Liberty-Sky preview
The Chicago Sky are banged up and likely will be without superstar Elena Delle Donne when they host the New York Liberty on Friday at Allstate Arena.
Delle Donne, the WNBA's reigning MVP, had surgery Tuesday on her thumb on her right shooting hand. She is listed as day-to-day, and Sky coach Pokey Chatman has not indicated any time frame from Delle Donne's return from an injury she suffered in a loss to the Washington Mystics on Sept. 7.
The Sky have regrouped without their star to win the last two games, including a dramatic victory over the defending-champion and first-place Minnesota Lynx. In the final seconds of regulation against Minnesota on Tuesday, Chicago guard Courtney Vandersloot intentionally missed her second free throw, got the rebound, drew a foul and hit two more free throws to force overtime, where the Sky prevailed 98-97.
"We were trying to fight for fourth place," Chicago guard Cappie Pondexter told reporters after the dramatic win.
With two games remaining, the Sky (17-15) are in fourth place, but only by one-half game over the Atlanta Dream and one full game over the Indiana Fever.
The Liberty (21-12) have already locked up the third overall seed and home-court advantage in the first round of the postseason, but could use a positive performance in their final game of the regular season.
New York dropped three of its last four games, but defeated the Sky in both previous meetings this season. Most recently, MVP candidate Tina Charles poured in 29 points in an 88-85 victory over the Sky on July 8. The victory gave coach Bill Laimbeer his 200th career win, becoming the seventh coach in WNBA history to reach the mark.
Charles leads the Liberty in points (21.5 per game), rebounds (9.9) and assists (3.8).
Pondexter picked up some of the scoring load left behind by Delle Donne. Pondexter had 24 points Tuesday and is averaging 12.9 points on the season. She is battling a shoulder injury, though, adding to the Sky's injury woes, but is expected to play against the Liberty.
