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00:00well seattle's in the midst of the 10 days on the road they started out july 5th
00:06and of course chicago coming off the road one of three on a four-game road
00:11trim seattle has another game against indiana coming up on friday the five
00:16games on the road the longest road trip that they'll have here this season
00:20matisha hide of a jumping off a clear hi her first shot and it bounces through
00:25this is a new role for her with this seattle franchise this is the first
00:29Первый раз в ее жизни, которая была его полякная.
00:36Бес лайнер на Тахsa Клайдд для 2.
00:40Вóни, это не важно, что она стартер, но она создана.
00:46Болонка, часа для нее.
00:50Это часть Вас с дамом, которая есть у тебя.
00:55Она есть гривень субитерного оттенка с новым для их нового.
00:59Флажей-Chompson with the takeaway in her first two.
01:03And that's the matchup that I want to see.
01:05And you see they're matched up with one another again.
01:07And that's these two dynamic rookie guards,
01:10Флажей and Sidney Taylor.
01:17Флажей, one of the rookies here, read this perfectly.
01:21She just did a great job of getting in between the handoff,
01:23just blowing it up,
01:25and then creating some easy points off of that turnover.
01:28But Tasha Cloud, you said it, Lisa.
01:30It doesn't matter if she's a starter or coming off the bench.
01:33She has about a 36% three-point rate, but she does not settle.
01:37She'll get to the rim.
01:38Natasha Cloud taking it away.
01:40Yeah, that's an over and back.
01:43Now, Cloud was ahead of everyone and tried the bounce pass,
01:48but that didn't quite work out so well.
01:50Sonia Rahman, who's in the first season as a Storm head coach,
01:53she, like Tyler Marsh, had spent some time as NBA assistant coaches,
01:59player development coaches before the WNBA,
02:01most recently came from the Liberty as an assistant coach.
02:06She's brilliant.
02:07She's a brilliant basketball mind.
02:10She has a law degree.
02:12Really, really interesting background.
02:15Tied him in.
02:16Missing everything.
02:18Another opportunity, though, Milanka.
02:21Elizabeth Williams has her hands full defensively.
02:24Misses that shot.
02:25And this is a Seattle Storm team.
02:27They only average about seven offensive rebounds a game.
02:31Courtney VanderSloot again playing on a minute restriction.
02:33The ball is kicked.
02:35It'll be Sky Basketball from the sideline,
02:37but Sloot playing the most minutes in the last game against Dallas that she has.
02:42She tallied about 20 minutes in that game.
02:45And that's challenging if you're a coach.
02:48You have a player who's so important to what you do.
02:50She's on a minutes restriction,
02:52and you have to be strategic with how you use those minutes.
02:55Johnson gets the block on Sidney Taylor.
02:57That's rookie against rookie in that matchup that you wanted to watch.
03:01Tied him in too strong.
03:03Milanka battling for it.
03:04And she draws a foul.
03:06Bodies up against Elizabeth Williams.
03:11But it'll be against Courtney VanderSloot, her first.
03:16That's something to keep an eye on.
03:18Seattle already has three offensive rebounds in this game.
03:21They have a definite size advantage,
03:23especially with Camila Cardoso being out.
03:26This is a team, their last in the league in offensive rebounds.
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03:48Milanka coming off a career-high 15-rebound game.
03:51She had eight offensive rebounds in that game against Washington.
03:56And that offensive rebound producing some free throws here for her.
04:04The touch pass.
04:06Cloud decides to penetrate.
04:08It pops out.
04:09But she has free throws coming.
04:11The foul to Jade Melvin.
04:13Chicago is so good when they move the ball.
04:17When they have three or more passes in the possession,
04:20Lisa, they're shooting over 50% from the field.
04:28It's amazing what you can track these days.
04:31Everything.
04:32There's a stat for that.
04:33Right.
04:36Three-plus passes your efficiency in offense.
04:41And that's just getting the defense to move, right?
04:43From side to side?
04:44Absolutely.
04:45That's where that success comes from?
04:46Getting the defense to shift and getting them in rotation.
04:50That's the name of the game.
04:56Found a really good post up against Stephens.
04:59Doesn't look like a rookie there.
05:01It's early.
05:02I know that.
05:03But right now, she's off to a really good start.
05:06And she needs a game like this.
05:07She's really struggled the last couple games on this road trip that Seattle's had.
05:11And she blocked the shot there.
