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Sky-Dream Preview

The first-place Atlanta Dream play host to the Chicago Sky on Friday in a battle of two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

The surprising Dream (7-3) were picked to finish 11th in the 12-team WNBA in preseason rankings. They added several new faces while building around their core of Angel McCoughtry, Tiffany Hayes and Sancho Lyttle but had plenty of question marks entering the season.

The addition of point guard Layshia Clarendon and forward Elizabeth Williams have helped answer some of the questions.

McCoughtry, Hayes, Clarendon and Williams are averaging double figures in scoring for the Dream.

One of the Dream's losses was the Sky's gain. Forward Erika de Souza spent several seasons with Atlanta before being traded to Chicago last July as a part of a three-team deal. She is averaging 6.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game this season.

Big things were expected of the Sky, with reigning MVP Elena Delle Donne returning. Chicago (5-6) has dropped its last two games, though, to fall into third place in the Eastern Conference.

Delle Donne is averaging 17.6 points per game this season. Veteran guard Cappie Pondexter is second on the team in scoring, averaging 13.5 points per game.

The Dream beat the Sky 87-81 on May 22 behind 21 points from McCoughtry and 15 points and eight rebounds from Clarendon. Williams blocked five shots in the win.

The Sky had beaten the Dream in their previous three meetings.

Williams is leading the WNBA in blocks and is coming off a 20-point, 10-rebound effort in the Dream's win over Connecticut on Sunday.

McCoughtry had 18 points in the win over the Sun. She has scored in double figures in 25 straight games and is second in the WNBA in scoring, averaging 20.3 points per game.

The Sky are coming off a 98-85 loss at the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. Pondexter had 20 points and Delle Donne finished with 15 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the field.

The Dream will be without Lyttle on Friday against Chicago. Lyttle, the team's leading rebounder, is playing with Spain's national team in Olympic qualifying.

Atlanta leads the WNBA in rebounding and Chicago is second.