The Chicago Sky is looking for its fourth win in a row when the Connecticut Sun comes to town for a matchup at Allstate Arena Friday at 7:30 p.m. CDT.
The Sky has returned to winning form thanks to the dominant play by Elena Delle Donne. The reigning WNBA MVP was honored as the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played from July 11 to July 17. Delle Donne led all WNBA players in scoring with 24.7 points per game, while shooting a blistering 51 percent from the field and 42 percent from beyond the arc during the week. On Sunday, she contributed 35 points, 11 rebounds and a game-winning three pointer with less than a second remaining on the clock to help the Sky to a 91-88 victory at the Seattle Storm. During the game, Delle Donne surpassed 2,000 career points, becoming just the fifth Sky player to do so. She currently leads the WNBA with 21.3 points per game.
While it was Delle Donne with the three-point game winning shot on Sunday, Jessica Breland stepped up in the clutch to take the game winner in the Sky’s 79-77 win on Tuesday at Phoenix. Delle Donne missed a 14-foot jump shot, followed by a rebound and another miss by Imani Boyette, but Breland was able to corral the ball and hit the put-back to win the game with just 0.9 seconds remaining on the clock. Chicago led by as many as 14 in the beginning of the third quarter, but a determined Mercury team slowly chipped away at the lead. Delle Donne led the team with 18 points and nine rebounds, her 18th straight game scoring in double figures. Jamierra Faulkner continued her stellar play, adding 14 points in the win. DeWanna Bonner finished with 20 points and eight rebounds, while Candice Dupree contributed 18 points and eight rebounds. Sky Head Coach and General Manager Pokey Chatman is now only one win away from her 100th career win.
The Sun have struggled this season, but found a win on Wednesday against the Dallas Wings at College Park Center. Chiney Ogwumike had a career day, finishing with 26 points, seven blocked shots and four steals. She also added a season-high 15 rebounds in the 89-78 win. The Sun opened the game on an 11-2 run and never relinquished the lead. Jasmine Thomas also helped the scoring effort, chipping in 20 points for the Sun. Odyssey Sims led the Wings with 20 points and eight assists. Dallas has now lost five in a row, including a loss to the Sky.
The Sky and Sun first collided in the opening game of the WNBA season. The Sky built up an early 10-4 lead, despite being without Delle Donne due to an illness. Courtney Vandersloot led the scoring with 14 points and seven assists. Cappie Pondexter added 13 points for the 93-70 win. Alex Bentley had 14 and Rachel Banham had 13 points for the Sun. The Sky outrebounded the Sun, 46-33. The Sun is currently setting in the Eastern Conference, sitting in last place with a 7-16 record. The Sky is now tied for third in the Eastern Conference with the Indiana Fever, as both teams are looking at an 11-12 record.
Tip-off between the Sky and Sun is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CDT on Friday, July 22 in Rosemont. This is the last game for the Sky before heading into the Olympic break, where Delle Donne will represent the USA national team and Erika de Souza and Clarissa Dos Santos will represent Brazil. The Sky will resume play at Allstate Arena on Friday, August 26 in a 7:30 p.m. CDT tilt against the Atlanta Dream. Tickets start as low as $18. Call 866.SKY.WNBA or visit CHICAGOSKY.NET to purchase tickets today.