Hayes)," noted Dietrick about the team's early struggles. "It took us a little bit of time to adjust to each other and once they got back from their injuries healthy, it all clicked."
Dietrick is the first Princeton player to ever play in the WNBA and just the second in the Ivy League's history.
"It means the world to me," stated Dietrick when asked about those achievements. "I can show athletes from Princeton can play at the professional level. To be here is such an honor and to represent Princeton on this stage is an honor because of how much the school gave to me basketball-wise and academically. To be a demonstration for women that you can get an education and play professionally without sacrificing either is a great message to send."
An Associated Press and WBCA Honorable Mention All-American as well as a two-time first-team All-Ivy selection, Dietrick is fourth on the Princeton charts in three-pointers made (210), three-point shooting percentage (.395), assists (346) and 12th in scoring (1,233).
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