Chicago Sky again pick up slack without Delle Donne

So who needs Elena Delle Donne anyway?

Ha! Just kidding!

Of course, the Chicago Sky needs Delle Donne, its superstar forward who is the reigning most valuable player of the WNBA and currently the league's leading scorer (21.5 ppg).

But since Delle Donne went out with a thumb injury four games ago, her teammates have more than picked up the slack.

The Sky is 3-1 in those games without her, including Friday's 92-68 thumping of the New York Liberty, the best team in the Eastern Conference.

It was a crucial victory for the Sky (18-15), which needs to win its final two games of the regular season (Sunday's finale is in Seattle) to earn the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs, which start next week.

The Sky was coming off an emotional overtime victory on Tuesday over the Minnesota Lynx, the best team in the WNBA. Delle Donne had successful surgery on her thumb earlier that day.

"The number of people who can step in and step up is going to give us the opportunity to have some success," Sky coach Pokey Chatman said. "The unfortunate thing is that we've had to play without Elena before because of her Lyme (disease, which flared up in 2014 and caused her to miss half the season).

"The collective pause that the outside world has (about playing without Elena)…we don't have that. Don't misunderstand: we know she's one of the best players to put a uniform on. But because of certain situations, we don't have that panic. We know it becomes more difficult, but it's an opportunity for two or three other people to step up."

Four Sky players stepped up enough to reach double-figures, led by forward Tamera Young with 22 points. Guard Allie Quigley scored 18 points off the bench and forward Jessica Breland and guard Cappie Pondexter chipped in with 11 points apiece.

Young, known throughout her career for her ferocious defense, is having the best year of her career offensively. She's scored in double-figures in four of her last five games.

"People see that I've been scoring more, but I'm just taking the opportunities I'm getting," Young said. "I put the work in, and I've been getting more shots. When you get more shots, you get more confidence. I'm just trying to make the most of it."

New York (21-13) was also playing at a disadvantage. With nothing to play for in terms of playoff positioning, the Liberty didn't even travel with leading scorer Tina Charles or three other players, including former Sky great Epiphanny Prince. The move by head coach Bill Laimbeer was likely made in an effort to give those players some extra rest before the playoffs.

Former Sky forward Swin Cash and former Sky center Carolyn Swords paced New York with 15 points apiece while Rebecca Allen added 13 points.