'Lot of people pulling' for Holdsclaw

Chamique Holdsclaw hears all the encouragement from the fans in her return to the WNBA after a nearly two-year absence.

"They're glad that I'm back," the Atlanta Dream forward and former University of Tennessee star said. " 'Just keep pushing.' ... 'Glad you're back, Mique.' ... 'We love you.'

"It's always been great. I've had a lot of supporters throughout my whole career. Even when I went through hard times, I have a lot of people pulling for me."

Holdsclaw, drafted No. 1 overall by Washington in 1999, missed the end of the 2004 season due to what she later disclosed was depression. The Mystics traded her to Los Angeles in the offseason, and after two seasons with the Sparks, she retired five games into the 2007 season due to chronic tendinitis in her knees.

After playing in Poland the last two winters and having a home in Atlanta the last three years, Holdsclaw - coming off arthroscopic surgery on her right knee - decided to join the Dream this season.

"I feel great," she said. "Would I like to be 100 percent healthy, yes, but I can't complain. I just have to go out there and do what I can and try to make a difference."

Holdsclaw appreciates the positive comments after some people questioned her reasons for leaving two years ago.

"It's a blessing to have this opportunity again because not a lot of people get to walk away from something and then come back and have the fans treat you so well," she said. "My people have really supported me and poured out their hearts and I really appreciate that."

Holdsclaw, who entered the season with career averages of 17.7 points and 8.3 rebounds, has been putting up 14.6 and 4.3 in for the Dream.

The New York native had nine points on 3-for-13 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in Atlanta's last-minute loss to the New York Liberty last Saturday in her first game at Madison Square Garden since 2005.

"It's always great to come back," she said. "Playing in front of friends and my family. I hate losing at the Garden."

Holdsclaw appreciated the strong ovation she received from the crowd during pregame introductions.

"It's always like that," she said. "I'm a New York kid, born and raised here. People have followed me for so long. I remember when I was younger and I used to be in college and come to the Liberty games. New York supports New York, that's the way it goes."