At Thursday's unveiling of the Atlanta Dream's uniforms, general manager and head coach Marynell Meadors bragged about the quality and size of the players with the WNBA's newest franchise.

"We're pretty big," said Meadors whose 13-member roster includes eight players 6-feet-3 or taller. "Other teams are going to have a hard time matching up with us."

Allen Sullivan/Special to the AJC (ENLARGE)

Atlanta Dream players Katie Feenstra (6-foot-8) and Ivory Latta (5-foot-6) model the new uniforms to be worn by Atlanta's WNBA franchise. The Dream take the court in May.

The biggest reason is 6-8, 240-pound center Katie Feenstra, the tallest player in the league. She was acquired from the Detroit Shock in the expansion draft.

Bringing in Feenstra was a no brainer for Meadors who recalled the difficult time the Washington Mystics, a team she formerly helped coach, had against the versatile veteran.

"She's a target inside not only because she's big. She's talented," Meadors said. "She's got great moves around the rim and is a consistent free-throw shooter plus can shoot shots from that area. I just think they are going to have a tough time defending her."

It also doesn't hurt that Feensta, 25, has the benefit of tutelage from Shock coach Bill Laimbeer and assistant coach Rick Mahorn, both former NBA star bigs. She also has payoff experience, having went to the WNBA finals with Detroit last season. Feenstra started 40 of 102 games and averaged 7.3 points and 5.4 rebounds over her career.

"This is my fourth season in the WNBA," said Feenstra, excited to be in Atlanta and part of the new franchise." It's been so much fun. I've moved around a lot. I've been in San Antonio, Detroit and now Atlanta."

Ivory Latta, a 5-6 guard also formerly with the Shock, expects that the chemistry they had in Detroit will continue with the Dream.

"It's cool hanging out with my girl,' she said. "She's really a great person. We definitely get along."

The former Liberty University star first began playing basketball in seventh grade at a friend's suggestion. Feenstra, who was already 6-3 by then, found the skills came easy and liked it.

Always competitive, Feenstra wanted to see just far she could get. Now the Grand Rapids, Mich. native is on the brink of starting her fourth year in the WNBA and expects to play a major role for the Dream.

She was drafted out of Liberty in 2005 by Connecticut, then immediately dealt to San Antonio where she spent two years before landing with Detroit.