Ruth Riley signed by Atlanta Dream

The Atlanta Dream have recently added Ruth Riley to the roster. Riley is a forward/center and a 12-year veteran of the WNBA,

Riley was a graduate of Notre Dame in 2001 and was the #5 pick of the 2001 WNBA Draft, chosen by the Miami Sol. This is Riley's fifth WNBA team - she was most recently with the Chicago Sky in the 2012 season, playing 33 games for Chicago, starting 14 and finishing last year with 6.7 ppg and 6.0 rebounds per game.

Riley was signed in order to fill the spot temporarily vacated by Sancho Lyttle, according to the Atlanta Dream press release on Riley's hire. Lyttle could be out to as many as four more games playing with the Spanish team in Eurobasket.2013.

I recently had the chance to attend the Atlanta/Seattle game last Friday. Riley was present at that game, talking to Dream executives. It was unknown if Riley's visit was merely social - just because you see an ex-WNBA player at a game doesn't mean that she'll be signed. But it looks like Riley will be joining Atlanta, at least temporarily.

Using the idea of similarity scores, the player most similar - in terms of career stats - to Ruth Riley would be Michelle Snow, a former Atlanta player. (See below table)

Riley has WNBA championship rings from 2003 and 2006, both with the Shock. She was the Finals MVP in 2003.