Sarah Disbro

The Chicago Sky play the Atlanta Dream in a road matchup on Sunday, June 22, marking the second time the teams have faced each other this season. In the prior matchup this month, the Sky fell 70-88.

In that game, on June 13, Rhyne Howard led Atlanta with 36 points and eight rebounds. Howard’s 36 points are the second-most by a Sky opponent this season. The Dream’s veteran guard, Allisha Gray, added 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Gray, Atlanta’s leading scorer, was held below her season average of 20.2 points per game by Chicago’s defense. 

Despite the loss, the Sky were able to hold Atlanta’s star frontcourt to 20 combined points. WNBA legend Brittney Griner was kept to just seven points and four rebounds, below her average of 10.5 points and 5.7 rebounds. Griner, a 10-time WNBA All-Star, is in her first season with Atlanta.

Brionna Jones, another veteran offseason pickup for the Dream, added 13 points and 11 rebounds against the Sky. The Dream have been successful so far this season due to a blend of experienced players like Gray, Griner and Jones and young talent that includes Howard and rookie Te-Hina Paopao who adds 6.2 points and 1.8 steals off the bench. 

In the last matchup, Chicago showed promise and was in the game late, trailing by just four points heading into the fourth quarter. The Sky’s defense held the Dream’s bench to five points, well below their average of 18.0 points per game. 

Atlanta gives up the most points in the paint per game, allowing 39.4 per game. Last time out Chicago had success in this area, with over half their points coming in the paint with 40. Kamilla Cardoso had a strong showing with 15 points and nine rebounds. Cardoso has been efficient this season shooting 54.0% from the field. 

Angel Reese added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Sky in the last game while Ariel Atkins had 12 points and five assists. Atkins has been consistent for Chicago as their leading scorer, averaging 12.7 points, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals.

Historically, Chicago leads Atlanta in the all-time series 37-27. 

What to watch for the Sky: How the Dream respond Reese’s playmaking. 

Reese has stepped forward as a primary playmaker in the wake of injuries in the Sky’s guard room. Since the beginning of June, Reese is averaging 4.8 assists per game. Her current stretch of games included her first-career triple-double, a high in assists on June 15 against Connecticut with 11.