Renee Montgomery sits on both sides of the broadcast table. The WNBA legend is both an Atlanta Dream owner and a USA Network analyst — a combination now under scrutiny as Atlanta plays Golden State in the 2026 WNBA Finals.
Renee Montgomery Defends Covering 2026 WNBA Finals as Dream Owner
Montgomery, though, doesn't see a conflict. Drawing on an 11-year WNBA career, she says her court experience sharpens her analtyic approach rather than clouding it. Instead of favoring the Dream, she focuses on calling the action as it unfolds, regardless of jersey color.
"I love the sport so much that you have to cover it a certain way," Montgomery said.
"Like I understand the effort, I understand the grind, I understand all the sacrifice that went into a player having a good game. So whether or not that player is playing for the Atlanta Dream doesn't matter. I have to analyze the game for what I see."
Her studio role also creates natural distance from the teams she covers. Unlike play-by-play broadcasters who attend shootarounds and pregame huddles, Montgomery isn't embedded with any roster. A USA Network source told Front Office Sports that no guidelines limit what Montgomery can say on air.
The setup echoes Tom Brady's dual role at FOX, where the Las Vegas Raiders part-owner calls NFL games under rules barring him from practice facilities and opposing teams' sessions. Montgomery, says no such rules apply to her, though her employers wouldn't stay quiet if they spotted favoritism.
She did celebrate courtside after Atlanta clinched its Finals spot last week, though. So while her analysis may be fair, it's clear who she's personally rooting for in this year's series.
