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| (photo credit: gettyimages.com) |
The Sparks swept the
season series with the Sky, as they won all three games by double digits. The
Sparks haven’t played a game in 12 days, while the Sky staved off elimination
after defeating the Atlanta Dream, 108-98. Chicago will be at a disadvantage
before they even step onto the court, as they will be without reigning MVP Elena
Della Donne. Della Donne had thumb surgery two weeks ago, which is why she will
be sidelined.
Chicago is 4-2 without Della Donne, but they will face their
biggest challenge yet against a Sparks team that went 26-8 during the regular season.
Without Della Donne, Chicago will turn to Courtney Vandersloot and Jessica Breland
to lead the offense. Vandersloot scored 21 points, while Breland put up 20
points in Chicago’s victory over Atlanta. Chicago was able to spread the ball
around in that victory, as seven players scored at least eight points.
They
will need more of the same as the Sparks post a potent attack that only eight
teams were able to stop during the season. Chicago will be tasked with stopping
Nneka Ogwumike, this years MVP, and Candace Parker, who has won two MVP’s in
her career. Ogwumike averaged 19.7 points and 9.1 rebounds while shooting a
league best 66% from the field.
Parker averaged 15 points, 7.4 rebounds, and
1.3 steals per game during the regular season. If Chicago is able to neutralize
those two, then they have a legitimate chance of pulling off the upset. If they
are unable to, like practically every other team in the WNBA, they it might be
a long series for the Sky. The game will start at 10 p.m. ET tonight, and it can
be watched on ESPN2.
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