KEY STATS
• The two teams combined for 14 first-half turnovers.
• Dallas outrebounded Chicago on the offensive glass 10-3.
• Chicago held the edge in assists against Dallas 23-18.
• The Sky bench outscored the Wings’ 24-8.
• Chicago shot 44.4% from the field, while Dallas shot 34.3%.
• The Sky converted 40% of their 3-point opportunities, while the Wings converted just 27.8%.
KEY RUNS
• The Wings went on a 7-1 run over two-and-a-half-minute stretch in the first quarter, allowing them to tie the Sky at 15.
• The Wings went on a 13-3 run to start the second half and take a 48-46 lead.
• The Sky missed six straight field goals at the end of the third quarter.
• Chicago closed out the game on a 15-0 run to win 78-66.
CHICAGO NOTES
• After moving to seventh on the WNBA all-time assists list, Courtney Vandersloot had 11 assists, one shy of her season high.
• Kahleah Copper scored a season-high 16 points.
• Stefanie Dolson finished with seven rebounds, one shy of her season high.
• The Sky did not grab a single offensive rebound in the first half, the only time they have failed to do so this season.
• Jantel Lavender scored a season-high 20 points to go with 10 rebounds. It was her second double-double of the season.
DALLAS NOTES
• The Wings attempted just three 3-pointers in the first quarter, the fewest they’ve attempted in any first quarter this season.
• The Wings’ six first-half steals matched their highest in a first half this season
• With seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Wings took their first lead of the game.
• Rookie Arike Ogunwale scored 22 points, three shy of her career high of 25. It was the third time this season she has scored at least 20 points.
• Isabelle Harrison’s five offensive rebounds are the most she’s recorded this season. Her eight total rebounds matched a season high.
POSTGAME QUOTES
SKY GENERAL MANAGER & HEAD COACH JAMES WADE
On picking up a victory after a four-game losing streak:
“No, it felt good to get a win, and it felt good to come home and sleep in our beds and have a good two days of practice. That was a good feeling, but we know that we still have some work to do, so I think we just look forward, but we’re happy. You might not be able to tell, but we’re happy.”
On what to improve before facing Dallas again next Sunday 7/14:
“I think they’re a scrappy team and what I reminded us is [that] they were on a pretty upbeat [trajectory] after starting the season 0-5. That’s not who they are now. They’ve won the last four out of six — or four out of seven — and they’re a tough team to beat. They haven’t won one on the road, but they’re going to and we wanted to make sure that it wasn’t here. So we had the right mindset. I just thought that our energy wasn’t always constant and they reminded us what an energetic team needs to play like and it was a challenge, but our players stepped up. We’ll just have to do the same thing again next week.
On Jantel Lavender’s 20-point, 10-rebound performance:
“We leaned on her a lot tonight. I know they were trying to crowd the paint so we kept her out. I know she was disappointed that she didn’t make a couple of shots that we got her at the end of the game against Las Vegas, so she went into practice this week and really worked on it. Not saying she doesn’t work on it, she works on it hard, but I think that was in her mind and she was able to knock those down and that’s what she does well. She knocks down shots so she was able to do that for us tonight and hopefully it can continue.
SKY FORWARD/GUARD KAHLEAH COPPER
On tonight’s success:
“I felt it. I think we work really hard in practice and we really compete with each other and just to see the passion and enthusiasm today, I just knew I felt it.”
On personal successes in the last three games:
“Just staying ready and staying confident. I know what I can do and the coaches believe in me, so I just come in, do what I’m capable of doing and I tell the bench. We win games when we contribute, so that’s what I try to do.”
SKY GUARD COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT
On the full roster returning soon:
“It’s going to be nice to be back to [a] full roster. It seems like it has been a while. Astou [Ndour] is over there balling her tail off, so it will be really nice to have her back. J’s [Jamiera Faulkner] worked her tail off too to get back. So, it will be good to be at full strength. Those are some players that can play the big minutes and contribute off the bench. ”
WINGS HEAD COACH BRIAN AGLER
On how he’ll prepare to face the Sky again:
“They’re a good team…I’ve got to watch this film again. They had some people making some big plays, and they really played a good fourth quarter. That was the difference in the game.”
On what makes Jantel Lavender difficult to defend:
“Of course, I coached her for four years. She’s a premier mid-range jump shooter. If you help away from her, she can shoot it. We just didn’t do a very good job getting to her.”
On the Wings out-rebounding the Sky:
“We’ve got to be able to do those things. We try to give ourselves second opportunities with offensive boards.”
WINGS GUARD ARIKE OGUNBOWALE
On the cheering section that greeted her in Chicago:
“I think my school does good with planning bus trips to see alumni, so I was happy to see them. I think it’s special, we have a tight bond. Irish fans are tight supporters and they’ll follow, so it’s definitely special for them to come out.”
On preparing to see the Sky again:
“Just watch film and fix the things we did wrong.”
WINGS FORWARD ISABELLE HARRISON
On her season high in offensive rebounds:
“You always want to do that. We lead the league in offensive rebounds, and it’s for a reason, so I just wanted to go out there and hit the boards.”
On preparing to see the Sky again:
“Remember this game, learn from this game, and remember how it feels. We let another close one slip, and just be prepared for the next one.