ATLANTA — With lower than 5 minutes to go within the second quarter, the Atlanta Dream’s Erica Wheeler was driving and tried to cross to considered one of her teammates, however as a substitute wound up simply throwing the ball out of bounds. This play just about summed up the evening for the Dream, as they had been blown off the ground by the Connecticut Solar at house 93-68 Friday evening.

Rookie Rhyne Howard’s presence was clearly sorely missed by the staff, as she was out with a proper shoulder damage. It wasn’t simply her, as Nia Coffey was additionally out with a proper knee, additional contributing to the Dream’s woes.

With this loss, Atlanta has now misplaced three video games in a row and is 3-7 in its final 10 video games. Head coach Tanisha Wright is just not passing up the blame and freely admits that the buck stops together with her.

“I’ve to do a greater job of making ready them and lighting a hearth up below their butts,” coach Wright stated. “For some motive, I haven’t been capable of get that out of them to date, however that’s on me. That’s not on the gamers. I’ve to do a greater job of in all probability making ready them for what they’re going to see once we play these actually good groups.”

Connecticut is a extremely good staff certainly, as this win strikes the Solar as much as 16-8 general and the No. 3 general seed within the WNBA whereas Atlanta dropped right down to 10-14 and the No. 8 general seed. The Solar’s methodical offense simply took aside the staff with the fourth-highest defensive ranking within the league by relentlessly driving to the basket and drawing fouls.

That proved to be the final word distinction maker on this recreation, because the Solar shot 32 free throws in comparison with simply 14 for the Dream, making practically 80 % of their free throws. Coach Wright needs her staff to be disciplined with regards to fouling.

Except for Tiffany Hayes (18 factors), AD Durr (12 factors) and Naz Hillmon (13 factors), the Dream bought little to no manufacturing offensively from the remainder of their staff. In addition they had 18 turnovers as a staff and had simply 5 steals compared to 13 for the Solar.

“If the playoffs occur, it occurs,” coach Wright stated. “Is that what we would like? In fact. All people needs a chance to play within the postseason…however earlier than we will be enthusiastic about the video games forward, bodily, we now have some issues that we now have to get higher…. If we don’t get higher in sure areas, that’s not going to occur anyway, interval.”

The Dream’s protection, which is often stout, allowed Jonquel Jones to attain 21 factors on 56 % capturing from the sphere, 67 % capturing from 3-point vary and 90 % capturing from the free-throw line. Different double-digit scorers for the Solar included Alyssa Thomas (11 factors), Natisha Hiedeman (13 factors) and Brionna Jones (10 factors). Former Dream guard Courtney Williams additionally chipped in eight factors, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and three steals.

This recreation was just about over from the start, because the Solar led 28-15 on the finish of the primary quarter. Monique Billings exited the sport early with an ankle sprain, requiring Hayes to just about carry the staff offensively as she had just a few and-ones and one great thing about a bucket.

DeWanna Bonner added to the Dream’s issues all through by hitting a buzzer beater to finish the primary half with the Solar main 51-33. Issues solely bought worse within the second half because the Solar at one level led 84-54 within the fourth quarter.

One of many few brilliant spots for the Dream was guard Kristy Wallace, who though she solely tried and made one shot and scored 4 factors and had 4 assists, was extremely aggressive on the defensive finish. She all the time hustled again on protection, all the time aggressive regardless of who she was defending and even at one level stepped over DiJonai Carrington and gave her a light-weight push on the opposite finish of the court docket.

Wallace may very well be one of many gamers who may assist flip this staff round and permit the Dream to stay within the playoff image. She, together with Hillmon and Howard, are only a few of the younger gamers that can be powering this staff ahead.

“As a rookie, there’s quite a bit to be taught… as you proceed to be on this league, you’re going to be taught a ton, however actually simply taking all of it in from our vets, even our second and third gamers, as a result of everybody has a lot to supply,” Hillmon stated. “Simply studying and making an attempt to determine little methods to get higher for myself and for the staff.”