Delle Donne nets 3rd WNBA weekly honor
After averaging 21 points in three games, Sky rookie Elena Delle Donne was named the WNBA Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Aug. 5-11. It's the third Player of the Week award for Delle Donne, who averaged 21 points and 5.67 rebounds in the contests.
On Friday, Delle Donne's 19 points helped the Sky defeat the Connecticut Sun (77-61) for the third time this season. She also took down nine rebounds and set a season high in three point shots made (4). On Sunday, she returned home with her best performance of the year scoring a season high 32 points in a battle of conference leaders with Minnesota. Aside from hitting the tie-making three point shot to bring the Sky into overtime, Delle Donne equaled her season high in three pointers made (4) and went 10-for-10 from the free throw line. Her efforts helped the Sky defeat the Minnesota Lynx, who now stand 17-5.
Delle Donne now stands as the league leader in free throw percentage (92.4%) and three-point percentage (47.7%). She ranks fourth in points per game (18.7) and fifth in blocks per game (1.95).
Maya Moore of Minnesota earned Player of the Week honors for Western Conference players, averaging 23.0 ppg and a league-best 3.33 steals.
The Sky travels to play the Los Angeles Sparks and Naperville's Candace Parker on Tuesday (9:30 p.m. U Too).
Sky scouting report
Chicago Sky (15-7) at Los Angeles Sparks (16-7), 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Staples Center
TV: NBA TV, The U Too
Last time:The Sky beat Minnesota at home on Sunday, 94-86 OT; the Sparks won at New York, 85-67
Skinny:The Sky is looking to build off the momentum of its dramatic, come-from-behind overtime victory over the Lynx, the best team in the WNBA. Another stiff test looms as the Sparks boast the second-best record in the WNBA and one of the best players in league history, former Naperville Central star Candace Parker. Parker is coming off a wrist injury and had 12 points in 24 minutes against New York. The Sky got a dominating performance out of Sylvia Fowles and Elena Delle Donne on Sunday. They combined for 63 points in the win over Minnesota. Delle Donne, who finished with a career-high 32 points, hit a 3-pointer at the end of regulation that forced overtime. … The Sparks are 9-2 at home but have spent the last five games and all of August on the road.
Next:Sky at Seattle Storm, 9 p.m. Thursday
— Patricia Babcock McGraw