Monique Billings could be headed for a breakout WNBA season

Atlanta Dream forward Monique Billings could be quickly headed for a breakout WNBA season.

Monique Billings joined professional basketball just four years ago with the Atlanta Dream. She was selected in the WNBA draft as the 15th overall pick and has continuously worked her way up to earn more overall time in games. In 2021, she played a career-high total of 739 minutes.

Billings has a long history with basketball that goes back to her childhood. Her nationally recognized achievements began at Santiago High School, where she played as a forward on the varsity team all four years. She was high on the lists of recruiters and was ranked in the top 30 for best players in the country. Billings was ranked as one of the best forwards. She faced no trouble getting recruited to a college team, and she chose to play for UCLA.

She went to UCLA in 2014 and started her college career strong. She was one of only three players to play in every single game of the season, and she had at least one rebound every game. She also led her team in field goals, and she earned a spot as the starting power forward by her sophomore year. To join a team that has played together for years and immediately stand out is a major accomplishment.

Monique Billings was a star in high school and college, but she has had to work harder to prove herself in the WNBA

Billings has some of the highest stats in the league, including 88 total offensive rebounds and averaging nearly 3 per game. She ranked third among all WNBA players for rebounds in 2021. She is also high on the list for steals and blocks with an average of 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game. She’s one of seven with these averages.

The Dream are currently a struggling team, finishing 11th out of 12 teams last season. Atlanta has changed both ownership and arenas three times, which makes it difficult to maintain consistency. Billings played in 31 out of 32 regular-season games in 2021 and has been a consistent, reliable contributor at both ends.

Billings has been an asset to the Atlanta Dream and has had multiple achievements, but she has not stood out as one of the top players in the WNBA. She is undoubtedly a talented player, and if she wasn’t she wouldn’t have made it to the WNBA. Billings was sought after by the league post-graduation and has earned her spot without a doubt, but she is not at the caliber of the top WNBA stars such as A’ja Wilson and Breanna Stewart.

But she’s jumping at opportunities to boost her game and maximize her potential which makes her a strong up-and-coming player. With a young rebuilding roster, her defense and consistency could be relied on more and more this year. Right before being drafted to the Atlanta Dream, she signed a deal with Disrupt the Game, a company that helps clients find and utilize their competitive advantages.

Will Monique Billings stay with the Atlanta Dream?

Billings will remain a player for the Atlanta Dream for at least another season. Early in February, the team re-signed her because of her work ethic and her drive for success (via Dream General Manager Dan Padover, WNBA).

"“We are very excited to watch Mo continue to grow in a Dream uniform. She is an extremely hard worker who brings a ray of positivity to every room she enters. The way Mo shows up every day is the exact kind of passion we want this team to have, and we know her drive will continue to facilitate success on and off the court for both herself and for this franchise.”"

Billings gets better every season and raises her potential more every time she steps onto the court, and it is very likely she could have a breakout season in 2022.