Maybe it’s the ball.
Instead of the classic orange-and-white leather the WNBA has been rocking with for 27 years, a black-and-white ball is used in Commissioner’s Cup play.
Maybe that’s what’s given the Atlanta Dream so much trouble.
Their offensive struggles in game #1 of Cup play, in which they shot an appalling 28.4% from the field and 18.8% from three, were largely chalked up to a Connecticut Sun defense that’s been dominant all season long. Fair enough.
Yet, it damn near got worse for the Dream on Thursday night, especially facing the New York Liberty’s #4 ranked defense.