Delle Donne Shines in Return to the Bob
May 1, 2016 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release
NEWARK - On Sunday afternoon the Chicago Sky made their 2016 preseason debut at the Bob Carpenter Center hosting the New York Liberty in a game presented by the Delaware Lottery. Reigning WNBA MVP Elena Delle Donne shined in her homecoming for the third consecutive year with 17 points on 7-for-8 shooting as the Sky defeated the Liberty 93-59.
"There's no court that feels like home more than this court," said Delle Donne. "I've been playing on it since 8th grade so to be here and see so many familiar faces in the crowd is something I don't forget."
After recently being named to the 2016 U.S. Olympic team, when the Sky took the court in Newark once again all eyes were on the Delaware native and she delivered. Delle Donne was efficient in the first half with 10 points in 10 minutes as the Sky led 49-31 at the break. Chicago shot 59.4% from the field in the first half, including 66.7% from the three-point line.
Just over a minute into the second half, Chicago rattled off 17 unanswered points to extend its lead to 68-33. By the end of the third quarter the difference was 40 points with the Sky ahead 78-38. Chicago outscored New York 44-28 in the second half to run away with the 93-59 victory. Delle Donne led the Sky with 17 points while Jessica Breland and rookie center Imani Boyette added 10 points each. Adult Bulgak paced New York with 17 points in her WNBA preseason debut.
Chicago rounds out preseason play with a two-day tournament at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. The Sky will play the Connecticut Sun at 6:00 p.m. CT on May 4th and the Atlanta Dream at 4:00 p.m. CT on the 5th.
Postgame Notes
Chicago Sky 93, New York Liberty 59
NOTES
- In Chicago's third consecutive year playing a preseason game at the University of Delaware, the Sky captured its third straight win and second consecutive win over the Liberty at the Bob Carpenter Center. Elena Delle Donne led the Sky with 17 points at her alma mater, followed by Jessica Breland who finished with 10 points and five rebounds.
- The Liberty saw its only lead of the game (4-3) in the opening three minutes of the first quarter. A three-point basket by Delle Donne at the 7:31 mark gave the Sky an advantage it never relinquished.
- Sky rookie Imani Boyette led the bench with 10 points. Chicago's bench accounted for 48 of the Sky's 93 total points. The bench also collected 20 of the Sky's 29 total rebounds, including a team-high seven rebounds by Betnijah Laney.
- Allie Quigley and Yvonne Turner were not with the team in today's game, as both are fulfilling their commitments with their respective overseas clubs.
- New York struggled offensively, shooting 25 percent from the three-point arch and 32 percent from the field.
- Adut Bulgak carried the Liberty with 17 points and 12 rebounds off the bench. The rookie saw 23 minutes of action in her first preseason game with the Liberty. Bulgak was selected by New York 12th overall in the 2016 WNBA Draft.
- Sugar Rodgers scored 10 points for New York. Jennifer Lacy and rookie Ameryst Alston added seven points each.
- The Liberty committed 19 turnovers in today's exhibition, which the Sky was able to convert into 25 points.
- New York was without Swin Cash, Epiphanny Prince, Tina Charles and Lindsey Harding, Kiah Stokes and Shavonte Zellous (all inactive)
- Chicago was without Allie Quigley and Yvonne Turner (overseas) and Cappie Pondexter and Erika de Souza who were both inactive
QUOTES
Chicago Sky Head Coach and General Manager Pokey Chatman
(Opening statement...)
"Preseason games are just what they are. You get a good look at some of the players that aren't necessarily part of that core but also to find some rhythm. Specifically for us, we were focused a lot on the defensive end of the floor, making New York uncomfortable, trying to defend without fouling and then also letting that lead to some transition [points]. Overall we accomplished that with some good minutes and looks from players. We had a great environment here."
(On Imani Boyette's transition to the WNBA...)
"She's 6-7, but we're talking to Imani [Boyette] about contesting shots. It's an adjustment when you go from college where you can block everything. We like contested shots. She has the speed of a guard, so she can just get over in position and alter a lot of shots. That long frame and her timing -we're pleased with that. Of course, like every rookie, she has a long way to go because she's learning so many different aspects of the game."
(On Betnijah Laney building off her rookie season...)
"She's continued to work hard. We're privy to eight practices; you guys get to see 40 minutes. She had a really great offseason in Australia. Betnijah is a player that can help us on both sides of the basketball. She can play a three, she can guard a three, she's physical and she rebounds. She does so many things defensively."
Chicago Sky Forward Elena Delle Donne
(On the continued excitement from fans in Delaware year after year...)
"It's surprising, especially because they know after coming a few times that I don't play that many minutes either. But for them to come just to watch maybe 15 minutes of play and then to support our team is really special. It's incredible that they continue to come back and support me and my teammates. There's no court that feels like home more than this court. I've been playing on it since 8th grade so to be here and see so many familiar faces in the crowd -I don't forget it."
