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Swin Cash may have the chance to celebrate another championship bash. The Chicago Sky forward has enjoyed a few — first as a collegian at Connecticut (2000, 2002) and then in the WNBA with Detroit (2003, 2006) and Seattle (2010). Not to mention winning the gold in the Olympic Games for the United States (2004, 2012).
A starting front line of Swin Cash, Elena Delle Donne and Sylvia Fowles is a big reason for the Chicago Sky’s success this season.
OK, so it may be a bit premature to award any posteason hardware to the Sky, which never has even reached the playoffs. But with a 3-0 start (the best in team history) after a 92-71 victory Sunday (June 2) against the Tulsa Shock at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill., the Sky has looked impressive.
Cash’s effort against the Shock (0-4) looked impessive, too. Especially on offense — although her contributions go far beyond statistics. Cash had 14 points (more than her combined total for the first two games) and a game-high five assists. She was 6-of-10 from the field, including 2-of-4 three-pointers.
With guard Epiphanny Prince (game-high 19 points) leaving the team for a few weeks, Cash may see more opportunity to put up shots.
Prince will miss seven games because of a contractual commitment with the Russian national team to compete in the EuroBasket tournament that will have her away from the Sky from June 4-30. The Sky games will be against San Antonio (twice), Atlanta, Tulsa, Indiana, New York and Los Angeles.
Elena Delle Donne and Skylar Diggins on WNBA draft night. Diggins has had more success off the court than on it this season.
In the Elena Delle Donne vs. Skylar Diggins battle (which wasn’t much of a battle with No. 2 overall pick Delle Donne recording 15 points and three assists to No. 3 pick Diggins’ eight points and three assists and three turnovers), the Sky broke open a 40-38 halftime lead with a 25-13 third quarter.
If you look closely at the box score, it might be the only time Delle Donne is the only starter not to shoot 50 percent from the field or better. Delle Donne was 6-of-14 but did make all three of her three-point attempts. Sylvia Fowles and Courtney Vandersloot each went 4-of-6 from the field and Prince was 6-of-11. Glory Johnson led Tulsa with 15 points.
The Sky outrebounded Tulsa 40-25 with Fowles having 13, Tamera Young (16 points off the bech) seven and point guard Vandersloot six.
“The main thing that has developed is our defensive mindset,” Cash said. “Our team has been collectively committed to getting stops, rebounding and getting into transition. I think Sloot [Vandersloot] has been doing a great job of leading the charge on that.”
A former No. 2 overall pick herself (2002), Cash cashed in on a title in her second WNBA season. She may be able to help Delle Donne to win one in her rookie season.
“I think we have our core that went through the battles and scars of last season,” Cash said. “I think the mindset of coming into every game is different. Then you add the new players to the mix like Elena, and C [center Carolyn Swords] who have been playing phenomenal. The additions have really helped us.”
In that group would be former DePaul standout Allie Quigley, who had seven points and two steals against Tulsa.
The announced crowd of 6,811 was the fourth-largest in Sky history — even if a fair share of the patrons had come from South Bend, Ind., to see former Notre Dame star and South Bend native Diggins.
“They were great,” Diggins said of the busloads of fans who were treated to a private session with her after the crowd was gone. “Notre Dame has the greatest fan base in the country, and they do a great job of traveling. They are like my family, so I’m not surprised that they came out like that. They are always supportive no matter where I am. It was great to see my friends and family, good to see some familiar faces.”
Enough about familiar faces. Sky fans want to go to unfamiliar places — namely the playoffs. Having someone who has been there such as Cash certainly doesn’t hurt. And remember: You can’t spell Swin without w-i-n.
Postgame video for your perusal (plus WNBA video of Delle Donne highlights):
Here we go with the usual daily dose of non-gratuitous video thanks to the ever-diligent efforts of the editorial and video departments (and the extremely high bar that has been set to characterize anything as “gratuitous”):
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