The Atlanta Dream have put their 0-17 start behind them, and are focusing on improving steadily through the rest of their inaugural season.

After becoming the first team in WNBA history to open a season with 17 losses, the Dream won three of their next five games. And despite heading into the weekend on a three-game losing streak, Atlanta is keeping a positive outlook.

“We had to get our minds right first,” guard Kristin Haynie said. “Not a lot of people expected much from an expansion team but we’re finally getting it. We’ve had some good wins and sometimes we just come up short. ... We just have to finish the season off strong.”

Atlanta (3-22) opened the season with a 33-point loss at Connecticut, but has only six other losses by 14 points or more — and 10 by single digits.

“We’re slowly but surely making progress and getting better every day,” forward Jennifer Lacy said.

“There are some games that are better than others, obviously. For the majority of this season we may not have pulled the games out but we’ve been in there and been close.”

Atlanta coach Marynell Meadors has been pleased with the team’s effort, especially considering only two players — Iziane Castro Marques and Betty Lennox — have more than three years’ experience. The Dream need three wins over their final nine games to avoid matching Chicago’s record of 29 losses, set in its expansion season two years ago.

“Hopefully we can put some more wins together,” Meadors said.

“Growing pains are tough and the thing is that we do look a little bad on the court and it comes down to decision making. But most of our players have never been in that situation.”

Lennox, playing in her ninth season, is a bright spot as she is averaging a career-high 17.3 points to go along with 4.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists.