Shock-Sky Preview

By foxsports
Published

The Chicago Sky have already locked up home-court advantage for the first round of the WNBA playoffs.

The Tulsa Shock are also bound for the postseason, though they will begin on the road.

Both these teams will want to get through Friday night's meaningless contest without any injuries, and it may be wise for the Sky to reduce any minutes for MVP candidate Elena Delle Donne in their final home game.

Chicago (20-12) will be the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and face Indiana or Washington in the first round. The Sky are 12-4 at home to tie first-place New York for the East's best mark.

Tulsa (17-15) will be the West's No. 3 seed and face Phoenix in the first round. The Shock close the regular season Sunday with a home game against the Mercury.

With nothing at stake, it's not clear if these teams will rest anyone. Delle Donne could be a prime candidate after missing the last two games in August with a foot injury.

She has looked rusty in two games since returning, making 8 of 28 shots for 32 points. Delle Donne averages a league-high 23.3 points, ranks third in rebounding with 8.7 per game and is two 3-pointers shy of 100 for her career.

Delle Donne was spectacular with 40 points when these teams last met in a 101-93 loss at Tulsa on June 6. That marked the Shock's fourth straight win in the series.

Odyssey Sims scored 23 points to lead Tulsa while Skylar Diggins added 20, though Diggins is out for the season with a torn ACL.

The Sky also will look different from that contest since forward Erika de Souza was not with the team at that time.

De Souza will be called upon Friday to help contain Tulsa center Courtney Paris, the league's leading rebounder with 9.5 per game.

Chicago has not played since routing Seattle 93-65 on Sunday. Allie Quigley scored 17 points and Delle Donne chipped in with 13.

Sims had 27 points and seven rebounds in Tuesday's 74-64 win over San Antonio. The Shock have captured seven of their last eight.

Tulsa is the only West club with a winning record against the East at 7-4.