Elena Delle Donne has scored 221 points in the first seven games of the 2015 WNBA season, the most by a WNBA player in any seven game stretch in league history. She scored 45 points on June 24th against Atlanta, a new career-high and Sky franchise record for most points in a game. She is only one of 12 players in WNBA history to score 40 or more points in a game and is only the fifth player to record two or more 40-point games in a career.
Through seven games, Delle Donne is averaging 31.6 points per game, first in the league by a landslide. Obviously, Delle Donne’s scoring has been key for the Chicago Sky’s offense. As a team, the Sky is averaging 88.4 points per game, which ranks first in the WNBA. Delle Donne is averaging 35.7% of her team’s points, which if she maintains that number, would be the highest percentage in league history.
After a recent game vs. the San Antonio Stars, Chicago Sky Head Coach and General Manager Pokey Chatman said, “We went to Elena early which allowed us to play off of her later. We played to Elena, through her, and then off of her.”
Playing To and Through Elena
With the numbers Delle Donne has put up so far this season, everybody in the gym knows the ball is going to her on a majority of the Sky’s possessions, especially early in the game. The Sky try to get Delle Donne the ball as much as possible in the first five minutes of the first quarter, in order to get on the scoreboard early and try to force the opponent to play catch up right from the opening tip.
In the Sky’s past two games, both wins, Delle Donne is averaging 10 points per game in the first quarter alone. Against San Antonio on June 20th, Delle Donne scored six of the Sky’s first eight points. Against Atlanta on June 24th, Delle Donne scored the Sky’s first six points and scored all of the team’s points in the first five minutes of the game. She finished the first quarter of the San Antonio game with eight points and the Atlanta game with 12 points.
The Sky not only plays to Delle Donne but also through her. This means the ball is constantly in her hands but she also involves her teammates, knowing that the opponent is focused on stopping her. Delle Donne may not fill the stat sheet with assists but she is usually the player who assists the assister. Since the Sky offense runs through her, Delle Donne tends to attract attention, give the ball up to a teammate, who then makes the right pass to another teammate for an open look.
Playing Off Elena
The Sky not only plays to Delle Donne and through her but also, and arguably most importantly, they play off of her. As the leading scorer in the WNBA and one of the most efficient players in the league, Delle Donne is going to get her points and put up big numbers. However, in the Sky’s last four games, at least three other players besides Delle Donne have scored in double-figures. Delle Donne attracts so much attention from the defense, which allows the Sky’s other talented offensive weapons to score.
It’s not like six-time WNBA All-Star Cappie Pondexter and reigning WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Allie Quigley need help to score, but Delle Donne’s presence just makes it that much easier. For example, Delle Donne scored 45 points vs. Atlanta on June 24th; however, Quigley added 16 points and Pondexter poured in 19 to help lead the Sky.
Delle Donne is also averaging 9.3 rebounds per game and nearly three blocks per game. When Delle Donne grabs a rebound or blocks a shot, this allows the Sky to run and get out in transition. Players like Pondexter and Courtney Vandersloot thrive in transition and are able to score quickly and efficiently when Delle Donne is controlling the glass and protecting the rim.
Therefore, Delle Donne does so much more than just score points for the Sky. She is the player that the Sky plays to, through and off of and so far this season, it seems to be working.