The Dream’s starting center abruptly left to play for her national team, All-Star Angel McCoughtry is struggling and the team faces an elimination game in the WNBA playoffs.
Only that last part is new for the Dream, who will face Indiana in Game 2 of the best-of-three Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday at Philips Arena.
The Dream’s lineup has been shuffled all season because of injuries and national-team commitments, so they believe they are equipped to handle the latest roster turnover.
“All year we have overcome adversity, and people have stepped up,” Dream center Alison Bales said Saturday. “I think that’s what we are going to do now.”
The Dream will be without center Erika de Souza for the rest of the series. She left to play for Brazil in the FIBA Americas Championship, a qualifying tournament for the 2012 Olympics.
De Souza would return to play for the Dream if they advance to the WNBA Finals. She has averaged 12 points and 10.7 rebounds in the playoffs.
The WNBA has an agreement with national teams that allows players to participate in international play.
“Brazil put a lot of pressure on Erika to go, so she left,” Dream coach Marynell Meadors said.
Meadors said she hadn’t yet decided on a starting lineup, but probably would counter Indiana’s size by replacing de Souza with the 6-foot-7 Bales, who started 15 regular-season games. Reserves Courtney Paris (6-4) and Sandora Irvin (6-3) have played a combined one minute in the playoffs.
The Dream could use more production from McCoughtry. She was the league’s second-leading scorer in the regular season with 21.6 points per game, but is averaging 13 points on 31 percent shooting in the postseason.
In the Dream’s 82-74 loss at Indiana on Thursday, McCoughtry was limited to 17 minutes because of foul trouble. She grew frustrated with the calls, reacted to taunts from Indiana fans and had words with officials as the game ended.
“She’s got to handle the situation and not let it get to her,” Meadors said. “We all must remember she just turned 25. We put a lot of pressure on her to perform well all the time.”
McCoughtry also has been dealing with a right wrist injury she suffered early in Game 2 of the first round against Connecticut on Sunday. She’s wearing a protective brace, but said she’s not worried about the wrist.
McCoughtry set a WNBA playoff record in 2010 by scoring 42 points against New York to send the Dream to the Finals, where they lost to Seattle. She said she’s not feeling pressure to carry her team.
“Life is going to go on if you lose or you win,” she said. “If you lose, you are going to be proud of yourself as far as you got. Life is still going to go on. You’ve still got friends and family that you love.
“I used to let it weigh on me and be so upset we didn’t win the championship. Basketball is fun. Enjoy the moment of getting here.”
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