Sky Return Home, Host Mystics For First Matchup of Season
The Chicago Sky (1-2) broke into the win column for 2017 with a 75-71 come-from-behind win over the Atlanta Dream (2-1) on Sunday in Atlanta. Now, the Sky head back home to Rosemont to square off against the Washington Mystics (1-1) for the first time this season. Tipoff is set for 11:30AM CT, and if you can’t make it out to Allstate Arena you can tune into NBATV where Lisa Byington and Stephen Bardo will have the call.
After one of the biggest trades in WNBA history, Elena Delle Donne will play her first game at Allstate Arena not in Sky blue and yellow. Delle Donne was traded to the Mystics in February in exchange for Stefanie Dolson, Kahleah Copper and the second pick of the 2017 Draft – Alaina Coates.
Dolson and Copper are currently third and sixth, respectively, in scoring for the Sky with 40 and 16 points. Dolson had a career game on Sunday, matching her career-high 23 points and setting a new career best in blocks (5) and season-high in rebounds (8).
Dolson and Copper have also combined to add 34 rebounds and 6 assists through three games. Coates has yet to play this season while still recovering from an ankle injury that kept her out of the SEC Championships and NCAA Tournament.
While Dolson has been a key addition all-around for the Sky this season, the veteran presence of Cappie Pondexter has led the way for the new-look Sky. Pondexter has a team-high 51 points and 23 assists – no other player on the team has double-digit assists. Fellow veteran Tamera Young is also adding big numbers to the team, coming up second in scoring (44) and assists (9), while adding 14 rebounds and a team-high 8 steals.
The Sky are also relying on strong board play, supported by their backcourt. Forward Jessica Breland and center Imani Boyette are paving the way for the Sky with 29 and 23 rebounds, respectively.
Delle Donne is pacing the Mystics in scoring with 51 points through two games this season. Tayler Hill is also contributing offensively with 35 points, while Tierra Ruffin-Pratt is creating scoring chances for the Mystics, leading the team in rebounds (13) and steals (4).
The Sky have dominated the Mystics at home (17-6), especially at the Allstate Arena (13-2). The last home loss to the Mystics came on July 9. 2014, the first since the Mystics’ first visit to the Allstate on June 11, 2010. Last season Chicago controlled a 3-1 overall record against Washington.
Pondexter and Boyette contributed 16 and 12 points, respectively, in the lone loss to the Mystics last year. Dolson and Copper will look to help the Sky this time around after combining for 27 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds against their current team.
Join us on Wednesday as the Sky return to Allstate Arena! To purchase tickets, call 866.SKY.WNBA or visit CHICAGOSKY.NET. Watch us on NBATV or Monumental. For live updates, download the Sky mobile app from the App Store or on Google Play!
This story is accurate as of May 21, 2017, before the Mystics’ game at Seattle Storm.