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Preview: WNBA Friday night triple-header features teams with a lot on the line

The No. 11 Atlanta Dream will have a tough time getting past the sizzling No. 1 Connecticut Sun on the road. The Indiana Fever (4-5) will try to pull even against the No. 2 Chicago Sky. And the No. 4 Seattle Storm will try to push the Los Angeles Sparks (4-4) below .500.

Natasha Howard and the Seattle Storm host the Los Angeles Sparks in a Friday night showdown.
Photo by Scott Eklund/NBAE via Getty Images

It’s Friday night and we have three WNBA games on the schedule from coast to coast!

First, the red-hot Connecticut Sun host the Atlanta Dream. Connecticut heads into this game on a six-game winning streak and with Jonquel Jones playing at an MVP-level, averaging 17.2 points and 12 rebounds per game. The Dream, meanwhile, is coming off an 88-78 win over the Fever on Wednesday and look to rebound from a slow start to the season.

The Chicago Sky hosts the Indiana Fever less than a week after their Saturday match, which Chicago won, 70-64. Chicago is now on a four-game win streak, their longest since the 2016 season, while the Fever come into tonight’s game having lost two straight.

And finally, the Storm host the Sparks in another battle between the west coast rivals. The Storm return to Seattle after a four-game cross-country road trip which ended in a 81-67 loss to the Sun on Sunday. Meanwhile, L.A. is looking to rebound from an 81-52 blowout loss to the Mystics on Tuesday.


Game information

Connecticut Sun (8-1) vs. Atlanta Dream (2-5)

When: Friday, June 21, at 7:30 p.m. ET

Where: Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT

How to watch: NESN+ (New England area), WSB Now (Atlanta), WNBA League Pass (worldwide)

Keys to the matchup: Jones, Courtney Williams and Alyssa Thomas provide a potent offensive attack for Connecticut. But for Atlanta, Tiffany Hayes must have another strong scoring game. She scored a season-high 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting in the Dream’s win over the Fever.

Chicago Sky (5-2) vs. Indiana Fever (4-5)

When: Friday, June 21, at 8 p.m. ET

Where: College Park Center, Arlington, TX

How to watch: The U Too (Chicago), WNBA League Pass (worldwide)

Keys to the matchup: Chicago has looked as good as any team in the last couple of weeks. The most compelling matchup tonight is between sophomore wings Diamond DeShields, who leads the Sky scoring 13.7 points per game and is shooting 42.4 percent from three-point range, and Kelsey Mitchell, who leads the Fever with 15.8 points per game. Mitchell also has scored 14 or more points in each of Indiana’s last seven games.

Seattle Storm (5-4) vs. Los Angeles Sparks (4-4)

When: Friday, June 21, at 10:30 p.m. ET

Where: Angel of the Winds Arena, Everett, WA

How to watch: CBS Sports Network (National), JOE TV (Seattle), Spectrum SportsNet (L.A. area)

Keys to the matchup: Candace Parker hopes to get back on track after scoring just 3 points on 1-of-9 shooting in her return from injury on Tuesday against the Mystics. However, she will be paired up against Storm forward Natasha Howard, who is averaging 19.6 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this season. Considering the Storm’s injuries to Breanna Stewart and Sue Bird, Howard has blossomed into a legitimate MVP candidate.