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Chicago Sky

Postgame Notes: Los Angeles Sparks 93, Chicago Sky 76

July 22, 2018 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release


GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Stefanie Dolson recorded season-highs in both points scored (20) and assists (7).

Courtney Vandersloot and Candace Parker both recorded double-doubles, making that the fourth and sixth of their 2018 campaign, respectively.

Despite missing All-Star Nneka Ogwumike and guard Alana Beard, all five Sparks starters scored in double digits.

SKY NOTES

Stefanie Dolson recorded 10 first-quarter points and finished with a season-high 20 points and seven assists to go along with six rebounds.

Courtney Vandersloot had six of her 10 assists in the first quarter. This marks her fourth double-double of the season, ending with 15 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals.

Cheyenne Parker led the bench in scoring with 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting. She knocked down two 3-pointers, her season-high.

The Sky recorded 11 second-chance points and nine fast-break points both being highs for the game.

Fifty percent (38) of the Sky's 76-point performance were scored in the paint.

SPARKS NOTES

Candace Parker finished with 23 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. She recorded her sixth double-double of the season, as the team improves to 6-4 when Parker scores 20-plus points.

After out-rebounding Chicago 37-32, Los Angeles improved to 7-1 when outrebounding/tying their opponents in rebounds.

Essence Carson had 13 of her 16 points in the first half, on 6-of-11 shooting.

The Sparks improve to 13-4 when leading at the half, as they outscored the Sky 31-21 in the third quarter alone.

Los Angeles shot 40.9 percent from beyond the arc, and 52.1 percent from the field. They improve to 10-3 when shooting over 45 percent.

SKY GENERAL MANAGER & HEAD COACH AMBER STOCKS

On the game:

"It was an interesting game. It was a tale of total quarters as it seemed at times. Our first half defense really took L.A. out of things they were looking for. In the third quarter, they were able to produce a lot of points. Thirty points in the quarter, and that really hurt us. A lot of those points came from our turnovers and mishaps on the offensive end with the basketball. Turnovers, missed opportunities and simple mistakes on defense really costed us in the end. We played hard. Our wings were tired and were doing a lot of work. I think, as a group, they struggled [and were] 7-for-28 offensively from the three of them, but they're doing a lot of work and putting in a lot of minutes, especially [Quigley]. From the one and the five, they logged a lot of minutes today and had a lot of productivity."

On taking care of the basketball:

"We have turned a corner. There was only 13 turnovers in this game, and from where we have been, that's significantly lower. I feel we have turned a corner and are taking care of the basketball. It's a tough league and there's good defenders. We're going to force some teams into turnovers and some teams are going to force us into some. Overall, we're doing a good job of taking care of the basketball."

On trying to beat a shorthanded Sparks team:

"It was a great opportunity for us to use our depth to our advantage and continue to run teams. We've got fabulous conditioning [with] one of the best in-shape point guards and centers in the league who are able to run and push tempo. We go back to our wings again, who have fabulous conditioning and depth. [Depth] was something that we should have been able to use to our advantage in this game."

On veterans leading a young team:

"[One positive] is the way are experienced players are leading and continuing to play. [Vandersloot] and [Dolson] are doing a great job of leading, and it's kind of setting the tone and setting the standard for what Chicago basketball is all about and defining our culture. The youth are making some mistakes, but they will learn, follow, adjust and grow."

On the overall message after the game:

"An overall message that we have is that we're going to take some lumps along the way. The key is to not lose the same way twice. Learn from each victory, learn from each loss and don't lose the same way twice. I think tonight was not a lack of effort. I'm extremely convinced of the application of everyone's effort."

On freeing up Allie Quigley for shots:

"We can run more of our plays to [Kahleah Copper] and [Diamond DeShields] and allow [Quigley] to space to put her defender in help-side situations. We tried to do that a couple times. Also just continuing to do what [Stefanie Dolson] did and score inside. When [Dolson]is productive inside, it's going to open up things on the perimeter. If it doesn't she'll continue to score baskets if they don't send help."

SKY GUARD COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT

On containing Candace Parker:

"I think they exposed us defensively. I feel like Candace Parker kind of took over in the third quarter, whether it was scoring, passing or assisting, she was just doing whatever she wanted. We can't beat them if we let her do that. If she has almost a triple-double, they're tough to beat. I think she's the key to that offense. She's a great player, so it's hard. She's going to have games like that and tonight she did."

