Chicago Sky Women’s Basketball Team Enters the Playoffs

After getting surgery on her thumb, returning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne is unable to play in the Sky’s first playoff game.

Branden Gallimore

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AP Images

A Chicago Sky player goes up for a shot.

After getting a bye in the first round of the playoffs, the Chicago Sky Women’s Basketball team are taking on the Atlanta Dream without their superstar player Elena Delle Donne.

After jamming her finger on September 7 against the Mystics, Delle Donne was forced to undergo surgery.

“They put in some extra structures that will act as a guard to the ligament,” Delle Donne told ESPN. “Although it is going to make my thumb way stronger than what it already was.”

 

Despite not having the reigning WNBA MVP in the final five games of the season, the Sky had veteran guard Cappie Pondexter step up and help the Sky win three out of their final five games without Delle Donne.

 

On the other hand, the Dream had veteran Angel McCoughtry. McCoughtry has led the Dream to the WNBA Finals back in 2010 and is one of the top scorers in WNBA history. She holds four of the top seven top scoring games, making her one of the most decorated WNBA athletes ever.

“I enjoy watching the girls play,” junior Taylor Feltner said. “I think they should get more notoriety.”

 

In the best of three series matchup between the Sky and the Dream in the regular season, the Dream have the heavy hand taking the series 2-1 over the Sky.

 

With both teams being affected by injuries and suspensions, neither team has a strong advantage over the other. With the Dream being the underdogs but beating the Sky in the season series between the two teams, it is unclear who has the advantage in this second round playoff matchup.