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SKY NOTES

Center Stefanie Dolson knocked down her first four shots of the game and finished with a season-high of 14 points along with six assists and four rebounds.
Guard Kahleah Copper led the Sky in scoring off the bench with 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting and added three rebounds.
All-Star guard Allie Quigley finished with a team-high 18 points and added four rebounds and two steals
The Sky had five players score in double-figures for the game, including four of the five starters.
The Sky scored 48 points in the paint compared to 36 by Seattle.

STORM NOTES

The Storm shot 40 percent from the 3-point line and currently lead the WNBA in 3-pointers made
Guard Jewell Loyd had a near triple-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Forward Breanna Stewart finished with a game-high 30 points on 10-for-16 shooting and added nine rebounds.
The Storm committed 13 turnovers for the game compared to 16 by the Sky. Chicago leads the WNBA in turnovers per game.
Sue Bird played in 498th career game today. She needs to play in two more games to surpass DeLisha Milton-Jones (499) to break the league’s all time record.

SKY GENERAL MANAGER AND HEAD COACH AMBER STOCKS

On the game:

“Interesting game. We had a moment there in the second quarter that really opened up opportunities for Seattle. They took ahold of them and that really took us down a bit going into halftime. We did a good job of fighting back, but it just wasn’t enough. In the end, the turnovers allowed some easy transition baskets for them. When you look at their field goal percentage, it’s a little skewed by the transition baskets they had. I’ll be interested to break that down a little further and look at their field goal percentage vs. our set defense. I thought our team did a good job in our half court set defense of really stepping up in the rotations and the movement.”

On Seattle’s skill level:

“They have two very potent scorers that regardless of the different looks you throw at them, they can score in a variety of ways. They are not one-dimensional scorers, and that poses its own challenge for defenses. There’s been a variety of defensive schemes that [all the teams] have thrown at Seattle to kind of get the out of their groove and throw them off kilter. The scorers are still finding ways to [score] and the other players are finding ways to get the ball in their hands.”

On Kahleah Copper’s work ethic:

“Kahleah has been doing a great job. You always hear me talk about putting in the work, and she’s been putting in a lot of work. She has a lot of minutes on the court that shows the work she’s been putting in. It shows the work she’s been putting in after practice; it pays off. You look at what she’s done overseas and it’s sometimes hard to come back and have the direct application here in this league. Copper is ready to step in when needed. Some games it may be 30 minutes and other days it may be 10, but she has that consistent focus that it takes to be good.”

On teams beginning to game plan for Diamond DeShields:

“She’s been scouted and teams are making a visibly significant adjustment to how they start the game guarding [Quigley] and [DeShields] on the wing. It goes back to the beauty of us having a three-headed dragon so to speak with Copper, [Quigley] and [DeShields] all able to play on the wing and being able to rotate all three of them in. Defenses are definitely looking at [those players].”

SKY GUARD ALLIE QUIGLEY

On her adjustments due to the defensive focus she draws:

“I just have to be able to see the open passes and read the defense if they’re taking something away. Just sometimes be ok with just cutting away and being the one spacing the floor. That kind of thing, I think. Reading the defense and not overthinking it. I think it’s all about reading it. I think that’s something we need to adjust with and work harder.”

On her growth and transition as a player:

“A combination of hard work and experience, and catching up with each other. I think going overseas and being more of a focal player in my early years there. Bringing that confidence here in the states and then your opportunity, just performing, that’s kinda how it happened.”

On thoughts of giving up her WNBA career before coming to Chicago:

“I think before Chicago, yeah. Chicago was my fifth team and when I got the call from Chicago I was like ‘ok I wanna come because its my hometown. One more shot let’s go for it.’ I was tired of doing the whole journey thing and I started to lose confidence in myself. I think that was the point for me, but luckily it worked out.”

On her veteran leader role to the young team:

“I’ve always been the player to look [up] to that older player, you know. And now you have people looking [up] to you. You have to be more accountable for your actions, being more vocal, and try to stay even keel, not too high and too low. Like I said, players do look at you, so you have to be there, you have to perform. You have to be there vocally, [mentally], and physically.”

