Dolson sinks game-winning shot for Sky
One of the best passing teams in the WNBA came up with a doozy of a game-winning dime.
The Chicago Sky, averaging 21.1 assists per game for second-best in the league, pulled out a 77-76 victory over the visiting Atlanta Dream on Wednesday afternoon at Wintrust Arena when point guard Courtney Vandersloot, surrounded by defenders as she drove the lane, somehow saw an open Stefanie Dolson under the basket and threaded the needle perfectly for Dolson to toss in the winning basket with only seconds remaining.
It was the ninth assist on the day for Vandersloot, who leads the WNBA in assists at 8.2 per game. And it was the 19th assist on the game for the Sky, which has had as many as 30 assists in a game this season.
The Sky, which improves to 10-8 on the season, drew up the play in the huddle after calling timeout with 6.9 seconds remaining.
"That's what we try to do," said Dolson, who finished with 6 points and 9 rebounds. "We try to move the ball and find the best shot that we possibly can on offense. On that last play, we knew that Sloot was going to make the right decision. I think some of us thought she was going to lay (up the shot) because she's always making acrobatic layups.
"But I was ready just in case she was going to pass it."
Vandersloot had to wrap her body around a defender and only saw Dolson after turning her head at the last minute.
"She's the best point guard in the (WNBA) for a reason," Dolson said.
Indeed, Vandersloot is being recognized as one of the best with her recent addition to the all-star roster. She and teammates Allie Quigley and Diamond DeShields were named as all-star reserves for the July 27 WNBA all-star game in Las Vegas.
DeShields, in just her second season, topped the Sky with 22 points. Quigley added 10 points and so did reserve Kahleah Copper.
Quigley, the Sky's top perimeter threat, was held scoreless in the first half, which ended with the Sky down by 10 points at halftime.
The Sky had 13 turnovers in the first half and didn't shoot well. But that changed after the break as offense came easier and turnovers were cut down to just 4 over the final two quarters.
"We started off really careless with the ball," Sky coach James Wade said. "They scored 20 points off our 13 turnovers (in the first half). In the second half, we took care of the ball more. We had the 4 turnovers, but they didn't score off of them. That's a 20-point swing, and that's the game."
Atlanta, which sits in last place in the WNBA standings and lost 9 of its first 11 games, falls to 5-12 on the season.
The Dream got double-figures out of four players, including Renee Montgomery, who scored 23 points on six 3-pointers.
Tiffany Hayes had 16 points, Elizabeth Williams had 13 points and former Sky forward Jessica Breland had 10 points and 11 rebounds.