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The Atlanta Dream’s return from the Olympic break didn’t go quite as well as they planned as they dropped a 90-82 decision to the Chicago Sky.
After a back and forth first half, the Dream looked like they were going to seize control of the game and pull away for a victory. Atlanta used an 11-3 run to take a 60-53 lead. The Sky came roaring back behind the play of Elena Delle Donne and Cheyenne Parker.
Chicago answered back with a 15-0 run to take a 65-60 advantage. They outscored the Dream 31-18 in the period and led 75-62 entering the fourth.
Atlanta wasn’t finished yet though. The Sky led 81-72 with just over six minutes remaining before the Dream went on an 8-0 run to cut the deficit to a single point. However, Atlanta had no answer for Delle Donne down the stretch. She stopped the run with a pair of free throws and then worked her way inside for an offensive rebound and score on the next play to end the threat.
Delle Donne led all scorers with a game-high 34 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists. She was 9 for 20 from the field and a perfect 14 of 14 at the free throw line. Cappie Pondexter added 17 while Courtney Vandersloot and Parker finished with 14 each.
Angel McCoughtry led the Dream with 22 points, five rebounds and five assists. Elizabeth Williams added 20 points, eight boards and a game-high six blocked shots. Bria Holmes made her fourth straight start and finished with 15.
Atlanta shot 46 percent from the field and were 22-31 from the free throw line but turned the ball over 12 times which led to 23 points for Chicago. The Sky knocked down 41 percent of their field goal attempts but beat the Dream up on the glass with 18 offensive rebounds which they converted into 27 second chance points.
With the loss, Atlanta falls to 13-13 on the season. They will return to Philips Arena on Sunday when they will take on the Connecticut Sun.