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Preview: Sky (19-8) at Dream (14-10)
Date: August 24, 2013 7:00 PM EDT
After clinching the franchise's first postseason berth, the Chicago Sky can focus on holding off the Atlanta Dream for home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Looking to match a season high with their fifth straight victory, the visiting Sky hope to snap a four-game slide to the Dream on Saturday night.
Having already set the club record for wins, Chicago (19-8) is headed to the playoffs for the first time in its eight-year existence thanks to Friday's 82-64 rout of New York.
It's a half-game behind Minnesota for the league's top record.
"Playoffs is the first step. Now we've put ourselves in the position where we could have the best record in the East, best overall record,' said forward Swin Cash, who had 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting Friday. "I'd be lying to you if I didn't say (the best record) wasn't on the radar, but for us it's really about taking every game at a time.'
In its previous seven seasons, Chicago never had a winning record.
"We just want to keep going for the best record and just take one game at a time,' said forward Sylvia Fowles, who has spent her entire six-year career with the Sky.
Chicago leads second-place Atlanta (14-10) - the East's only other team with a winning record - by 3 1/2 games.
"I don't think we're concerned with first, second, third,' said Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry, who averages a league-leading 22.0 points. "As long as we clinch the playoffs, we can take it from there.'
A winner in five straight from July 7-20, Chicago looks to end its recent struggles against Atlanta, which won the teams' first meeting 88-74 at home June 16. After this contest, the clubs play twice in suburban Chicago.
Though the Dream dropped their eighth consecutive road contest, 74-64 at Washington on Friday, they are a league-best 11-1 at home. They've won three in a row at Philips Arena by an average of 20.7 points.
"You just have to come and play harder on the road just like at home,' said Atlanta coach Fred Williams, whose team is 3-9 on the road. "Doesn't matter who it is."
McCoughtry, who had 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists Friday, scored 23 on 7-of-16 shooting against the Sky in June.
Chicago rookie Elena Delle Donne had 25, but Fowles was held to eight in that contest. Delle Donne has totaled 35 points in two games since she missed two in a row with a sprained left foot.
Fowles scored 14 points Friday as the Sky broke things open by outscoring the Liberty 29-12 in the third quarter. However, she was held to seven boards after she averaged 15.3 in the previous three games.
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Date: August 24, 2013 7:00 PM EDT
After clinching the franchise's first postseason berth, the Chicago Sky can focus on holding off the Atlanta Dream for home-court advantage throughout the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Looking to match a season high with their fifth straight victory, the visiting Sky hope to snap a four-game slide to the Dream on Saturday night.
Having already set the club record for wins, Chicago (19-8) is headed to the playoffs for the first time in its eight-year existence thanks to Friday's 82-64 rout of New York.
It's a half-game behind Minnesota for the league's top record.
"Playoffs is the first step. Now we've put ourselves in the position where we could have the best record in the East, best overall record,' said forward Swin Cash, who had 11 points on 5-of-5 shooting Friday. "I'd be lying to you if I didn't say (the best record) wasn't on the radar, but for us it's really about taking every game at a time.'
In its previous seven seasons, Chicago never had a winning record.
"We just want to keep going for the best record and just take one game at a time,' said forward Sylvia Fowles, who has spent her entire six-year career with the Sky.
Chicago leads second-place Atlanta (14-10) - the East's only other team with a winning record - by 3 1/2 games.
"I don't think we're concerned with first, second, third,' said Atlanta's Angel McCoughtry, who averages a league-leading 22.0 points. "As long as we clinch the playoffs, we can take it from there.'
A winner in five straight from July 7-20, Chicago looks to end its recent struggles against Atlanta, which won the teams' first meeting 88-74 at home June 16. After this contest, the clubs play twice in suburban Chicago.
Though the Dream dropped their eighth consecutive road contest, 74-64 at Washington on Friday, they are a league-best 11-1 at home. They've won three in a row at Philips Arena by an average of 20.7 points.
"You just have to come and play harder on the road just like at home,' said Atlanta coach Fred Williams, whose team is 3-9 on the road. "Doesn't matter who it is."
McCoughtry, who had 17 points, eight rebounds and eight assists Friday, scored 23 on 7-of-16 shooting against the Sky in June.
Chicago rookie Elena Delle Donne had 25, but Fowles was held to eight in that contest. Delle Donne has totaled 35 points in two games since she missed two in a row with a sprained left foot.
Fowles scored 14 points Friday as the Sky broke things open by outscoring the Liberty 29-12 in the third quarter. However, she was held to seven boards after she averaged 15.3 in the previous three games.
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