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It's probably unfair to say that the Chicago Sky dominated this game from start to finish, but after a 16-5 run in the second quarter they pulled away from the Connecticut Sun and never looked back en route to a 101-82 win that included a few milestones.
It was the first 100-point game since their nationally televised season-opener against the Phoenix Mercury last year - a missed jumper by rookie Gennifer Brandon off an offensive rebound (of course) prevented them from breaking the franchise record of 102 points. Their 39 made field goals was a franchise record. Unsurprisingly, their 30 assists was also a new franchise record.
Individually, Elena Delle Donne led all scorers with 28 points, but it was Jessica Breland who stood out with a career-high 18 points as well as team-highs of 10 rebounds and 5 blocks to go with 6 assists. Gaudy stat lines aside, a couple of beautiful fadeaway, turnaround jumpers were the highlights for her as she showed both the agility of a wing and the power to continue dominating the boards inside.
Despite all of that, Courtney Vandersloot probably deserves special mention as the player who set a single-game franchise record with 13 assists with only one turnover in just 26 minutes - she was limited to just eight minutes in the second half due to an ankle injury and no longer being needed during garbage time. It also marked her third straight game with 10 or more assists.
"I think it's just because I have so many options out there," Vandersloot said, according to a Chicago Sky release. "Having Elena out there helps a lot because her defender doesn't help and that creates a lot ... I have players making baskets, that's what it comes down to."
The bright spot for the Sun was certainly that Kelsey Bone found seemed to find her scoring touch in an up and down season, scoring 20 points on 9-for-18 shooting after going 0-for-8 in her previous game against the Sky on May 21. While Chiney Ogwumike had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds while fellow rookie Alyssa Thomas recorded career-highs of 13 points and 9 rebounds, the Sun continued to struggle to get anything done consistently on either end of the floor.
While the Sun struggle through the growing pains of being among the league's youngest teams, the Sky have plenty to be happy about this season: despite taking their first loss against the Minnesota Lynx on Memorial Day, they're still 5-1 without the help of starters Sylvia Fowles and Epiphanny Prince. Once they return to full strength, they should be a force to be reckoned with in the East.