Sky guard Perkins signs multi-year deal to stay here
The Chicago Sky has signed guard Jia Perkins to a multi-year contract extension.
Perkins, a five-year WNBA veteran, joined the Sky in the 2005 WNBA Expansion Draft. The all-star performer is on pace to start all 34 games for the second consecutive season. The 5-8 guard is currently averaging 13.5 points, 3.4 rebounds per game and is 4th in the league in steals averaging 2.15 per game.
Terms of the contract have not been released.
"Perkins has grown into an unstoppable offensive threat and an aggressive defensive stopper," said Steven Key, Sky head coach and general manager. "She's an exciting player to watch, whether she's driving the lane or grabbing a steal. We're looking forward to having her back for seasons to come as we continue to build on a strong foundation."
Scouting report
Detroit Shock (17-16) at Chicago Sky (16-17)
When: 7 p.m.
Where: UIC Pavilion
Skinny: Well, this is it. The Sky can end all the drama as to whether it will earn its first playoff berth in franchise history. Win and the Sky is in. Of course, it won't be easy, considering the Sky has not beaten the Shock in three tries this season, but it would make the playoff picture so much neater. If the Sky would lose to the Shock, the playoffs are still possible, but its fate would be in the hands of two teams that are also on the playoff brink - Washington and Connecticut. What they do in their final regular-season games would directly impact the Sky. Detroit and the Sky last faced off Sunday, and the Shock came out on top, 84-75. The Shock had five players in double figures, including all-star guard Deanna Nolan, who scored a game-high 19 points. The Sky got 18 points apiece out of Candice Dupree and Shyra Ely, but Jia Perkins (10 points) was the only other player to reach double figures. The Sky was also just starting to work center Sylvia Fowles back into the rotation. She was playing in her second game after missing five straight games with a badly sprained ankle. She scored just 2 points in 18 minutes against Detroit. Fowles and all of her Sky teammates looked much sharper in Thursday's victory over the Indiana Fever, which was tied with Phoenix for the best record in the WNBA at the time.