RENEE MONTGOMERY

The WNBA will tip off its 25th season on Friday after an offseason that was full of player movement, including Candace Parker returning home to Chicago.

The WNBA announced the sale of the Atlanta Dream to a group that includes former player Renee Montgomery on Friday. "With the unanimous WNBA and NBA votes, today marks a new beginning for the Atlanta Dream organization and we are very pleased to welcome Larry Gottesdiener and Suzanne Abair to the WNBA," WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert said in statement. I am also thrilled that former WNBA star Renee Montgomery will be joining the ownership group as an investor and executive for the team. JULIO AGUILAR / Getty ImagesMontgomery, a two-time WNBA champion, will be the first former player to become both an owner and executive of a WNBA team, according to the league. Atlanta's Renee Montgomery shoots a free throw during the WNBA game between the Las Vegas Aces and the Atlanta Dream in 2019.

Kelly Loeffler, the former U.S. senator who lost her seat in the Georgia runoff elections last month, is no longer a WNBA team owner. The Women's National Basketball Association announced Friday that it and the NBA board of governors have unanimously approved the sale of the Atlanta Dream to Larry Gottesdiener, chairman of real estate firm Northland. On a media call discussing the sale, Engelbert said Montgomery would be a huge "asset" to the new owners. "I want to continue to grow and we're going to continue to grow the momentum in Atlanta for Atlanta Dream," said Montgomery on the call. But painting a picture of WNBA team valuations, sports bankers estimate the 2019 sale of a bigger-market team — the New York Liberty — sold in the $10 million to $14 million range.

James applauded Montgomery's ownership role by posting on Twitter: “So proud of this Queen. “The Dream isn’t going anywhere.”The WNBA announced on Jan. 20 the ownership change was close to being completed. “I want to take this time to thank the WNBA players, particularly the Dream players,” Engelbert said Friday. They served as role models with their advocacy and continue to do that.”Gottesdiener said the Dream players captured his attention and respect. “Today does mark a new beginning for the Atlanta Dream organization," Engelbert said.

Montgomery and Tiffany Hayes appreciated what former UConn teammate Maya Moore was doing when the All-Star forward stepped away from basketball two years ago to focus on criminal justice reform. UConn coach Geno Auriemma has been impressed by what many of his former players are accomplishing off the court. They were following who they are.Montgomery and Hayes smiled at the thought that a dozen years ago the UConn players had any aspirations of being social activists. Both Hayes and Montgomery loved seeing Auriemma and his wife and family at a protest in his community last month. I knew my mind wasnt there, my heart wasnt there, Montgomery said.

WASHINGTON Washington Mystics players Natasha Cloud and LaToya Sanders are opting out of participating in the 2020 WNBA season for the leagues reigning champions. Theres a lot of factors that led to this decision, but the biggest being that I am more than an athlete. Cloud and Sanders each has been with Washington for five seasons. Her commitment to social justice issues is of utmost importance to her and, therefore, to the Mystics organization, Thibault said of Cloud. We will continue to be partners with her and all of our players on their commitment to social justice reform as we go forward into this season and beyond.Players have until Thursday to opt out of the season.