New York — The Connecticut Sun still have a chance to make the WNBA playoffs.

Don’t snicker.

Sure, the possibility that Connecticut qualifies is slim, but it’s not as remote as, say, Libertarian Gary Johnson winning the presidency.

The Sun are still alive thanks to seven of the WNBA’s other 11 teams having losing records, as mathematically impossible as that may seem.

Connecticut needs to start consistently winning now, though, and its next two games before the Olympic break will make-or-break its longshot odds to snap a three-year playoff drought. The Sun visit the struggling Dallas Wings at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The Sun play at Chicago on Friday in their final game before the Olympic break. They’ll have 10 games left after the break.

Connecticut (6-16) has the league’s second-worst record, but has split its last six games. Head coach Curt Miller has been pleased with the progress since trading All-Star center Kelsey Bone to the Phoenix Mercury on June 25.

“(I’ve) basically evaluated (the team) since the post trade,” Miller said. “I’m really happy with the way the locker room is. I’m really happy with the way we’re playing and with our fight. We’re not an easy out.”

Connecticut is just one of four teams that’s beaten the defending WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx (93-89 in overtime, July 7). It also challenged league-leading Los Angeles more than most opponents, leading by as much as 16 points before faltering and losing in overtime, 98-92, on July 15.

“Each and every night, we’re giving everybody our best shot,” Miller said. “Right now, it’s not equating to wins, but in the long run, we’re really excited about where we’re headed. We just want to be there quicker.

“It’s hard to lose. It does not give you a lot of energy in the locker room. It’s hard to lose night-in and night-out. But each night, they’re showing up and giving their best effort.”

The Sun are among the league’s worst shooting teams, but have found that they can score by playing inside-out. They've converted .553 on field goals within five feet of the basket, sixth best in the league as of Sunday, according to statistics compiled by Minnesota statistician Paul Swanson.

Connecticut forward Chiney Ogwumike has continued to perform more like the player who won the 2014 WNBA Rookie of the Year award after missing all of last season after microfracture surgery on her right knee. Wing Alyssa Thomas is not easy to stop when she gets momentum going to the rim.

“We just need to hit outside shots,” guard Jasmine Thomas said. “It’s been a struggle for us all year. … We score so much in the paint that we have to do a better job of getting our best shots on every possession.”

Miller said, “We don’t have a superstar. We don’t have an Olympian. We don’t have anyone that you can absolutely play through down the stretch. But what I want them to understand is that we’ve been really good at points in the paint against opponents in this (six-game) stretch. We need to work the ball around and keep moving the defense until we can get the ball in the paint. Play inside-out.

“As much as I believe in 3-point shooting, this is not a talented 3-point shooting team, so we have to play through the paint. At times, against good teams, we’re impatient and look for that three too early.”

n.griffen@theday.com