Atlanta, GA
Atlanta Falcons See ‘Bright Future’ for Rookie WR Casey Washington
When receiver Casey Washington was preparing for his pre-draft visit with the Atlanta Falcons, he looked up highlights of the team’s wideouts coach, Ike Hilliard.
A 12-year veteran who made over 500 receptions and eclipsed 6,000 receiving yards, Hilliard’s lengthy playing career featured no shortage of standout plays. And after watching some of them online, Washington had a newfound respect for his prospective position coach.
“I was like, ‘Man, I’m playing for a dog,’” Washington said last week at the Falcons’ practice facility in Flowery Branch.
But at the time, Washington was merely a draft hopeful. His dreams became reality during the third day of April’s draft, as Hilliard and the Falcons selected him in the sixth round.
And in the three and a half months since Washington arrived for rookie minicamp May 9, he’s compiled quite the highlight reel of his own. Now, fandom has spread to Hilliard.
“I’m probably the biggest Casey fan ever,” Hilliard said last week.
As Washington has learned more about Hilliard, the more he’s grown to respect him. Hilliard is personble and genuine, someone who cares about who players are as people and what goes on in their lives.
Washington wants to be a coach once he’s done playing. Hilliard has been a positive influence on him. But for now, Hilliard is focused on helping Washington extend his playing career as long as possible.
“What we saw saw on tape is a guy that’s going to play full speed all the time,” Hilliard said. “He’s not afraid in any area of the field. He has outstanding hands. The hand-eye coordination.
“We’re working on putting him in positions where he can understand, within each play, how he fits what the progression is, the depth and timing of his route.”
Washington was born two months premature, tipping the scales at four pounds, six ounces. He now stands 6-foot, 200 pounds, but his mentality hasn’t changed. Since he was a child in Round Rock, Texas, Washington said he’s always thought he was bigger than he really was.
Always an underdog — from underrecruited to the University of Illinois, from no touchdowns entering his senior year to four in his final three games, from premature to the NFL — Washington has grown to embrace fearlessness.
“It’s a chip on my shoulder,” Washington said. “It’s not to prove anyone else wrong or do anything for anyone else, it’s just to prove myself right. And like I said, keep God first.”
Perhaps the biggest adjustment from college to the NFL for Washington is the complexity of the offense. At Illinois, Washington often stood on the same side of the field and ran a limited route tree, which consisted of five or six different concepts.
Rookies already deal with meeting room demands and schedule constraints. Life becomes all about football — and for Washington, that includes trying to grasp a playbook with much more variety in what it asks receivers to do.
“The learning curve is a little bit different,” Hilliard said. “Understanding how to run those routes within a scheme, within a combination in patterns during every changing look on defense is a little bit of a challenge.
“We’re asking him to do a lot more than he’s ever done. It will take a little bit of time, but he’s handled it well so far.”
Hilliard noted the Falcons have put more on Washington’s plate since receiver Rondale Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury Aug. 7 during joint practices with the Miami Dolphins.
Atlanta is closely monitoring Washington’s progress with hopes he will accelerate his learning curve in a manner where he can be counted on more frequently in the days to come.
But the Falcons won’t merely be gifting playing time to Washington. Hilliard said he has to find ways to learn the play book and earn reps and opportunities through tape, which is the resume for each player.
Washington put plenty of good things on tape in his preseason debut against the Dolphins on Aug. 9, catching three passes for 27 years. In his second exhibition contest, he was targeted six times but failed to make a reception.
The Falcons are still trying to decipher Washington’s role in the offense for this fall, but Hilliard knows this much: Washington can, if utilized correctly, be a contributor.
“He’s made plays,” Hilliard said. “We’re excited about that. We’re going to continue to challenge him and ask him for more. We’ll see where he fits in the grand scheme of what we’re trying to do.”
Washington noted there is not just a new playbook to learn, but also new verbiage. However, Hilliard and staff have been patient with him thus far. Washington acknowledged the existence of a learning curve but said he’s learning one step at a time — and he tries to keep a day-by-day mentality.
The 23-year-old Washington knows he has plenty to clean up. He also knows he has the resources at his disposal to do exactly that.
“Try not to get too high, too low, on the good and bad,” Washington said. “Just look at the film and take it for what it is — black and white. Just being cleaner with my proper route depths and being where I need to be at landmarks, and everything after that will take care of itself.”
While there’s much more to playing receiver than just catching the football, Washington has impressed the Falcons’ coaching staff in that element. Hilliard said he’s shown strong hands, caught the ball away from his frame, is comfortable at the catch point and can track the ball downfield.
