Holdsclaw officially signs with Dream

It’s official. Chamique Holdsclaw is back in the WNBA after a two-year absence. The former No. 1 overall draft pick out of Tennessee came out of retirement — with much urging from Dream general manager and coach Marynell Meadors. She signed a contract with the team Monday.

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LOUIE FAVORITE/lfavorite@ajc.com

Chamique Holdsclaw signed an undisclosed contract Monday to return to the WNBA with the Atlanta Dream after a two-year absence.

• More on the Dream

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Here are five things to know about Holdsclaw:

• On her decision to play again: “My friends got tired of me consulting. One day I honestly thought, when it’s over, it’s over. We, as professional athletes, can’t play forever. I just wanted my family and my friends to have the opportunity to see me play again, to wear a uniform in the United States.”

• On her decision to move to Atlanta: “Like four years ago, I bought a townhouse here, a rental property. … I hadn’t seen it, so I finally came down and stayed for two or three months. I really liked it and decided to buy a house here and moved out to the Smyrna area.”

• The best player she played with: “Playing with Lisa [Leslie] and seeing her perspective on the game. She helped me grow as a person. I learned the most from her.”

• The best player she played against: “It’s going to have to be [Cheryl] Swoops in her prime.”

• Her biggest asset to the Dream: “That fire and a person who is able to create [that] for other players. An experienced player. A person that is a good energy in the locker room.”