Delle Donne and DeWanna duel in the desert
By Ian Levy
After a few days to rest up following the All-Star Game on Saturday, the Chicago Sky and the Phoenix Mercury turned in the game of the season so far in the 2015 WNBA campaign.
It didn’t look like that would be the case, however, as Elena Delle Donne dominated early on to lead the Sky to a 19 point lead in the first half. It’s quite stunning to watch Delle Donne work, the game coming to her so naturally. She doesn’t run as much as she glides around the court, rather effortlessly getting the better of her opponent on a regular basis. Moves like this become commonplace when Delle Donne has the ball in her hands.
And she had it in her hands constantly Tuesday night, going 10-24 from the field and 11-11 (obviously) from the line on her way to 32 points and a clutch and-one in the waning seconds to give the Sky the lead.
Before we get to that, however, let’s talk about DeWanna Bonner. The 27 year old has been WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year three different times in her young career and won two championships. She’s had success. She’s had her moments. This year, though, she’s taking her game to new levels, putting up 17 points and 6 rebounds a night. It earned her a trip to her first All-Star Game the other day, and last night she picked up right where she left off.
While Delle Donne and the Sky came back down to earth in the third quarter, Bonner took advantage. She was scoring from all over the court as she dropped 16 in the quarter, outscoring the Sky by two and dragging the Mercury back into the game. From 19 down in the second quarter, Phoenix entered the fourth down just three. Bonner was feeling it, and she wanted to let you know.
From there it was the kind of finish you dream of, both teams going back and forth, big time players making big time plays. If this was a Finals preview, there wouldn’t be one single person upset. Though she was off in the third quarter, Delle Donne started going to work once again, putting in 12 big points in the frame, including that monster and-one we told you about earlier to give the Sky the lead with just seconds to go.
Down one, on the road, off balance, multiple defenders in her face, but it didn’t matter. Delle Donne is just too good. Look at that celebration, that emotion. You wouldn’t have known from watching that this wasn’t a Finals game.
Bonner wasn’t to be outdone, however, draining two free throws with just a second to go to send the game into overtime. Once there, the two squads traded baskets, but it was Bonner and the Mercury getting the last laugh, as the spindly forward drilled two bombs, including this one that put Phoenix up for good.
Bonner finished the night with 34 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 dagger threes to bring the Mercury within two and a half games of the Minnesota Lynx for first place in the West.
Both the Sky and the Mercury are locks for the playoffs, but we’re still over a month away from getting the postseason started. And from there it’s a long road for both to make the WNBA Finals. After tonight’s affair, though, I have a feeling no one will be complaining if they do.