Delle Donne leads Sky to third win

Are all-stars overrated?

Probably not, but the Chicago Sky is getting along fine without a couple of them.

All-star center Sylvia Fowles will remain out until mid-June while she recuperates from hip surgery, and all-star guard Epiphanny Prince is still at home in New York City for personal reasons and has yet to join the team.

The Sky, however, is now 3-0 on the season, which includes Wednesday afternoon's 78-68 victory at Allstate Arena over the winless Connecticut Sun (0-3).

The Sky, which got a game-high 21 points from its other all-star, forward Elena Delle Donne, played an early game as part of a “Field Trip Day” for students at area schools.

“I like it a lot,” said Sky coach Pokey Chatman when asked about the way the rest of her players — many of whom are new — have adapted in the absence of Fowles and Prince. “So much of what we do is predicated off of (Delle Donne), which opens up stuff for other people, which is why we shot 51 percent from the field today. We don't care who scores, as long as they're in a Sky uniform.

“I give a lot of credit to the newbies, the new players who have had to adjust on the fly. We have seven new players out there and that gives me positive pause.”

The Sky, which was up by as many as 19 points and had to fight off several surges by the Sun in the second half, got another solid game from Jessica Breland, who played for the Indiana Fever last season. The veteran forward had 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds. Point guard Courtney Vandersloot also 18 points and a game-high 7 assists for the Sky.

Vandersloot, now in her fourth season, says there is a difference in her confidence level on the floor this season.

“It's just being comfortable out there, making the right plays,” Vandersloot said. “Having the team look at you and respond to you is a big thing (this season versus previous seasons). I think there's also a better trust (with head coach Pokey Chatman) after a few years.”

Connecticut also has a lot of new faces after parting ways with all-star center Tina Charles (now in New York) to bring in rookie center Chiney Ogwumike from Stanford. Ogwumike, the only Sun player to average double-figures, had a team-high 18 points against the Sky.

Former Purdue and Indiana Fever star Katie Douglas, now in her 14th WNBA season, added 14 points for the Sun.

• Patricia Babcock McGraw also is a member of the Chicago Sky broadcast team.