There's no good way to tell a player they're being released. But being informed you've been waived just as you're getting ready to board the team bus for the season opener has to be one of the worst.
That's what happened to former Atlanta Dream guard Holly Winterburn right before the team's first game of the WNBA season on Saturday, May 9.
"I thought my welcome to the W moment would happen on the court, not as I’m getting on the bus for my first ever game. But that’s the reality of this business & I will always be grateful for the opportunity Atlanta gave me," Winterburn wrote Tuesday, May 12, in an Instagram story.
Callie Fin poses on the Las Vegas Aces’ court at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Callie Fin interviews Aces forward NaLyssa Smith following a practice at T-Mobile Arena.
A very swollen Callie Fin poses with friend and former track & field teammate Kenady Jackson, during halftime of An Aces game at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Callie Fin interviews Aces star A’ja Wilson following a practice at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Callie Fin on the court at Michelob Ultra Arena following Game 2 of the WNBA Finals.
Callie Fin hides behind her peers in a group photo. USA TODAY’s Meghan Hall is to the right of her, and USA TODAY’s Cydney Henderson is in the middle of the group.
Callie Fin covering NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center with popcorn for a morning sickness-friendly snack on July 17, 2025, exactly halfway through her pregnancy.
Callie Fin takes a mirror selfie in the bathrooms at Michelob Ultra Arena after a WNBA Finals practice.
Callie Fin in the emergency wing of Southern Hills hospital in Las Vegas on Oct. 14, disoriented and uncomfortable, but relieved to be receiving care.
Callie receiving support from her husband during difficult moments of delivery in the early morning hours of Oct. 16, 2025.
Callie Fin, her baby, and all of the world’s baby gear, solo traveling at the airport Feb. 6, 2026, returning to Las Vegas from a trip to San Francisco during Super Bowl week.
Callie Fin and her newborn son on Oct. 30, 2025. Getting in skin-to-skin while Callie checks that her Aces articles were published while she was in the hospital.
Callie Fin taking a break from working on two laptops while nursing her son and getting ready to go cover a basketball game on Jan. 24, 2026, during her second week back from maternity leave.
Callie Fin, her husband and her infant son, enjoying a picnic in Las Vegas in April.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin poses on the Las Vegas Aces’ court at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin poses on the Las Vegas Aces’ court at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin interviews Aces forward NaLyssa Smith following a practice at T-Mobile Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
A very swollen Callie Fin poses with friend and former track & field teammate Kenady Jackson, during halftime of An Aces game at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin interviews Aces star A’ja Wilson following a practice at Michelob Ultra Arena.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin on the court at Michelob Ultra Arena following Game 2 of the WNBA Finals.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin hides behind her peers in a group photo. USA TODAY’s Meghan Hall is to the right of her, and USA TODAY’s Cydney Henderson is in the middle of the group.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin covering NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center with popcorn for a morning sickness-friendly snack on July 17, 2025, exactly halfway through her pregnancy.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin takes a mirror selfie in the bathrooms at Michelob Ultra Arena after a WNBA Finals practice.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin in the emergency wing of Southern Hills hospital in Las Vegas on Oct. 14, disoriented and uncomfortable, but relieved to be receiving care.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie receiving support from her husband during difficult moments of delivery in the early morning hours of Oct. 16, 2025.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin, her baby, and all of the world’s baby gear, solo traveling at the airport Feb. 6, 2026, returning to Las Vegas from a trip to San Francisco during Super Bowl week.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin and her newborn son on Oct. 30, 2025. Getting in skin-to-skin while Callie checks that her Aces articles were published while she was in the hospital.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin taking a break from working on two laptops while nursing her son and getting ready to go cover a basketball game on Jan. 24, 2026, during her second week back from maternity leave.
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Motherhood and the WNBA, a perfect match
Callie Fin, her husband and her infant son, enjoying a picnic in Las Vegas in April.
She made the team's initial roster when it was announced earlier in the week, but then the Dream signed former Las Vegas Aces guard Aaliyah Nye. And Winterburn became expendable.
A native of Great Britain, Winterburn played college basketball at Oregon and signed with the Dream as an undrafted free agent last year. However, she missed the entire season with an injury.
Holly Winterburn made the initial 2026 Atlanta Dream roster, only to be waived when the team signed another player two days later.
She returned to the Dream, playing throughout the preseason, and was poised to play a reserve role. That dream was shattered, but she insists she's not giving up.
"I’m built for this. Thank you to everyone who has checked in on me & sent love. Everything happens for a reason, and I’m so excited for what’s next."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Holly Winterburn cut by Dream before getting on bus for WNBA opener
