Mohegan — There is nothing in sports more vexing than rooting for a losing team. Nothing. You come to the arena to forget life's daily travails and you leave angrier than when you arrived. It's like Paul Simon singing "50 Ways To Lose A Ballgame." And the Connecticut Sun have sampled just about all of them through 12 games this season.

They are 2-10 now after another near miss, an 80-72 loss to New York on Thursday night in Neon Uncasville. They nearly survived 32 points from former Sun center Tina Charles, rallying from an 11-point deficit in the second half to tie the game at 70.

Alex Bentley made a 3-pointer with 2:35 remaining and it was all tied. Then this is what happened:

The Sun failed to box out after an errant shot from the Liberty, resulting in a foul and two free throws from Shavonte Zellous. Connecticut regained possession and promptly turned it over. Ballgame.

What was required: box out and then make sure you throw it to the person wearing the same color jersey.

And this is among the reasons they're 2-10. They do the wrong thing at the wrong time. Rinse. Repeat.

Sun coach Curt Miller — think a happy thought or two for the poor guy — talked about "championship plays" that define end-of-game situations. The Sun have earned an 'F' on them thus far.

"While we put ourselves in a position to win (recent) games, we have not come up with championship plays," he said. "Offensive rebounds and turnovers were used as examples. Take a look at all three losses (during this three-game losing streak). We didn't make championship plays."

Part of the reason: The Sun have the worst point guard situation in the league. Jasmine Thomas is a backup. Rachel Banham isn't ready. Know the name of the most important person on the court? The person with the ball in her hands. Neither Thomas nor Banham are the answer. The answer may come through the draft or free agency. Until then, Miller may see "growth" as he said after Thursday's game, but it's unlikely the offense will rid itself of mindless turnovers.

Where have you gone, Lindsay Whalen?

Actually, I know that: Whalen went for Charles. Who returned to score 32. Marvelous.

Miller was asked after Thursday's game where he thought the Sun would be a third of the way through the season. His answer:

"We came in here and tried to change a culture," Miller said. "We don't have the locker room where we want it yet, but you can see growth in that area."

That's the part the fans don't see. And probably don't understand. There's a reason for that. It's inexcusable. I'm not sure who the infidels are at the moment. But this much I know: They're not good enough or accomplished enough to resist Miller's plan.

Think about it: Which player on the Sun has ever won a blessed thing in this league short of Camille Little, who played on Seattle's 2010 championship team? Everyone else is either a kid, under-accomplished or has an inflated view of her worth. They ran Anne Donovan out of here at the end of last season. Now some of them won't listen to Miller? That's an insult to the loyal lower bowl fans who are here every night and have been so for 14 years.

If it were only easy enough to back up the truck, the Sun would have placed a call to U-Haul weeks ago. Maybe as we get closer to the trading deadline, they'll be easier to ditch.

This is sad. Here was a model franchise for many, many years in this league. Now? More rebuilding. More patience required. And while we sit here and wince our way through the games, we learn not of all them are listening.

I'm tired of being patient. And yet it's not Miller's fault that he inherited a disaster.

What's the answer? Beats me. I'm just tired of watching it. Maybe they'll all pay attention to Miller in time for Sunday's game with San Antonio.

This is the opinion of Day sports columnist Mike DiMauro.