Sky Looks to Big Syl for Big Game vs. Atlanta

After a competitive WNBA season, only four teams in the Eastern Conference will make the playoffs, and the Sky assuredly want to be one of those teams. Standing in their way is the Atlanta Dream, who is currently just in front of the Sky in the playoff race. Atlanta sits fourth, while the Sky is hot on their tails in fifth place.

Playing Atlanta for the last time this season, it may come down to this one game deciding the season. A victory could pave the way to earning a playoff birth for the first time in Sky history. A loss will make the climb up the standings that much more difficult.

The Sky is playing very good basketball of late. Winning by 19 points over the first place Indiana Fever and then beating the San Antonio Silver Stars, currently second in the West, impressively 85-73. Sylvia Fowles, in particular, was spectacular last week, dominating both ends of the court and earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.

The Sky may be 10-5 all-time against the Dream and 4-2 at home, but Atlanta has also played well lately having won 9 of the last 12 behind a red hot Angel McCoughtry, and they own the lead in the season series over the Sky 2-1.

Head Coach Pokey Chatman will need to find a way to slow McCoughtry who had 24 points against the Sky in their last contest and is the third leading scorer in the WNBA, to get the win. Getting the ball inside to Fowles, currently second in scoring, will also be a recipe for success.

Atlanta, which still needs to face Conference leader Indiana Fever three times in their final eight games, has a tough road ahead. With a win on Tuesday, the Sky can put a lot of pressure on their rival and make the playoff race even more exciting to watch. You can catch the game on Comcast Xfinity CN100 at 7pm CT.