Chicago @ Atlanta preview
Gateway Center Arena
Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2024 ) Atlanta 69, Chicago 78
The last remaining playoff spot will be in full view when the Atlanta Dream host the Chicago Sky on Tuesday night in College Park, Ga.
With seven postseason spots already booked, the Dream and Sky are tied with the Washington Mystics for the No. 8 berth with two games to play. All three teams have 13-25 records, with the Mystics facing the first-place New York Liberty on Tuesday.
There is a chance that the winner of the game between Atlanta and Chicago could sit alone in eighth place at the end of play Tuesday. The tiebreaker for the final postseason spot will be determined by head-to-head records, with the Sky defeating the Dream twice in three games this season.
The Dream are coming off a weekend split with the Mystics, taking Sunday's game at Washington 76-73 in overtime after falling 72-69 at home to the Mystics on Friday.
On Sunday, the Dream's Tina Charles scored 20 points with 10 rebounds to help stave off the Mystics, who rallied from a 12-point second-half deficit.
"Super proud of this group and the resiliency they had," Atlanta coach Tanisha Wright said. "It wasn't easy, but it was something that we really had to get accomplished and had to do. Three out of our last five games have gone to overtime, so it was a big-time fight from this group and I'm really proud."
Rhyne Howard leads the team with 17.5 points per game, followed by Allisha Gray's 15.7, while Charles contributes 15.0 points with 9.5 rebounds.
Chicago has limped toward the finish line with 10 losses in its last 12 games. On Sunday, the Sky dropped their third straight in a 93-88 loss to the Phoenix Mercury.
In what Chicago hopes wasn't its last home game of the year, the Sky were held without a field goal for the final 2:30 of the game as Chennedy Carter scored 20 points in the defeat.
"Regardless of the circumstances, our kids went out there and played hard," Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said. "I'm extremely proud of that. There's no giving up from these young ladies. We've still got two to go, and we're going after those two."
Chicago has dropped three of four following Angel Reese's season-ending wrist injury. The standout rookie was averaging 13.6 points and a league-best 13.1 rebounds. Carter's 17.5 points per game paces Chicago.
--Field Level Media