(On her preparation for the regular season...)
"I'm ready! I'm excited about this season. It's such a long offseason with the WNBA so I've been training a ton. It's great to be back with my teammates and playing some games. It's always fun to just see what we look like. We go through training camp and we're feeling pretty good but it's nice to get out there and see the product. Obviously, there's a lot more work to do but I'm very happy with the way things went today."
(On her preparation for the upcoming Olympics...)
"There is nothing that will prep me better for the Olympics than this WNBA season playing against the best females in the world. This league is incredible. I'm glad I have it to prep me for the Olympics. Right now, I'm just focusing on the Chicago Sky and continuing to get better and then when the Olympic break comes around I'll get ready for that and head off to Rio."
(On improvements she wants to make before Rio...)
"I think I need to become a better communicator. That's something that just makes you a great teammate. I need to be the best teammate I possibly can and facilitate through passing. Making everyone around me better - that's going to be the focus."
Chicago Sky Center Imani Boyette
(On adjusting to the WNBA from college...)
"I figured out that I'm fast. I wasn't fast in college. Offense is really fast. When I was playing defense at [University of] Texas it was like slow motion and I could move in to replace but at this level it's so much faster. That's probably the biggest adjustment. Not getting face cut, not losing my man on defense, that type of stuff, it's just so fast."
(On being on the court for the first time with Elena Delle Donne...)
"Warming up, I couldn't make a layup because I was so nervous. I felt like I was dreaming. It's just been amazing. I'm excited and blessed to be here. This is just a dream."
(On the crowd in Delaware...)
"It's crazy to have such a following. Her [Elena Delle Donne] following is amazing, her fans are so great and they embraced all of us. It's awesome to be a part of a team that has such a great following in so many places. I'm excited to keep playing and excited to be here."
New York Liberty Head Coach Bill Laimbeer
(On his overall assessment of the game...)
"We knew we were shorthanded scoring-wise. It was going to be very difficult for us to compete but that's what training camp is about...to put combinations out there and see players and see what they can do. We learned some things about players, both positively and negatively."
(On the play of rookies Adut Bulgak and Ameryst Alston...)
"[Adut] Bulgak surprised us. She hasn't played like that in training camp but maybe she's a gamer or maybe she's a one-out. I don't know but it was surprising to us. At the same time, it was a good confidence builder for her. I thought [Ameryst] Alston was steady. She knows what she has to work on out there but overall I think she had a steady performance."
(On what the team will work on going forward...)
"Our health, getting players on the court and timing. The game against Minnesota will hopefully be a little bit better if we can have a bigger contingent out there of our normal rotation players. And [we plan to] continue to take a look at some of the youngsters and find a way to tighten up and not play the youngsters so many minutes because we still have a preseason game coming up."
New York Liberty Center Adut Bulgak
(On her WNBA debut...)
"It was really fun. I got to play with every single person on the team that was able to play today. There were a lot of different lineups and it was really good to kind of build energy with people that I haven't necessarily had a lot of minutes on the court with. It was really fun."
(On finding her groove in the second half...)
"They made it easy; the guards were giving the balls to the post. At Florida State, they used to tell the guards shoot the ball and someone is going to go rebound. So every time I was running down the floor I was like 'shoot it.' They shot the ball and they were making some shots and when they didn't, we had multiple players ready to rebound."
New York Liberty Guard Carolyn Swords
(On the preseason opener...)
"It's always exciting to have the opportunity to play against another team and see what we've worked on all week and how well we connect. It's a great opportunity to play against an East Coast rival and give us a good assessment of where we stand and it's nice to really get in there and play in a game situation. I think everyone played hard and I'm excited to get back to work and keep improving."
(On her assessment of the younger players...)
"Everyone went hard and tried to execute what we were doing and got into the system. People were defending and competing and that's really all we can ask for. So now we know we have some areas we need to work on and it helps give us a good set of goals moving forward."
(On what the team will work on going forward...)
"Heading into our next preseason game I think we want to tighten up a little bit on our execution on offense and make sure that we're really working hard on defense. Our big thing is trying to play solid team defense and so we want to limit the points that are being scored in the game and we need to work a bit harder there. But we know with more breakdowns and execution on offense it all comes together."
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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 1, 2016
- Delle Donne Shines in Return to the Bob - Chicago Sky
- Adut Bulgak Posts Double-Double But Liberty Falls to Chicago Sky in Preseason Opener 93-59 - New York Liberty
- Indiana Drops Wings in Preseason Opener, 108-90 - Indiana Fever
- Minnesota Lynx Sign Five Honorar Y Members to Create 'Dream Team' - Minnesota Lynx
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