Game Preview: Dream vs. Sun

  @

Atlanta at Connecticut

Time: Saturday, May 17 at 4 p.m. ET

Location: Mohegan Sun Arena
TV: CSS   Radio: 1230/1340 AM

The Atlanta Dream (0-0) take on the Connecticut Sun (0-0) in a WNBA Opening Day battle of two teams looking to establish their identity at the start of the season.

The Dream will be led by guard Betty Lennox, an explosive scorer entering her ninth season in the league.  With Lennox and 6-4 forward Stacey Lovelace providing the veteran leadership, the Dream will turn to a solid core of talented young players on the rise.  Iziane Castro Marques, a lightning-quick guard from Brazil, is expected to start alongside Lennox, her teammate for the last three seasons with the Seattle Storm.  Fourth-year guard Kristin Haynie is expected to get the start at point guard, where she will split time with second-year playmaker Ivory Latta. 

In the post, the Dream have a solid core of players that will all see minutes.  Jennifer Lacy, a versatile 6-3 forward, is expected to start against Connecticut alongside Lovelace.  Coach Meadors has a variety of options off the bench, including 6-8 center Katie Feenstra.  

The Sun spent much of the offseason revamping their roster.  Few players remain from the team that made back-to-back trips to the WNBA Finals in 2004 and 2005.  This year’s team will be without three familiar faces- guard Katie Douglas (traded to Indiana Fever), guard Nykesha Sales (sitting out 2008 season due to injury) and center Margo Dydek (maternity leave). 

With these key losses, the Sun will rely even more on All-Star forward Asjha Jones and point guard Lindsay Whalen.  Whalen is one of the top point guards in the league, averaging 13.5 points and 4.97 assists per game.  The Sun expect veteran forward Tamika Whitmore, acquired in the trade with Indiana, to immediately provide a presence on the front line.  Last season for the Fever, Whitmore averaged 17 points, 3.7 assists and 1.91 steals per game. 

Dream fans can follow the game on Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast or tune in to 1230 / 1340 AM for complete coverage.