As a blocker, Washington is physical, uses his hands and executes within his run fit.
He’s impressed not only Hilliard but also veteran receiver KhaDarel Hodge, who is entering his seventh year in the NFL, with his consistency and work ethic.
“Hard worker,” Hodge said. “Every day, Casey brings it. He’s been making some good plays. I can see a bright future for Casey. He’s a really good player and very hard worker.”
Opportunity exists for Washington to make his mark. He arrived in Atlanta as an ascending player, blooming late at Illinois while playing his best ball over the last month of his college career.
Washington’s arrow has continued pointing upward since he arrived in Flowery Branch, and while he’s still battling a difficult learning curve, internal optimism exists surrounding his upside.
“We’re excited about where he is,” Hilliard said. “We’ll see what he can retain, and hopefully it’ll be enough where he can help us with our playmaking going forward.”
As for Washington, the story itself is still one to take in. When he took the field for his preseason debut at Hard Rock Stadium, he did so with a wide smile on his face, realizing he’d fulfilled a life-long dream.
But there’s more for Washington to do. He has his sights set on making Atlanta’s active roster and carving out a role on gamedays.
Yet for now, Washington is focused only on the day ahead — and making sure he extends his stay on Cloud 9 for many years to come.
“I’m just living the dream, man,” Washington said after his first preseason game. “I’m just happy to be here, and I’m just blessed. It’s special to me, and I’m going to run with it. I’m going to get better, get back to work and become the best me I can be.”
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Soccer fever took over The Battery Atlanta on Thursday as fans gathered outside Truist Park for a rare chance to see the FIFA World Cup trophy in person.
Children kicked soccer balls across the plaza while crowds counted down to the dramatic reveal of the iconic trophy, widely considered the most coveted prize in international sports.
The appearance marked the first public viewing of the FIFA World Cup trophy in Atlanta.
“It’s the real trophy,” said fan Abdulrahman Dwead. “Nobody is allowed to touch the actual trophy unless you won it or are the president of FIFA. So, me standing beside that cup, that’s an honor to me.”
The trophy stop carried extra significance because Atlanta is one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Local fans said the event gave them a deeper sense of excitement ahead of the tournament.
“It’s the greatest feeling in the world,” said Melissa Richardson. “It’s something that doesn’t happen often and to be here in this moment is very important to me.”
The trophy was displayed outside the ballpark before moving inside Monument Garden during Thursday night’s Braves game, allowing ticket holders another opportunity to see the historic prize.
Organizers said the event gave thousands of fans a rare chance to experience a piece of soccer history in Atlanta.
“I’m so happy that Atlanta will host eight games,” Dwead said. “I’ve been here in Atlanta for almost 14 years and I love Atlanta so much.”
Copyright 2026 WANF. All rights reserved.
The Atlanta Dream are undefeated heading into their home opener and still finding ways to improve their roster.
The Dream announced Wednesday the signing of forward Amy Okonkwo to a developmental contract. It’s the latest roster move for an Atlanta team that is 2-0 and gearing up to play Sunday against the defending champion, Las Vegas Aces.
Okonkwo brings an impressive résumé despite her young career.
She most recently attended training camp with the Dallas Wings ahead of the 2026 season and appeared in eight games with Dallas during the 2025 WNBA season, averaging 11.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting better than 60 percent from the field. She recorded a career-high 20 points against Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2025, and made history as the first undrafted player since 2000 to average 10 or more points while shooting 60 percent or better through her first two WNBA games.
Her international résumé is equally impressive. Okonkwo has earned back-to-back FIBA Women’s AfroBasket MVP honors in 2023 and 2025 while helping Nigeria’s national team capture consecutive gold medals. Collegiately, she played at USC before finishing her career at TCU, where she earned 2018 Big 12 Sixth Player of the Year honors.
Okonkwo joins a 12-player roster that includes Naz Hillmon, Te-Hina Paopao, Jordin Canada, Angel Reese, Aaliyah Nye, Rhyne Howard, Madina Okot, Allisha Gray, Isobel Borlase, Indya Nivar, Sika Kone and Brionna Jones.
The signing caps a busy stretch of roster moves for Atlanta.
Earlier this month, the Dream claimed guard Aaliyah Nye off waivers after she was selected by the expansion Toronto Tempo in the 2026 WNBA Expansion Draft and subsequently waived on May 7. Nye brings championship pedigree to Atlanta, having been a member of the 2025 WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces as a rookie, appearing in all 44 regular season games and finishing fourth among franchise rookies in made three-pointers with 37.
