The surging Chicago Sky (8-13) are now only 1.5 games back in the WNBA playoffs race, and the goal is to keep climbing the standings as they take on the Eastern Conference leading Connecticut Sun (12-9). This is the last stop for the Sky on their current five-game road trip.
The Sky’s July 20 82-80 win snapped a three year losing drought at the Staples Center, and handed the Los Angeles Sparks (14-6) their first home loss of the season.
Courtney Vandersloot scored 14 points and orchestrated a career-high 14 assists in her double-double performance vs. the Sparks, and she collected her last assist with a dramatic Hollywood ending. In the closing seconds and trailing 79-80, Vandersloot found center Stefanie Dolson for a game-winning three-pointer. Dolson finished the game with a team-high 15 points.
Newly crowned 2017 WNBA All-Star Three-point Contest champion Allie Quigley, knocked down three,three-pointers and finished with 12 points vs. the Sparks. Imani Boyette chipped in 12 points on an efficient 6-7 shooting off the Sky bench.
The Sky edged out the Sparks in rebounds 31-28 and out assisted them 22-15. The Sky defense was clicking as well, they held the defending WNBA champions to just 35 points in the second half.
In the May 28 97-79 loss vs. the Sun, the Sky had a disappointing shooting performance all around. The Sky shot 38. 6% from the field, 28.6% from three-point range, and 61% from the free-throw line (19-31).
Sky guard Tamera Young led the team with 17 points. Quigley put in 13 points, and Cappie Pondexter flirted with a double-double adding 11 points, and game-high 9 assists. The reserve forwards had a productive performance as well, Cheyenne Parker added 11 points, 5 rebounds, and Jessica Breland had 8 points, 5 rebounds, 6 blocks off the bench.
Sun All-Star center Jonquel Jones recorded a monstrous double-double, she had a game-high 23 points and a game-high 21 rebounds, forward Alyssa Thomas had a double-double as well, she scored 17 points and snagged 10 rebounds. Lynetta Kizer had a strong 16 points, 7 rebounds off the bench.
The Sun are 1-2 in their last three games, and are coming off a 96-80 loss to the New York Liberty (10-9), where the Liberty doubled them in rebounding (48-24) and held the Sun to only 30% from three-point range.
Sky vs. Sun tips off at 6:00 PM CDT Tuesday, July 25, at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. Tickets start as low as $18. Call 866.SKY.WNBA or visi CHICAGOSKY.NET to purchase tickets today. You can also watch the Sky on The U Too or WNBA League Pass. For live updates, download the Sky mobile app from the App Store or on Google Play.
Stats accurate as of end of Sky game on July 20.