DURHAM, N.C. - As the WNBA finals kick off on Sunday, Sept. 12 with the Atlanta Dream against the Seattle Storm, 2007 Duke University graduate Alison Bales will participate in her first WNBA finals.

Bales was resigned by the Atlanta Dream this season, after not playing in the WNBA in 2009.  A product of Dayton, Ohio, Bales was a first round pick by the Indiana Fever in 2007 and then played with both the Fever and Dream in 2008. 

A 6-7 center, Bales has registered one of the best professional seasons of her career in 2010 as she played in 34 contests to go along with three starts.  She averaged 3.9 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocked shots.  Bales collected one double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds against Chicago this season, while also pulling down double-digit boards in four total contests.

An All-America at Duke in 2007, Bales is the all-time blocked shots leader in the ACC and was third on the NCAA career list when she graduated with 434 swats.  Her 151 blocked shots as a senior ranked tied for second on the single-season charts. 

The Dream were the 2010 Eastern Conference Champions after downing the N.Y. Liberty in two straight games.

Bales and the Atlanta Dream will kick off the best-of-five playoff series at Seattle on Sept. 12 at 3:00 p.m., on ABC.  The first two contests will be played at Seattle with the second round matchup on Sept. 14 followed by two contests, if necessary, in Atlanta on Sept. 16 and Sept. 19. 

2010 WNBA Finals Schedule

Game 1: ATL at SEA 9/12, 3 p.m. ET, ABC
Game 2: ATL at SEA, 9/14, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Game 3: SEA at ATL, 9/16, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Game 4*: SEA at ATL, 9/19, 3 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Game 5*: ATL at SEA, 9/21, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

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