Who: Seattle Storm vs. Atlanta Dream
What: Top teams from East and West face off
Where: Key Arena
When: 6:30 p.m.PST
- National television: ESPN2
- Online: ESPN3.com
- Radio: 1150 AM KKNW
- Tickets (worth going to): http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F004463B6A23CB5
Join us in the comments during the game for live coverage from Key Arena. Links about the game below.
The Story:
WNBA Game Preview: Dream vs. Storm, June 1st - Swish Appeal
As the league begins its second month of play, the WNBA brass couldn't have designed it better. The top team in the Eastern Conference and the top team in the Western Conference play on national television. The winner of this game becomes the early season favorite to win it all.
Atlanta Dream are off to 6-0 start in WNBA - ESPN
Storm | Storm to take on unbeaten Atlanta Dream | Seattle Times Newspaper
Dream-Storm Preview - WNBA - Yahoo! Sports
Keys to the game:
Key Stat: offensive rebounding percentage
Both coaches said defense and rebounding will likely determine this game and it's hard to disagree with that.
Offensive rebounding has been a relative strength for both teams through six games, but the Dream are remarkably even stronger. Dream coach Marynell Meadors said that the rebounding -- and defense -- will be a key to this game. Given the differentials with opponents to this point, somebody will have to win and it will be key to watch.
Key battle: Lauren Jackson/Camille Little vs. Sancho Lyttle/Erika de Souza
If the rebounding battle is key, then undoubtedly the frontcourt matchup will be important. Little has shown continued improvement this season and has arguably been the best offensive rebounder (by percentage) on the Storm this season. If the Dream follow the pattern of past opponents, Lyttle and de Souza will both face Jackson at different times in the game, but Lyttle will be the one to watch as shots go up.
Key battleground: the three point line
The Storm have shown the ability to win games without shooting well at all, but that's not for a lack of three point shooters. They have shown the ability to turn it on multiple times from multiple sources when necessary, including from Jackson. On the Dream side though, this might become more interesting -- looking by personnel, the Dream are not a particularly strong three point shooting team, meaning it would seem to make sense to dare the Dream to shoot. When asked about three point shooting before the game, Storm coach Brian Agler said that it's not something they'll actively look to force, but that the problem with defending the Dream is that they're looking to beat you on the third or fourth shot with their athleticism in the post.