Two struggling teams tied near the bottom of the WNBA standings meet Friday when the Chicago Sky visit the Indiana Fever at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Only the San Antonio Stars (4-21) have fewer wins than the Sky (8-16) or Fever (8-16). However, Chicago and Indiana are just two games behind the Atlanta Dream, who currently hold the WNBA's eighth and final playoff position at 10-14.
The Sky have lost three in a row, including a hard-fought 86-82 defeat to the New York Liberty on Sunday at home. Chicago guard Stephanie Dolson missed a jumper that would have tied the score with four seconds to go.
Indiana has lost four in a row and nine of 10 overall. The Fever committed 18 turnovers Sunday in an 89-73 loss at Connecticut.
"I just said they're a good team, and I meant that," Fever coach Pokey Chatman said of the Sun after the loss. "But we also gave them 18 turnovers and 23 points. They don't need that much help. We dug a 12-foot hole and only had a 7-foot ladder. We dug a hole too deep."
Indiana All-Star forward Candice Dupree missed the game against Connecticut a few days after her wife, DeWanna Bonner of the Phoenix Mercury, gave birth to twins. Dupree's status for the Friday game had not been updated as of Thursday afternoon.
The Sky shook up their roster this week with a midseason trade with the Dream. Chicago sent forwards Tamera Young and Imani Boyette to Atlanta for forward Jordan Hooper and a first-round pick in next season's WNBA draft.
"Hooper is a versatile shooter who is skilled at both forward positions," Sky coach Amber Stocks said. "Gaining an additional first-round pick to our already talent rich 2018 roster, further strengthens our impact."
Hooper was a first-round pick 2014 out of Nebraska.
This will be the third meeting this season between Chicago and Indiana. The Fever won both previous matchups, which were in Chicago, 91-79 on June 18 and 82-75 on June 28. Dupree led Indiana in scoring in both games.
The Fever have won six of their past seven meetings with the Sky.
