The Chicago Sky kick off their 2016 road schedule with a trip to Atlanta to take on the Dream at Phillips Arena.
The matchup will mark just the second time Erika de Souza returns to Atlanta to face her former team. The Chicago Sky acquired the veteran center from the Dream last season as part of a three-way trade. De Souza joined the Dream in 2008 via the expansion draft. During her seven plus seasons of play in Atlanta she averaged 10.8 PPG, 8.7 RPG and 1.2 BPG. De Souza was named a WNBA All-Star three times (2009, 2013, 2014) during her tenure with the Dream. She also managed to successfully guide the team to six consecutive postseason appearances and three WNBA Finals appearances (2010, 2011, 2013). De Souza is the Dream’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,784), double-doubles (68), games played (211), and field goal percent (54%).
The Sky’s record sits at 1-1 after they followed an 93-70 victory against the Connecticut on opening night with an 97-80 loss to the Minnesota Lynx. Elena Delle Donne made her season debut after missing the first contest with an illness and led all-scorers with 28 points on 12-of-20 shooting. Cappie Pondexter scored 18 for the club, while Courtney Vandersloot posted six points to go along with a game-high 11 assists. .The Sky shot 44% from the field against the defending champions, but were plagued by costly turnovers, and a potent transition attack that gave Minnesota a 21-5 advantage on the fast break.
The Dream will head to Indiana to take on the Fever at 6:00 p.m. CT on Friday, before returning home to take on the Sky. On Saturday, the Dream won their first game of the season in impressive fashion recording a 73-63 victory over the San Antonio Stars. Three Dream players (McCoughtry, Hayes, Clarendon) finished in double figures scoring, while center Elizabeth Williams contributed 6 points and 10 rebounds, and a tenacious Dream defense limited the Starts to just 35% shooting from the field.
Chicago took 3 of 4 contests with Atlanta during the 2015 season.. The Sky averaged 92 points, while giving up 89 points per game during the season series.
Tip-off between the Sky and Dream is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CDT.