d-year, state-of-the art Avaya Stadium, which boasts the largest ou

The Atlanta Dream have weathered a few things this year. Such as the realization that Shoni Schimmel, whom they drafted in 2014 and had high hopes for, just wasnt going to work out at point guard. And a six-game losing streak. And the worry that veteran post player Sancho Lyttle might be lost for the season with a foot injury.They ended up trading Shimmel to New York for a draft pick, and then shipping a pick to Indiana for Layshia Clarendon, who is having a solid season in the Dreams backcourt. Atlanta pulled out of the losing skid -- which lasted from June 18 to July 3, including four road games -- and won five of eight before the Olympic break.Lyttle suffered the injury July 15 and had to miss playing in the Olympics for Spain, which won a silver medal. At first, it appeared that Lyttle wouldnt return to the WNBA in 2016 because of what was thought to be a broken bone in her foot. Then it was revealed she had a partially torn tendon that wouldnt require surgery, and coach Michael Cooper said she is day-to-day.She has started running, Cooper said. She hasnt practiced yet, but were very encouraged by her. I couldnt give you a date [for her return], but we hope its going to be pretty soon.Getting Lyttle back in the regular season would be a huge help to the Dream, who have a very challenging closing run before the playoffs. Atlanta is 14-13 and in fourth place in the WNBA standings, as just four teams have a winning record. Realistically, New York (19-8) is out of reach for Atlanta to catch, but now the Dream have to be concerned about others catching them.Chicago (13-13) and Phoenix (13-14) are on the Dreams heels, with Indiana also close at 12-14. Furthermore, six of their last seven games are against Western Conference teams, including Phoenix twice, Los Angeles, and defending WNBA champion Minnesota.Cooper still sounds optimistic about the Dream securing the fourth playoff spot, which would come with a first-round bye. The lower seeds -- No. 5 vs. No. 8 and No. 6 vs. No. 7 -- will compete in single-elimination games in the new playoff format, with the winners then facing the Nos. 3 and 4 seeds in single elimination.Even if Atlanta slides into the 5-8 range, which then would require two victories before advancing to a best-of-five semifinal series, Cooper can see a bright side to that, too, saying he thinks his team plays better when it doesnt have a lot of time off between games.What wouldnt be acceptable is the Dream not making the postseason at all, which was the case last year for just the second time in franchise history. That would take a total plunge over the last two weeks, and Cooper sounds confident that isnt going to happen.While Atlanta star Angel McCoughtry was with the U.S. Olympic team, the Dream players back home went through rigorous practices. They did a lot of running and conditioning work, Cooper said, because he wants the Dream to have endurance to get through this part of the season.McCoughtry won her second Olympic gold medal and brought back that triumphant vibe from Team USA.When shes around so many great players, with her being one of them, Cooper said of McCoughtry, theres an attitude, a mentality and a focus that you have to have. Since shes been back, Ive been asking her questions on different things that they did, and the things she says are things our players need to hear. And she needs to hear it, too.The biggest thing she teaches our other players is that she knows what it takes to win at the highest level. And its not just about one player being able to do that, but all of our players. Sometimes your Olympic player can be that glue that pulls everybody together.Atlanta lost its first game after the break, 90-82 at Chicago Friday, and then beat Connecticut 87-73 in Atlanta on Sunday. Then in a quirk in the schedule, the Dream had a whole week without games -- which they didnt really need after the Olympic break -- before they play Sunday in Atlanta against 11-16 Seattle, another team trying to make a surge into the postseason.When Cooper reflects on what went wrong during the Dreams losing streak in June and early July, he acknowledges that its just part of the big highs and big lows that Atlanta seems to experience. The teams confidence sometimes can plummet.I always tell our players winning is contagious, but so is losing, Cooper said. When there were games that we thought we should have won, but we lost, we tended to drop our heads. But you have to keep competing every game.In general, Cooper has been happy with 2016 additions Clarendon and post player Elizabeth Williams, whom the Dream also obtained in a trade. Hed like to get Clarendon (11.3 PPG, 3.1 APG) more time at shooting guard to take advantage of her perimeter scoring ability, but shes certainly filled a need. Williams (12.0 PPG, 7.6 RPG) has blossomed in her second season in the league after coming from Connecticut.Cooper says Tiffany Hayes is the Dream player who most reminds him of himself in his playing days, as she always given the toughest defensive assignments. But Hayes also has proven to be a consistent offensive presence; shes averaging a career-best 14.6 PPG in her fifth season in the league.The Dream know that as the calendar turns to September, its very tough from here on out. Theyll need McCoughtry (18.4 PPG) to be her Olympian self. Theyll have to clamp down defensively, which Cooper sees as the biggest key. Theyll need a little more from their