A guard out of the University of Alabama, Nye is one of the sharper shooters in the league. She finished her college career with 389 three-pointers across stops at Alabama and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, shooting 40.9 percent from beyond the arc. In her final season with the Crimson Tide, she earned Second Team All-SEC honors after averaging 15.2 points per game and setting the program’s single-season record with 111 made three-pointers.
To make room for Nye, the Dream waived guard Holly Winterburn, a move that came with an emotional cost. Winterburn, a Northampton, England native who went undrafted in 2025 before signing with Atlanta as a free agent, said she learned she had been cut just before boarding the bus for the team’s first game of the season on 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,” Winterburn wrote on Instagram. “But that’s the reality of this business and I will always be grateful for the opportunity Atlanta gave me. I’m built for this.”
Winterburn did not stay without a job for long. The Portland Fire signed her to a developmental contract shortly after her release.
After Tuesday’s road win in Dallas, the Dream return home Sunday to face the defending champion Las Vegas Aces at 1:30 p.m. at State Farm Arena.
Atlanta’s vibrant food scene offers diners so much more than comfort food classics (although top-notch versions of chicken, biscuits, and all the fixings can be found here, certainly), and leaving the city without tucking into an unforgettable meal should be criminal. But the trick is knowing where to go.
To make your stay in The A culinarily memorable, you need not only an up-to-date list of the city’s epicurean hotspots, but you also need to choose a home base that makes it easy to get to where you want to go. Choose your hotel poorly, and you might miss where fine dining finds industrial restoration in West Midtown, the continuous creative renewal in buildings and on menus in Old Fourth Ward, or the spirit and soulful flavors of Atlanta’s southside. That won’t be an issue with what’s below.
Old Fourth Ward
The walkable Old Fourth Ward neighborhood (O4W for short, which is located north of downtown Atlanta and southeast of Midtown) is home to many of the city’s top food spots. Find a morning pick-me-up from Chrome Yellow Trading Co., sweet treat from Little Tart bakery, or a decadent sandwich from Kinship Butcher & Sundry, where you can choose if you want your breakfast sausage sandwich served “double double,” or opt for a lunchier option like griddled pork belly with “drunken” mustard on brioche. Eastbound to downtown Decatur, Michelin-recommended and James-Beard-Foundation-recognized restaurants like Kimball House, home to some of metro Atlanta’s best oysters and craft cocktails, and The Deer & The Dove, where farm-to-table is performed with a fierce focus on flavor, are admired far beyond their suburban city’s limits.
O4W is also near historic Inman Park, where you can find exceptional pasta at BoccaLupo, steaks at Kevin Rathbun Steak, or dinner with premium cocktails at Ticonderoga Club at Krog Street Market.
Forth
Forth bills itself as part hotel, part local hangout and membership club, and its range of amenities and convenient location makes it a smart choice for your home base. It’s just off the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail and a five-minute walk to Ponce City Market, a food hall with stalls from a who’s-who of Atlanta’s culinary talent. (Don’t miss Botiwalla, where chef Meherwan Irani of the award-winning restaurant Chai Pani is slinging dishes inspired by Indian street food.)
Rooms at Forth mix mid-century style and modern function, you’ll find both heavy black telephones inspired by the old-school rotary dials and Bluetooth-enabled radio speakers in groovy wooden and brushed copper casing. The decor is otherwise understated, featuring metallics and earthtones, which allows the views they afford of the surrounding buildings and Beltline activity below to stay the star.
-
Alabama4 minutes agoGov. Ivey announces America 250 Alabama Celebration
-
Alaska10 minutes agoThis Alaska cruise port lets you experience the wild, untouched state
-
Arizona16 minutes agoDozens of repossessed Spirit Airlines jets now parked in Arizona desert
-
Arkansas22 minutes agoDave Van Horn press conference: Arkansas baseball coach, players recap Game 1 loss at Kentucky | Whole Hog Sports
-
California28 minutes agoJD Vance accuses California of letting Medicaid fraudsters cash in at taxpayer expense | Fox Business Video
-
Colorado34 minutes ago
Families, care providers navigate cuts to Colorado’s Community Connector program | Rocky Mountain PBS
-
Connecticut40 minutes agoARREST WARRANT: Georgia man accused of laundering nearly $63K from dead person’s account in Connecticut
-
Delaware46 minutes agoKent, Sussex Counties see rising share of Delaware roadway deaths in 2026