WNBA

Dream-Fever Preview

Share This Story

Updated Sep 27, 2012 6:43 PM ET
     
 

After the Atlanta Dream eliminated them from last year's playoffs, the Indiana Fever have a chance to return the favor.

Indiana hosts Atlanta in Game 1 of an Eastern Conference semifinal series Friday night.

The Fever went 22-12 to match the winningest season in franchise history and are making their eighth consecutive postseason appearance after locking up the East's No. 2 seed. They beat New York in the first round of the 2011 playoffs before falling to Atlanta (19-15) in the conference finals.

Indiana, though, took three of five regular-season matchups from the third-place Dream, including both home meetings by an average of 11.0 points.

"That gives us some confidence going into these playoffs," coach Lin Dunn told the Fever's official website.

While Tamika Catchings has led Indiana to the conference finals four times and one WNBA finals appearance over the past seven years, she's hoping to take the next step in 2012.

"When you look at it from a standpoint of having all the individual accomplishments but looking at it in the big picture and wanting a team accomplishment, this is it," said Catchings, the WNBA's all-time leader in steals and free throws made.

Catchings, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and seven-time All-Star, also remains very much in the running for her second consecutive league MVP.

"It's definitely a great award, it's a great accomplishment, but at the end of the day, you guys know what I want," she said. "I want a championship. If I don't win MVP but we get a championship, I will be the happiest person in the world."

Coming off back-to-back trips to the WNBA finals, Atlanta also enters the postseason with high hopes.

It's been somewhat of a turbulent year for the Dream, who promoted Fred Williams to coach and general manager after firing Marynell Meadors - the only coach the franchise had ever known - in late August.

Atlanta, which has won seven of 10 with Williams at the helm, put together a season-best four-game winning streak before falling 92-72 at Connecticut in Sunday's regular-season finale.

While Indiana's offense runs though Catchings, the Dream figure to go as far as Angel McCoughtry will take them. Besides posting a league-best 2.5 steals per game, McCoughtry averaged 21.4 points to become the first player in team history to lead the WNBA in scoring.

McCoughtry scored a combined 53 points in Games 2 and 3 of last year's conference finals to help eliminate Indiana.

The Fever might be better prepared this season, however, having finished second in the league in points allowed (72.3 per game).

"I won't say this is the greatest defensive team that we've had, but it certainly is one of our top three," Dunn said.

Indiana is riding some momentum after winning its last two regular-season games, 66-53 at Washington last Friday and 91-58 over Tulsa two days later.

Erin Phillips matched a career high with 21 points Sunday while Catchings added 20 to go along with 10 rebounds.

"When we play together and when we communicate and everybody is clicking on defense, our team looks amazing," said Catchings, whose 82nd double-double moved her into second place all-time.

Related Stories

Member Comments

Please note by clicking on "Post comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be Polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

powered by

Trending Now

Stories | Photos | Lists | Videos

FOX SPORTS Videos

LeBron, Wade on OT win Posted: May 23, 2013
LeBron James and Dwyane Wade discuss the Heat's Game 1 OT win over Indiana.

Highlights: PIT/OTT - Game 4 Posted: May 23, 2013
Watch highlights of the Penguins Game 4 win over the Senators.

Marvez: Urlacher calls it a career Posted: May 22, 2013
Alex Marvez on the career or Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.

MORE FOXSPORTS VIDEO »

Fox Sports Store

    itemName itemURL imageSrc price itemDescription
    Mitchell & Ness Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird Green Authentic Throwback Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/118804/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_118000/FF_118804_xl.jpg&w=100 249.95 Mitchell & Ness Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird Green Authentic Throwback Jersey
    adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/172442/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_172000/FF_172442_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Los Angeles Lakers Purple Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Miami_Heat/browse/featuredproduct/173566/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173566_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Miami Heat Black Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Chicago Bulls Red Primary Logo T-shirt http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Chicago_Bulls/browse/featuredproduct/173568/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_173000/FF_173568_xl.jpg&w=100 19.95 adidas Chicago Bulls Red Primary Logo T-shirt
    adidas Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird White Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Boston_Celtics/browse/featuredproduct/177922/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177922_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Boston Celtics #33 Larry Bird White Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball..
    adidas Atlanta Hawks #21 Dominique Wilkins Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Atlanta_Hawks/browse/featuredproduct/177923/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177923_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Atlanta Hawks #21 Dominique Wilkins Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basket..
    adidas Los Angeles Lakers #32 Magic Johnson Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey - Gold http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Los_Angeles_Lakers/browse/featuredproduct/177924/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_177000/FF_177924_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Los Angeles Lakers #32 Magic Johnson Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketbal..
    adidas New York Knicks #19 Willis Reed Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_New_York_Knicks/browse/featuredproduct/178326/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178326_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas New York Knicks #19 Willis Reed Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Bas..
    adidas Philadelphia 76ers #6 Julius Erving Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Philadelphia_76ers/browse/featuredproduct/178582/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178582_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Philadelphia 76ers #6 Julius Erving Royal Blue Hardwood Classics Swingman..
    adidas Houston Rockets #34 Hakeem Olajuwon Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basketball Jersey http://shop.foxsports.com/FOX_Houston_Rockets/browse/featuredproduct/178773/source/foxsports_prsp_ca http://images.footballfanatics.com/FFImage/thumb.aspx?i=/productImages/_178000/FF_178773_xl.jpg&w=100 89.95 adidas Houston Rockets #34 Hakeem Olajuwon Red Hardwood Classics Swingman Basket..
Microsoft© 2013 Microsoft