COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — With young star Rhyne Howard out indefinitely with an ankle injury, it has become even more important for veteran Tina Charles to add punch to the Atlanta Dream’s low-scoring attack as they attempt to remain in the playoff picture.
Third-year head coach Tanisha Wright and the Dream are leaning on experienced leadership from Charles, a former WNBA MVP who is on the cusp of moving into the top three on the league’s all-time scoring list.
The Dream (6-9), who will visit the second-place Connecticut Sun (13-3) on Friday night in their next game, have lost three straight and five of their past six. Eight teams make the playoffs in the 12-team league, and Atlanta is currently seventh.
Friday’s matchup is one of nine on Atlanta’s schedule before the WNBA takes a break from mid-July to mid-August for the Paris Olympics. After that, a little more than a month will remain in the regular season.
Atlanta ranks last in the WNBA in points (75.9 per game), field-goal percentage and assists, and the Dream have lost their past two games with Howard sidelined.