Angel McCoughtry out for rest of the season

Photo Credit: Steve Freeman/NBAE/Getty Images

File this one under: total shame.

Such is the cutthroat nature of professional sports. At one point, you clinch a playoff berth, expecting to have your team fully healthy and ready to go win a championship.

The next – you lose your star player as what has happened with the Atlanta Dream.

It was announced that Angel McCoughtry, who made her triumphant return to the WNBA this season, will miss the remainder of the season and postseason with a torn knee. She tore knee ligaments in the latter portions of the Dream’s game on Tuesday night vs. the Las Vegas Aces.

The injury could not have come at a worse possible time for Atlanta. With the playoffs right around the corner, the Dream have been one of the hottest teams in the league and have surged up the WNBA standings to the second-overall seed.

Only the Seattle Storm, as of today, are currently seeded higher than the Dream.

Her proficiency as a scorer and her veteran leadership will be difficult to replace, and we know this has to be frustrating to her in her return to the WNBA.

The Dream did defeat the Los Angeles Sparks 79-73 on Tuesday night, a sign that even without the former league MVP that hope springs eternal in the ATL.