Dream seeks to end losing streak

Dream forward Angel McCoughtry doesn’t like to acknowledge the words “losing streak” to describe her team’s four consecutive losses since the WNBA All-Star Break.

“What’s a ‘losing streak'?" McCoughtry said. “I mean, I don’t believe in ‘losing streaks.’ I believe you play games and you learn from them.”

Well, here is something the Dream (14-9) have learned about themselves entering Sunday’s 3 p.m. home game against the New York Liberty (10-10): They must win now, or they could be on the verge of losing their way out of playoff contention.

“This game is very important,” McCoughtry said. “We can’t afford to lose.”

How compact is the six-team Eastern Conference of the WNBA? Only 3 1/2 games seperate first-place Indiana (14-7) and last-place Chicago (11-11). The top four teams qualify for the WNBA playoffs.

The Dream, who were in first place for the entire first half of the season, are in third place, one game behind Indiana.

“The East is so competitive and so good,” Dream coach/general manager Marynell Meadors said.

How good is the Eastern Conference? Defending league champion Phoenix's 9-12 record, good enough for second place in the Western Conference, is worse than any team in the Eastern Conference.

McCoughtry said the Dream have suffered from a simple problem. “I think we haven’t been playing for 40 minutes,” she said.

Meadors said the Dream have lost some of their swagger. “Everyone used to walk on the court knowing we were going to win,” she said.

Of course, injuries haven’t helped. Forward Sancho Lyttle, who leads the team with an average of 10.2 rebounds and averages 13.7 points, missed the first three of the consecutive losses recovering from a concussion.

Point guard Shalee Lehning, who leads the Dream with an average of 4.6 assists, missed the 82-72 loss at Washington on Wednesday because of a quadriceps injury. Lehning will be a game-time decision Sunday, but is expected to play after participating in recent practices.