“I really have a problem with thinking too much, and it’s not just basketball. I think too much all the time,” Langhorne said. “But lately if I miss a shot, it’s been getting in my head: ‘Is this going to be a good game or a bad game? Don’t let me miss that next shot.’ Then if I miss my next shot, it keeps going. Sometimes, even if I make my next shot, I’m still thinking about it.”

One thing Langhorne goes on to talk about is how her teammates have recognized her tendencies and helped her work through them, butit’s encouraging to read that she’s so in tune to herself that she said she needs to make the effort to solve the problem.

“I’m still adjusting my thought process a bit,” Langhorne said. “I just try to put things behind me and try to forget about them, but it doesn’t always work. I’m going to keep trying to find a better solution, though.

“I’ve been here more than two months now. It’s time to start picking my game up. I’m not really a rookie anymore.”

Langhorne and the Mystics take on the Connecticut Sun at 3:30 p.m. EST, Sunday.

Post from: EveryJoe

Crystal Langhorne playing the mental game

On July 5, the Dream was losing, 19-6, to visiting Chicago, the W.N.B.A.’s second-sorriest team, but Atlanta’s loyal fans were shrieking and pounding ThunderStix. A crew hired for the third straight game to blast streamers out of air cannons at the final horn to toast a win was close to packing up and heading home.

But an upbeat vibe prevailed during a Dream timeout — a consequence of youth (only two players are beyond their third W.N.B.A. season) and inner calm (spirituality permeates this roster like perhaps few others in professional sports).

Two hours later: 91-84, Dream. The cannons fired as part of Operation Cobra, the covert party designation from Sarah Davis.

One thing that made me chuckle a bit were the follow grafs.

An unanticipated bonus of the player’s everyday salaries and the owner’s business as a condominium developer is that nearly all the players are neighbors in the same complex. While sharing meals or watching episodes of “The Bachelorette” together, they can commiserate. And bond.

“I’ve never been part of a team with this type of chemistry,” center Katie Feenstra said.

So I spent my Monday nights the same way the Dream did; watching “The Bachelorette.” Of course, mine was because I work at an ABC affiliate and I didn’t actually hear any sounds, but the show is one 6-7 TVs near me. Anyway, good article about the team and their chemistry, even if they did have some fights.

Post from: EveryJoe

How did the Dream work through 17 losses?

Many previews out there have the Sparks winning the title or at least the Western Conference, but what I don’t see many taking into account is as good as their biggest new acquisitions are [Candace Parker and Lisa Leslie (I know, I know)], they’re still going to need some time to get to know each other. I think they’ll be fine by the end of the year, but I wonder if it’s enough to get good playoff positioning. That’s why I think LA is the likely No. 2 or No. 3 this season.

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Penny who?

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I was just about to ask about a possible tape-delay when Coop yelled, “shit.”

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Well, that went well for Phoenix.

Post from: EveryJoe

Opening Day thoughts