Fever-Dream Preview
The Atlanta Dream are surprising Eastern Conference leaders and now have a chance to avenge their lone defeat of the year. They seek a fourth straight victory Sunday when they host the Indiana Fever and Tamika Catchings, who is within reach of a major milestone. Atlanta (4-1) was ranked No. 11 in the preseason Associated Press WNBA Power Rankings, but its strong start has moved the Dream to No. 6. Angel McCoughtry had 26 points and nine rebounds in Friday's 102-93 victory at Dallas. Indiana (2-2) seeks to bounce back from a difficult 74-71 loss to unbeaten Minnesota on Friday in its first road game. The Fever shot 37.7 percent in a rematch of the WNBA Finals that also took place three days after coach Stephanie White created a possible distraction by announcing she will leave the club to coach Vanderbilt after the season. Catchings needs 11 points to join Tina Thompson as the second player in WNBA history to score 7,000. She scored 14 points as Indiana placed seven players in double digits in a 94-85 home win over Atlanta on May 20. That contest marked the first for Layshia Clarendon against her former team after she was traded to Atlanta on May 10 for a second-round pick. She spent her first three seasons with the Fever after being drafted ninth overall in 2013. Clarendon showed the Fever what she can do by making 7 of 8 shots for 19 points in her first start with her new club. She matched that point total Friday. One difference in this matchup is that Indiana center Erlana Larkins should see more action after she hurt her knee and left after two minutes in the first meeting. Larkins, who began the season with a pair of double-doubles, had five points and six boards in 22 minutes Friday. The Dream have lost four straight at home to the Fever. Indiana's nine road victories a year ago matched the franchise record, accomplished four other times. |