On being “shocked” that she was named as an All-Star:

“I think I’m so wrapped in our season, and how we’re struggling. I just really wasn’t expecting that. I would rather have us be winning than to be there, but at the end of the day I am very grateful and happy about it.”

SKY GUARD KAHLEAH COPPER

On her game:

“I just wanted to come out and just do my piece. Our theme this year is a puzzle piece, so I just wanted to come in and contribute in anything I can do. I just tried to get easy baskets, rebound and play defense so we can get going.”

STORM HEAD COACH DAN HUGHES

On mindset coming into the game:

“Well, the two games we had with Chicago, to be honest with you, Chicago could’ve won them both. They were in positions to close in our place twice, so we came in knowing we had to play well here. And the other thing was honestly just the time. Us coming from the West to the East, and we’re play at 9 o’clock normal for us. Making sure we were ready.”

On focus coming into this game:

“Well, we had a lot of respect for their ability to shoot the three, as you saw pockets that we had trouble guarding in, and we knew that we had to take care of the ball because in transition, they’re a very dangerous team. And, most of the game we took care of the ball. The times we didn’t, it was very upsetting to us because it really brings out the best in Chicago, so that was our biggest concern.”

On keeping a big lead:

“I’ll tell you what’s really great, our veterans message that we’re not always playing to the score. We’re playing to our ability to play the game right and with different combinations, and that’s what’s so important, especially if you’re fortunate to have a lead. It’s an opportunity for us, then, to get some other players some time because we’re going to need them down the stretch around the end of the season.”

STORM FORWARD BREANNA STEWART

On her performance offensively:

“Just being aggressive, I think that we knew that it was an early game. 11 o’clock here and 9 a.m. Seattle time, so we wanted to really make sure that we were ready to go. That kind of mind over matter mentality. I felt good shooting the ball in warm-ups. Started off shooting well and just continue.”

On the Chicago crowd:

“I mean anytime it’s kids day you know it’s gonna be loud. I’m not sure if they’re cheering for one side or the other, but they are just yelling the entire time. There was one stretch in the third, like I literally couldn’t hear anything. It’s great to have an atmosphere like that.”

On impacting the game defensively:

“That was just a point of emphasis. They have a lot of bigs like you said so we need to really be the aggressors and get the rebounds. And you know especially playing someone on their home court, it’s not easy and you kind of have to hit them first and make sure that we kind of make it known that we are going to be really aggressive rebounding the ball.”

STORM GUARD JEWELL LOYD

On her double-double:

“I think when we play with pace it is hard to guard any of us on our team because we are very efficient. And I was just trying to move the ball and see what the defense was giving me. They were high-hedging me a lot so that gave opportunities for our post-players to roll. And then passing the ball to Stewie and Sue they rarely miss, so they were just making shots. So, I was just trying to find our players and just kind of relax and let the game come to me.”

On first All-Star selection:

“I mean it’s kind of surreal. I don’t think it’s hit me yet, that I’m an All-Star, but it’s also the first one. I mean, this is something you want to achieve in your career playing in the league. It’s a tremendous honor. And, I’m just really blessed to have an opportunity to go to Minnesota and represent the Storm and also my hometown.”

On goals for the rest of the season:

“Yea, I mean we have this stretch right here before the All-Star break of just being on the road. Playing on the road is very tough and the team’s we are about to play, their fans, everyone supports them really well so for us we’re just trying to continue to do what we do well. Focus on us, we’re not trying to do too much focusing on them because at the end of the day, we have to make sure that we’re doing our execution down at both ends of the floor. I mean, we obviously want to get to 20 wins. That’s something that we can do and want to do, and obviously make it past playoffs and hopefully have a run at a championship. So, for us to get there we’ve got to make sure we’re getting our recovery and we’re focused on us and not to worried about anything else.”

NEXT UP: The Chicago Sky stay at home to take on the Dallas Wings on Sunday, July 20 at 7:30 p.m. CST.

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