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The Atlanta Dream ended the Los Angeles Sparks quest to record the best start to a WNBA season the last time the two teams met. www.bearsrookiestore.com/Bears-Charles-Leno-Jersey/ . The Dream could deliver another blow to the Sparks on Thursday, when they visit Staples Center in a big game for both teams playoff seeding.The Sparks fell off their first-place perch after dropping a low-scoring slugfest with the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday. Los Angeles fell behind early, suffered through a third-quarter scoring drought and couldnt complete a fourth-quarter comeback in a 77-74 loss to the Lynx, who moved into sole possession of first place.The loss snapped the Sparks three-game win streak and continued their uneven performance since returning from the Olympic break. Los Angeles is just 3-3 since the break.The Dream (15-14) are coming off a 91-87 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday. It was a bounce-back win for Atlanta, which lost to the Seattle Storm at home over the weekend.Sometimes it takes a difficult loss, like the last game against Seattle, to turn things around, Atlanta coach Michael Cooper told reporters. Obviously, we want to go out and win every game we play but that game really let us know that we have to keep our focus and come and play with energy in every single game. When we are able to do that we are one of the best teams in this league.Atlanta has alternated wins and losses and is 2-2 since returning from the Olympic break. With five contests remaining, the Dream sit in fifth place in the league standings, but only three games separate the teams in fourth through eighth.The top eight teams in the league standings, regardless of conference, qualify for the postseason.Los Angeles trails Minnesota by one game in the standings with four to play. The Sparks lost the season series with the Lynx and would need a remarkable finish to regain the top seed in the playoffs.A win over the Dream would be a good start.Atlanta and Los Angeles have split their previous two meetings this season, with each squad winning on its home court.The Dream pounded the Sparks 91-74 on July 17 in Atlanta, thwarting Los Angeles bid to record the best start in WNBA history. The Sparks had won 20 of their first 21 games, but Atlantas Layshia Clarendon and Angel McCoughtry each scored 17 points in the Dreams win. www.bearsrookiestore.com/Bears-Mitch-Unrein-Jersey/ .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. www.bearsrookiestore.com/Bears-Gale-Sayers-Jersey/ .C. -- When North Carolina freshman Ryan Switzer reported to training camp in August he was a little miffed to learn he was third on the depth chart at punt returner. www.bearsrookiestore.com/Bears-Pernell-Mcphee-Jersey/ . Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom.VANCOUVER -- The Vancouver Whitecaps have developed a habit of giving up second-half goals, and outspoken midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker wants the emerging trend to end as soon as possible. "Weve got to tighten up defensively," he said. "Weve been conceding goals and giving away cheap and easy goals. You cant do it at this level. Youre going to get punished." The Whitecaps (4-5-4) will try to kick the habit as they host the New England Revolution on Saturday. The Seattle Sounders overcame a 2-1 deficit to beat the Whitecaps 3-2 last weekend. The loss was compounded by a hamstring injury to top central defender Andy OBrien, who will miss the game against the Revs (5-4-5). The Whitecaps were leading in Seattle when OBrien left, but could not maintain the advantage with a makeshift back line. However, the Whitecaps were squandering leads in the second half even with him in the lineup. Vancouver had to settle for draws in a league game against Portland and the second leg of the Canadian championship final against the Montreal Impact. Both ties occurred on the home turf at B.C. Place stadium -- a cause for concern as the Whitecaps prepare to meet a New England team that is unbeaten in six games, including U.S. Open Cup play. The Revs have scored nine goals in their past two games, and allowed a league-low nine goals in MLS contests. Injuries on Vancouvers back line threaten to produce more second-half breakdowns. Carlyle Mitchell, recalled from lower-tier FC Edmonton, will replace OBrien and Johnny Leveron will continue to play the other centre back spot in place of captain Jay DeMerit, who has missed most of the season with a ruptured Achilles tendon. Reo-Coker, a former English Premier League star who joined the team in pre-season, said the Caps have to mature quickly. "Its a learning curve," he said. "Some teams go through these little periods. Its about learning from the mistakes. "Weve got quite a few new players here (from last season.) Weve got some young players here. But weve got enough experienced players to make sure those mistakes dont happen." He called on players to take on more responsibility and communicate better on the pitch as the Whitecaps attempt to finish in the top five in the Western Conference and earn a playoff berth. Coach Martin Rennie is concerned that the club is giving up goals in the second half, but noted it is not surrendering late markers like it did during a stretch last season. www.bearsrookiestore.com/Hoodie/ . Generally, he likes the way the team has been finishing games. The Whitecaps have also displayed more finish around the net lately, producing eight goals in their past four games, including league and Canadian championship play. If not for some close misses, the Caps could have had several more goals. Rennie hopes the trio of Brazilian Camilo, Scottish international Kenny Miller and Russell Teibert of Niagara Falls, Ont., will continue to develop the chemistry that they have displayed lately. After struggling to maintain a lineup spot earlier in the season, Camilo now leads the team in scoring. He accounted for all of Vancouvers scoring in Seattle and has four goals and an assist in the past four games, including Canadian championship play. Miller, who has missed most of the season with a hamstring injury, has three goals in the five league games in which he has played. Teibert has been on a tear since scoring his first two MLS goals in a 3-1 win over the Los Angeles Galaxy on May 11. The Canadian midfielder, used in a much more attacking role of late, has three assists in the past two games. Factoring in his two goals, he has generated five points in the last four contests. "Its an exciting combination and its only just starting to take root," said Rennie of the trio. Miller said he, Camilo and Teibert are "a work in progress" and can only improve over time. They can also play a role defensively by pressuring the opposition defenders and giving them less time to see the field and move the ball. But the whole team needs to get "in sync." Once the necessary cohesion is achieved, it will become "an art." In the meantime, Reo-Coker is calling on a young players like Mitchell to help make up for OBriens absence and limit opposition scoring chances. "The responsibility is on them to show that they want to be here -- and they want to play," said Reo-Coker. Notes: Striker Darren Mattocks has rejoined the Whitecaps following international duty with the Jamaican national team. He will be in the squad Saturday, but appears unlikely to start. ... Leveron has been added to the Honduran national team roster for a World Cup qualifier against the U.S. in Salt Lake City on Tuesday. He will return in time for Wednesdays home game against Chivas USA. Cheap Authentic Jerseys China NFL Hoodies Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL Hoodies Wholesale NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys 2020 Stitched Jerseys Stitched Jerseys China Jerseys Wholesale Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap Camo China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store Wholesale Authentic Jerseys Wholesale NFL Hoodies Nike NFL Jerseys China ' ' '