The Chicago Sky face off against the Los Angeles Sparks with the opportunity to take the regular-season series on Wednesday, Aug. 5. While the Sparks took the first game 102-87, the Sky won the second matchup 96-82 July 17 at Wintrust Arena. A win Wednesday would chip away at Chicago’s 20-32 all-time record against the Sparks.

Anchoring the backcourt and frontcourt respectively in these matchups was rookie Sydney Taylor and Kamilla Cardoso. In the first meeting, Taylor scored 15 points, while Cardoso notched her ninth double-double of the season with 13 points and eleven rebounds.

The two followed up these performances with even stronger stat lines in the second game. Cardoso put up 15 points, eight rebounds and two assists while shooting 66.7% from the field and Taylor had a 19 point game that included four three-pointers.

Taylor and Cardoso are in good company with Gabriela Jaquez, Jacy Sheldon, Natasha Cloud and Azurá Stevens all averaging double-figure scoring in the two previous meetings against the Sparks.

What may tip the series in the Sky’s favor is a healthy DiJonai Carrington, who returned to action July 30 against the Connecticut Sun. Carrington has put up strong numbers in her first three games, averaging 11.6 points in her first three games with a 16 point performance most recently against the Phoenix Mercury.

Despite the Sparks recent trade of two-time WNBA champion Kelsey Plum to the Phoenix Mercury, they still boast a strong rotation.

Leading Los Angeles is Sparks legend Nneka Ogwumike. Averaging 17.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists per game, Ogwumike scored 18 points in the last matchup against the Sky and surpassed Lisa Leslie as the Sparks all-time leading scorer.

In tandem with Ogwumike is three-time All-Star Dearica Hamby who matched Ogwumike’s 18 points and added six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block.

Coming off a close 106-101 loss to the Mercury, the Sky have a chance to reassert their defensive identity by locking down the Sparks interior powerhouses in Ogwumike and Hamby.

Tip-off is at 8 p.m. CST inside Wintrust Arena and will be broadcast on USA Today.