PREVIEW: The Los Angeles Sparks enter Wednesday's matchup against the Atlanta Dream with playoff hopes hanging in the balance, sitting just one game behind the Indiana Fever for the eighth and final postseason spot. The Sparks boast the fastest pace in the WNBA, recently overtaking the New York Liberty in this department , and have been showing significant momentum after a two-game win streak that has positioned them to potentially close the playoff gap, though a loss could critically damage their postseason aspirations. Their offensive prowess is notable, ranking second in the league in points per game and field-goal percentage, and third in three-point percentage. Their recent victory against the Seattle Storm highlighted their resilience, with Dearica Hamby scoring 27 points and Rickea Jackson adding 23, helping the Sparks overcome a 14-point halftime deficit. The Atlanta Dream have already secured a playoff spot and are eyeing the second seed in the league. Currently in a three-way tie for second place, the Atlanta Dream are 7-3 over their last 10 games, most recently earning a 17-point win at Connecticut on Monday behind Rhyne Howard’s 23 points and a double-double from Brionna Jones, as the team paces the league with 36.3 rebounds per game. Statistically, Atlanta ranks second in both offensive and defensive ratings, compared to Los Angeles's fifth-place offensive rating and tenth-place defensive rating. With home-court advantage and an offense that has recently been firing on all cylinders—averaging 96.5 points in their last two games—the Dream look to continue their strong performance under Karl Smesko's revamped offensive strategy.