SPARKS HEAD COACH BRIAN AGLER

On the game:

"We played with a lot of poise on offense and just sort of read the defense well. We hit shots. When you make shots, that's really good. Obviously Candace [Parker], Chelsea [Gray], Odyssey [Sims] had big games. Maria [Vadeeva] really helped us coming off the bench, you know we are a little bit thin there right now with not having Nneka [Ogwumike]. That was a good thing and then getting some defensive stops. You know creating some turnovers and getting a couple easy baskets always helps."

On Essence Carson's performance:

"Essence had a great game at both ends of the floor. She guarded Allie [Quigley] most of the game and you know Allie is not easy to defend. She's crafty, they run a lot of good action to get her shots and so it takes a lot of concentration a lot of focus to get her defended."

On Candace Parker's near triple-double:

"If someone would ever give me a stat sheet and let me know what's going on I might. I mean I don't have any idea. I don't look at stats. I don't pay attention to that during time-outs and things. I mean she's been close three times and if someone would have. She was tired though. She played a lot of minutes, you know that's the other thing being not as deep in the post, but yea I'd help her do it if I knew about it at the time."

On Candace Parker playing in front of her family:

"There's no question. She likes to play here. She had a big family reunion yesterday and so I know she's excited being back here to play."

On holding the Sky to 29.2 percent 3-point shooting:

"Well we're sort of defense oriented, where we like to focus on our defense and try to stay in place some days we're better than others you know, I don't know if this has been a great defensive year for us. On some nights we can play pretty well we have good focus and today we did."

On Odyssey Sims' ankle:

"I think she's gonna be ok. Just by watching her walk back here after the game."

On Maria Vadeeva:

"She came late. It wasn't easy for her, but she's adapted well she likes LA. She's doing well, she's having fun and really gave us a boost today off the bench. She played pretty well. Especially when we are not quite as deep there without having Nneka [Ogwumike], so she fits right into that rotation. She's a young player. She just turned 20 last week, so it's sort of remarkable how well she's playing being that young."

SPARKS GUARD ESSENCE CARSON

On stepping up with injuries to the team:

"It always feels good to play well, despite the injuries. Injuries are always unfortunate, but when those things happen, you want to make sure you're ready whenever your number's called. Today, I'm just ready. Just filling in whatever I can, at whatever position I can, even though it's just about doing anything that it takes to win."

On what the Sky did to take a 22-20 first quarter lead:

"They were just playing their game. We had to do a better job of our rotations on defense, and once were able to make adjustments on that end it seemed like things started to work in our favor and we were able to get out into transition a couple times. And that would spark our offense, get us more into a flow."

On what keyed the Sparks' 31-point third quarter:

"Getting stops, first and foremost, and executing on the other end. Making the easy reads, not complicating the game too much, just letting the game come to us, and finishing off plays on both ends of the floor."

SPARKS FORWARD CANDACE PARKER

On playing without Alana Beard and Nneka Ogwumike:

"Yeah, you just deal with it. That's kind of how coach has always approached how when we play. We play with who we have on the court, and we don't make excuses, so this was no different. Obviously, it's a huge void with AB [Alana Beard] and Nneka [Ogwumike] missing, but it's not going to be one player, it's going to be a team effort, and I think tonight we came out and defended. I mean, Odyssey [Sims] had an amazing defensive effort, Riquna [Williams] same thing, Chelsea [Gray], everybody just playing on the defensive end."

On reacting to the Sky's run:

"I think it was just getting stops for us, making things difficult for them. Sloot [Courtney Vandersloot] killed us in the first half, and it's just keeping Sloot [Courtney Vandersloot] out of the lane because she's an amazing player, so when you give her options, it's hard."

On having a lot of family attend the game:

"My whole family's here, so I'm really excited. My grandma's here, my dad, my brothers, my mom. This was special."

On being close to a triple-double:

"No, I think I'm like the almost triple-double every time, so it is what it is. I think just for us, we need to get back winning. That's our major goal, so that's what we were thinking about."

On this being a key win:

"I think it's huge for us. Our effort, our energy was there, but I think also, everybody stepping up. I mean, obviously, getting Essence [Carson] shots, she knocked them down. She played well, extremely well in the first half, so I think that it's kind of a ripple effect. Chelsea [Gray] was able to get in the lane because they have to guard Essence [Carson], so that's kind of how it worked out in the second half."

On picking Allie Quigley as an All-Star Captain:

"I played with her in Istanbul. She's the best shooter, it was shown last year when she won the 3-point contest going away. She's unbelievable, and I really enjoy playing with her, so that's why."

NEXT GAME: The Chicago Sky travel to Arizona to take on the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday July 25th at 2:30 p.m. CST.

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