The Dream have experienced many benefits since being swept by Seattle in last year's WNBA finals.
Their season-ticket sales have increased by 30 percent compared with last year. Their new sales lead the league, according to the team, which declined to provide actual figures.
Two new owners bought into the franchise, a strong sign of financial health.
The team traded for Lindsey Harding, one of the league's best point guards.
As a result, the Dream are already being tabbed as the team to beat in the Eastern Conference.
But first, the Dream will experience another benefit: becoming the first team in the league's history to go to Europe when it plays Great Britain women's team Sunday in Manchester.
It is part of a five-day barnstorming tour in northwest England in which the coaches and players will also hold clinics to show the soccer-obsessed country (Manchester United will play Barcelona in the Champions League final Saturday) how women's basketball is played. Most of Europe already knows the sport. Dream players have competed in leagues everywhere from Spain to Russia during WNBA offseasons. In Europe, Angel McCoughtry said they are treated like queens. McCoughtry won't get to enjoy the trip. She sprained her left knee in practice and won't go with the team.
"They really just enjoy the art of the game," she said. "It's not about gender. I wish it was more like that over here, not about gender."
To coach Marynell Meadors, the trip means more than a chance to be ambassadors and do some sightseeing. This will be the team's only preseason game before the home opener June 5 at Philips Arena, and there's a lot of work to do as the team analyzes the roster.
"It will be a great challenge for us," Meadors said.
The team didn't make many changes in the offseason. The most notable addition was Harding, whom Meadors acquired in a trade to improve scoring at the point guard position. She has averaged 11 points per game in four seasons. Through more than a week of practices, Harding's new teammates said she is fitting in well.
"I feel like she's been here," Iziane Castro Marques said. "She really has gotten into the team."
The other notable addition was draft pick Felicia Chester, a forward from DePaul who showed skilled post-up moves in a recent scrimmage. Meadors said she likes what she has seen from Chester in many phases of the game.
There were changes off the court as well: Mary Brock and Kelly Loeffler joined Kathy Betty's ownership group.
Now the team must try to find a way to take that extra step to win its first championship. Meadors said she sees confidence in her players. She just hopes that a year later the players still have that hunger.
"It's lot harder to repeat what you did last year," she said. "This year is a different year. The players are different even though they are the same. They are a year older, more mature. Hopefully, they will still bring that same enthusiasm and passion for the game."
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