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WNBA: Chicago Sky defeat Washington Mystics convincingly

WNBA: Chicago Sky defeat Washington Mystics convincingly

The two of the best teams in the East converged in the Windy City Sunday as the Chicago Sky took on the Washington Mystics.

The Sky were coming in winning four out of their last five games with their full roster intact. Finals MVP Kahleah Copper had been a major factor since returning from playing overseas. Her most recent performance in their win against the Atlanta Dream (21 points and eight rebounds) reinforced how vital she is to the team.

With some pointing towards the inconsistency in play from the defending champs, Coach James Wade said he is confident that his team has found a groove even as they are still trying to incorporate everybody.

The Mystics came in with a 7-4 record, but without their best player Elena Delle Donne. Even with Natasha Cloud, Ariel Atkins, and Myisha Hines-Allen leading the charge, the team had lost three out of their last five including a nine-point loss to the Sky on May 22.

All signs pointed towards Chicago coming out on top but that was predicated on whether they could shoot well, make good decisions in transition, move the ball well and lessen turnovers.

At the start, the Sky’s offensive motion was as dynamic as expected. They were playing at a pace that wasn’t too fast or slow. They were making good shots, sharing the ball well, and were solid on the boards at both ends of the floor.

The Mystics are still a good team and they weren’t to be counted out so quickly. They took advantage of the Sky defense, which has a tendency to leave a player open for the shot. At the 3:17 minute mark of the first, the Sky led 16-14.

What was becoming evident was that the Sky’s bench was becoming as effective as their starters. The team of Rebekah Gardner, Dana Evans and Azura Stevens was able to clearly overmatch Washington, specifically with their versatility. For example, Stevens could certainly work her magic in the paint, but could also hit from the outside when necessary.

As the clock ticked down to the end of the…

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