bench.They also have to remember this is a franchise that, in its relatively short history (starting in 2008), has had a lot of postseason success, including three trips to the WNBA Finals. With so much attention, understandably, on Minnesota, Los Angeles and New York this season, its still worth keeping an eye on the Dream.If we have all our players and are playing the way I know we can play, Cooper said, I still feel we can compete with anybody in the league if were healthy.Trevon Duval Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Carmelo Anthony Rockets Jersey . -- Nathan Pancel scored twice as the Sudbury Wolves defeated the North Bay Battalion 4-2 on Saturday in Ontario Hockey League action. https://www.rocketsrookiesshop.com/Michael-Carter-Williams-City-Edition-Jersey/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Hakeem Olajuwon Jersey . The players spoke Jan. 13 during a Major League Baseball Players Association conference call after Rodriguez sued the union and Major League Baseball to overturn an arbitrators decision suspending him for the 2014 season and post-season. Carmelo Anthony Jersey . Philadelphia is 2-0 against the Senators this season and scored five goals in each victory. The Flyers recorded a 5-0 win in Ottawa on Nov. 12 and then earned a 5-2 home decision on Nov. 19. The Flyers have claimed three straight and four of the last five encounters with the Sens overall and Philly has won two in a row and three of its past four tests in Canadas capital city.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Ryan Mitchell reached out to buddy Michael Doran a few days back to find out his finals schedule at Saint Marys College. If they were both all clear from exams Tuesday, there would be no missing the first office hours hosted by new Oakland Athletics President Dave Kaval.The two 19-year-olds left campus in the East Bay hills and picked up food from McDonalds before arriving 75 minutes early. They found themselves first in line for Kavals time.We were expecting a big crowd. I was overly excited and then I got Michael excited about coming, too, Mitchell said. That was cool.Im not going to say no to meeting the As president, Doran added.They heard about plans for an intimate new ballpark and how it would benefit payroll, revenue, keeping star players, and Kaval told them to reach out with any ideas, even at 2 a.m.One of the most intriguing sessions was near the beginning with structural and earthquake engineer Ibbi Almufti, who offered a detailed presentation on his laptop featuring plans and the benefits of a floating ballpark five feet deep in the water- yes, thats right, in the water with the ability to move it around the bay while dealing with almost no earthquake risks.We dont want to capsize this thing, Kaval quipped, and then thanked Almufti with, Its a fascinating way to think outside the box.He offered up any help needed from his company, engineering, architecture and design giant ARUP. It is responsible for some of the worlds most famous buildings, and Almufti pointed to a photo of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Birds Nest stadium.Almufti works in San Francisco and has a 3-year-old son, but I dont want him to grow up as a Giants fan, he said. Thats too easy.The college students and Almufti were among approximately 100 As fans to show up at the Oakland Coliseum as Kaval reached out with an open invitation as he tries to gather ideas for a proposed new ballpark and also improve the fan experience at the clubs current, rundown venue, through thoughtful communication and open dialogue on anyy and all issues -- good and bad.dddddddddddd Bathrooms in the Bar & Grille are need of changing tables, pointed out Shaun Aguilar, who drove in from the Central Valley city of Modesto and attends about 15 games a year now that he has two sons ages 3 and 2.Id love to have you at a game, Kaval said, handing the sales manager two hats for his boys while inviting him to offer more insight along the way.With a stack of pages of typed notes, Aguilar appreciated his brief time with Kaval, offering, I love the As, theyre second in my life after my family.Kaval opened shop at 3 p.m. and met with fans for 5 1/2 hours through dinnertime. People were invited on a first-come, first-served basis for short meetings with him in a suite overlooking the field -- currently rocking a Raiders logo for the AFC leaders. Peanuts, pretzels, popcorn and hot dogs with all the trimmings were provided, along with water, coffee and cocoa on a blustery December day.Hired last month in a restructuring of the As top ownership and management team, Kaval holds the same position with the MLS San Jose Earthquakes. There, he pulled off the building of the Quakes second-year, state-of-the art Avaya Stadium, which boasts the largest outdoor bar in North America.The As, with input from a variety of community leaders, are in the process of evaluating several Oakland sites with consideration to transit, parking, environment and surrounding opportunities for businesses and housing.At the end of each meeting, lasting up to about 10 minutes, Kaval handed out a postcard-sized note thanking fans for attending while providing his email address and Twitter handle for further communication. He will hold further office hours every Tuesday by appointment only.Its like a whole new image for the As starting when he came, said Mitchell, a sports management major who plays pitcher and third base on the universitys club team. New hope. ' ' '