Sky can sympathize with expansion Dream

It was a dream weekend for the Chicago Sky.

About 24 hours after comfortably handling the Atlanta Dream on the road, the Sky got a similar result Saturday before 3,182 at the UIC Pavilion.

Thanks to double-figure points from four players, the Sky ran away with a 91-70 victory to push its record to 3-4. The Sky never trailed and had leads as big as 28 points.

The expansion Dream, playing its first WNBA season, dropped to 0-7.

In 2006, the Sky started its inaugural season 1-13 and finished 5-29.

Forward Candice Dupree, who scored a game-high 20 points, guard Jia Perkins, who scored 19 points, and reserve forward Brooke Wyckoff are the only remaining players from that season.

"When Jia and I were on the bench, I was like, 'Jia, remember when this was us two years ago?' " said Sky forward Candice Dupree, a rookie during the 2006 season. "Now, we can laugh about it. But back then, it was pretty bad. We can relate to losing games by 20-plus points. Hopefully now that won't happen to us. Hopefully, we can keep the ball rolling."

Prior to defeating the Dream in back-to-back nights, the Sky had lost three in a row. But they were by an average of only 4 points.

The Sky's bigger loss came in Tuesday's defeat to the Los Angeles Sparks. In trying to block a shot while sprinting from behind, 6-foot-6 rookie center Sylvia Fowles smashed into the basket support as she came down awkwardly on her knee.

Fowles did not travel to Atlanta on Friday and was on the bench in street clothes Saturday. Fowles, who is out 4-6 weeks with a strained knee, is using crutches.

"She seems pretty good," Dupree said of Fowles. "If she had it her way, she'd be (playing) at practice on Monday."

But being sidetracked physically apparently hasn't changed the fun-loving Fowles' demeanor. Her teammates say she's still as goofy as ever.

"She's still joking around and playing around," Perkins laughed.

"Sylvia came and gave us a send-off before the Atlanta trip (Friday)," said Sky coach Steve Key. "And that seemed to really lift everyone's spirits.

She's was sending me e-mails telling me to get the troops ready, and I wrote her back and said, 'All right General.'

"I think she's doing very well."

Veteran Chasity Melvin, starting in place of Fowles, scored 12 points, and guard Cathy Joens added 10 off the bench.

Guard Armintie Price scored 9 points for the Sky before leaving the game in the third quarter with a swollen cheekbone.

Forward Jennifer Lacy led the Dream with 18 points.