Insider Preview - Storm vs. Chicago

"We've been trying to reorganize without Sylvia, but it's clear she's more important than just points and rebounds," Chicago Head Coach Steven Key told the Chicago Tribune after the Sky's latest loss Friday to the Indiana Fever.

In Fowles' absence, the first quarter proved the bane of Chicago's existence. The Sky trailed by just two on Tuesday in Sacramento, but in the other three losses was outscored a combined 96-38, trailing by an average of 19.3 points after those disastrous first quarters. Chicago rallied to make a game of it July 3 in San Antonio, but was too far behind to come back at Phoenix and against the Fever.

The loss of Fowles has been most felt by the Sky at the defensive end of the floor. Chicago has scored just 0.5 more points per 40 minutes with Fowles on the floor this season. However, the Sky has allowed 10.6 more points per 40 minutes without her. At 6-6, Fowles is an intimidating defensive presence who ranks sixth in the league in shot-blocking (1.8 bpg) and leads the WNBA in defensive rebounding (7.0 drpg). Her backup, Chinese rookie Chen Nan, has proven effective at the offensive end of the floor but not the same kind of defender.

While Fowles may be the most crucial Chicago player, that doesn't mean she's the Sky's only standout - or even necessarily the team's best player. The Sky boasts one of the league's most talented trios in Fowles, forward Candice Dupree and guard Jia Perkins. Combined, the three players average 42.7 points, 19.2 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game.

Perkins and Dupree give Chicago a potent inside-outside duo on offense. Perkins has averaged 15.2 points per game and has the ability to create off the dribble and shoot from the perimeter. Perkins ranks in the league's top 10 in points, assists and steals. Dupree is the only All-Star in Sky franchise history, having made the game each of her first two WNBA seasons (before the game was not held last year). Slightly undersized for a power forward, Dupree makes up for it with her athleticism and skill. This season has seen her develop a three-point game, hitting eight times from beyond the arc after making just one three-pointer in her first three pro campaigns.

Besides the big three, no other Chicago player has averaged more than the 6.2 points per game of veteran guard Dominique Canty. Key has used a variety of players alongside the core trio, with 10 players averaging at least 12.5 minutes a night. Rookie Kristi Toliver, coming off the bench, has shown the most potential to become a fourth consistent scorer for the Sky. However, as is typical of a rookie, Toliver's production has been inconsistent. She missed all nine of her shot attempts, including 0-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc, on Friday against Indiana.

While more balanced production would help Chicago overcame the absence of one of the top three players, when everyone has been healthy the Sky's mix has been successful. Before Fowles went down, Chicago had started the season 6-3 and off to a strong start in trying to reach the postseason for the first time in franchise history. Even now, the Sky is tied with the Atlanta Dream for the fourth and final playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Chicago has shown a remarkable ability to win close games, with wins by one point, two points, three and five. All told, the Sky is 6-1 in games decided by single-digits, 0-6 in games with a margin of 10 or greater.

The Seattle Storm was one of those victims in a close game, falling 64-57 last month at the UIC Pavilion after holding a fourth-quarter lead. In that game, the Storm suffered through a painful first-quarter drought on offense before coming back. In the team's last two wins at KeyArena, the Storm has been able to overcome rough scoring patches on the strength of outstanding defense. Sacramento and San Antonio have averaged 54.0 points in those two games, shooting a combined 32.8 percent from the field.

KEY MATCHUP
	The Storm did an excellent job defending Dupree in the first meeting between these teams, limiting her to 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting. A lot of the credit must go to Camille Little, a good matchup for Dupree because of her ability to defend away from the basket. Little has been giving the Storm more offensive production lately to go along with her strong defense. In the last four games, she's averaged 10.3 points, topping at least eight points each game after reaching the mark just once in the season's first eight games.

For the first time in the franchise's four-year existence, the Sky defeated the Storm June 14 at the UIC Pavilion, but the Storm made things very interesting after starting on the wrong side of a 15-1 run. A 12-0 run late in the third and early in the fourth allowed the Storm to come all the way back and take a two-point lead, but the offense then mustered just four points over the final 5:50 as Chicago reclaimed command. The Storm still had chances to tie in the final minute, but Sue Bird and Lauren Jackson missed threes and Jackson was called for a key offensive foul with 9.3 seconds left to sink the team's chances. Sky free throws finished out a 64-57 win.

The Storm had a hard time finding consistent offense outside of Jackson, who scored 22 points on 6-of-12 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds. No one else scored double-figures, with Bird scoring nine points and held to three assists. Janell Burse added eight points off the bench. The Storm was 5-of-17 from three-point range, missing several good looks. Dupree led Chicago with 14 points, but Perkins (13) made the big scores in the fourth quarter and Fowles (12 points, 15 boards) had a double-double.

INJURIES

Storm - Forward Ashley Walker (right big toe) is out.

Chicago - Center Sylvia Fowles (right knee soreness) is questionable.