The WNBA’s reigning MVP, Elena Delle Donne, was back on the court for the Chicago Sky. So were the reigning champion Minnesota Lynx, who defeated the Sky by a final of 97-80 at the Allstate Arena.
Despite 28 points from Delle Donne and 18 courtesy of Cappie Pondexter, the Sky were out-assisted 27-15. Chicago also only made one three-pointer for the whole game.
Sylvia Fowles, in her Chicago return, put in her second double-double in as many games this season with 24 points and 13 rebounds. She also reached a lofty milestone at the end of the first quarter as she became the 19th player in the history of the WNBA to grab 2,000 rebounds for her career.
Minnesota received 22 points from Maya Moore as well as 15 points and five steals from Renee Montgomery.
It was 6-2 Minnesota in the early going with Moore, coming off a 27-point outing vs. Phoenix on opening weekend, scoring all six for the Lynx. Led by five points from Jessica Breland, a 6-2 deficit became an 11-6 Chicago advantage.
Minnesota caught back up, but the Sky maintained their advantage at 15-14 prior to the Lynx gaining a six-point advantage via a 7-0 run, led by four from Fowles which upped her point output to six. The first quarter concluded with the Lynx leading 23-19.
The start of the second saw the Lynx begin to open up their lead as it became 31-22 despite six early points from Delle Donne. Minnesota led by as many as 11 in the second quarter before a late 5-0 run closed the game to six at 46-40 as the first half concluded.
Chicago raced out of halftime with nine straight points, allowing for a 49-46 lead, but that would quickly evaporate via a 10-0 Lynx scoring run as Minnesota went ahead 56-49. It would eventually be 67-59 through three periods.
As this game became academic, the Lynx lead grew to as many as 20.
Both the Lynx and Sky will play their next games on Sunday. Minnesota will travel to Key Arena to face Breanna Stewart and the Seattle Storm. Chicago, at 1-1 will be in Atlanta to take on the Dream.
