Sunday’s matchup between the Dream and the Connecticut Sun pits the team at the top of the WNBA’s Eastern Conference with the team situated in last. While it may seem this game is one Connecticut needs more than the Dream, Friday’s turn of events prove otherwise.
The Dream (6-3) are coming off a disastrous 110-78 loss to Minnesota at home which saw Atlanta keep it close through two quarters before derailing in the second half. The loss checked several bad boxes in the franchise’s history, including the most points ever given up in a regulation game and the second-largest margin of defeat.
The matchup with Connecticut (2-7) provides the Dream a chance to halt their losing streak at two games and maintain their position atop the conference.
“We’ve lost a cushion we built for ourselves,” Dream coach Michael Cooper said. “It’s important to win the games you’re supposed to, especially your home games.”
The quick turnaround between games can prove to be a blessing in disguise for Atlanta. There’s little time allotted to dwell on the nightmarish end to the showdown with the Lynx before suiting back up against a conference opponent. According to forward Reshanda Gray, who made her first start of 2016 on Friday, the proximity of the next game is a welcomed sight.
“With games like (Friday’s loss), you just have to learn from them and move on,” Gray said. “Thank Go,d we have another game Sunday to bounce back.”
Connecticut serves as a familiar opponent for Atlanta. The two squared off on June 3 in a game that saw the Dream prevail 83-77 thanks in part to Angel McCoughtry’s 21 points.
McCoughtry was reluctant to say the previous meeting gave Atlanta an advantage, saying that both teams have to come out differently each night. She recently issued a challenge to her team to reach the next level of play, something that could well happen against a Connecticut team that has given up 84 points per game.
Cooper was certainly disappointed with Friday’s loss but reiterated that the season was young. He said the ship can be righted, and if the team has its wishes, it could come Sunday.
“This is just our third loss this season, so we’re OK,” Cooper said. “Hopefully (Friday’s problems) won’t happen in the next game for us.”
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