Dream suspends McCoughtry

ATLANTA (AP) The Atlanta Dream suspended WNBA scoring leader Angel McCoughtry indefinitely on Tuesday for violating team rules.

Dream spokeswoman Tonya Allene said that new coach and general manager Fred Williams told McCoughtry before a game against Tulsa that she was suspended.

It was unclear if McCoughtry's feuding with former coach-GM Marynell Meadors, who was fired on Monday, played a role in Williams' decision.

McCoughtry, who averages 22.2 points, was openly critical of Meadors' game plan following a loss to Minnesota on Sunday. McCoughtry and Meadors both added that the fourth-year guard's tired legs contributed to her not starting and playing only 20 minutes.

Allene said McCoughtry was not at Philips Arena when players reported and was not in the building for Tuesday's game.

McCoughtry and Meadors led Atlanta to the WNBA finals in each of the last two years, but the Dream were swept both times. The player and coach worked together earlier this month in London, helping the U.S. women's team win a gold medal.

McCoughtry missed two games last week because of personal reasons. She did not start June 15 against Los Angeles for violating an unspecified team rule.

McCoughtry, the No. 1 overall draft pick of 2009, is also the WNBA's leader in steals, averaging 2.9 per game.

Williams worked Tuesday for the first time as a head coach since going 36-37 from 1999-2001 with the Utah Starzz. He had been on Meadors' staff since 2009.

Copyright 2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.