05:15And a baseline out-of-bounds attempt here.
05:18A baseline out-of-bounds play here for Chicago.
05:22Awa Fahm actually is tied for the most minutes played here for Seattle.
05:26It's about 29 minutes with Atisha Heidemann the same.
05:30And Milanko with the rebound.
05:32Between Milanko and Fahm, they were just so long there in the front court.
05:36They're long, but they're young, but talented.
05:42Johnson from about 17 feet out.
05:44She's having a really good start, which is a really good sign here for Seattle if you're a Storm fan.
05:49Well, it's a great sign for Seattle.
05:50And when Seattle wins, Flavie Johnson is averaging about 21 points a game.
05:55And their losses, less than half of that.
05:59Good strong take.
06:01Now it's the rookie show.
06:03Sidney Taylor on the board.
06:06This rookie class of the WNBA has to be one of the most talented and deepest that we've seen in
06:12a long time.
06:13Got to be, right?
06:15Sidney Taylor is right at the top of that list.
06:19You want to get the 7,000 kids excited?
06:24Then just watch Sidney Taylor make moves like that.
06:27This is what you cannot coach.
06:30You find it.
06:31You go to some obscure league in Poland like Jeff Pagliocca did, and you find that.
06:36And you bring it to training camp.
06:38And then hope she performs well enough to make a team, which is exactly what she did this season.
06:42I had to Google.
06:44I mean, I guess I should know this being a mom now.
06:46Is Baby Shark still relevant?
06:48And it is.
06:48It was like top of the list.
06:50Not in our household.
06:54Our producer, Todd Benjaminson, is so mad at me right now.
06:57I've gotten at least five Baby Shark references in already.
07:01Let alone singing it off camera.
07:04Oh, Stephens.
07:05Same spot, same results.
07:07And Chicago up by two.
07:10When Azari Stevens was struggling a little bit upon her return from injury, her shot wasn't falling.
07:17At one point, she was shooting about 11% from behind the arc.
07:20The last five games, 42%.
07:22Johnson, a little pass fake, and then finger roll finish for the reverse.
07:32Williams' spin move.
07:34She draws the foul against Malunga.
07:46And that's what you're going to get from Elizabeth Williams.
07:48She's not your traditional back-to-basket post player like she was at Duke.
07:53She's really good when they're able to get her off the move.
07:56She's got excellent footwork.
08:03Bet 365 is the official mobile sportsbook of the Chicago Sky.
08:07Whatever the moment, never ordinary at Bet 365.
08:15What a gift to have someone like Elizabeth Williams.
08:18It's her first start of the season.
08:19But like you had mentioned, she can be a starter.
08:23And she has been in her career.
08:26A veteran reserve coming off the bench this year for Chicago.
08:30In an important situation, as good as the guards are for Seattle.
08:34We talk about Fahm and Malunga being literally a tall task to try to handle here today.
08:41Jaquez launches her first shot.
08:51Heideman in the paint, leaves it short.
08:58And Cloud over to Haka's three-pointer again on the way.
09:09Malunga battling for it.
09:11E-Will wrapping her up.
09:13But a little too much contact.
09:15So some free throws coming from Malunga when we come back.
09:18Chicago, we have a cold timeout.
09:20Brought to you by Revolution.
09:21We'll be right back after this.
09:30Kalia Butler.
09:30Kalia.
09:31After that road trip, they did finish one and three.
09:35And in a lot of those games, they were in it throughout.
09:38And when I spoke with rookie Sidney Taylor about the biggest takeaway from those games,
09:43it's just the fact that they need to be better down the stretch is what she said.
09:46She emphasized closing out games and just that all the little things matter.
09:51When I asked her about mindset in that final stretch of the games, she said composure and
09:56just playing poise are those added layers to the needed execution during that time, too.
10:01What did you see from Chicago in that four-game road stretch?
10:04Oh, it's just the finishing.
10:06I mean, they look good.
10:07They look connected.
10:08They got off to great starts.
10:10They were very balanced in their scoring.
10:12And for the most part, I thought defensively they played really well on that road trip, particularly in the Phoenix
10:18game.
10:18And I agree with Sidney Taylor.
10:21It's not an individual issue.
10:23It's not a one-person or a two-person thing.
10:25This is a collective issue, which is this finishing.
10:29And sometimes, Lisa, it's a mindset.
10:32When you are used to losing games and not coming out on top, then that trepidation and that doubt starts
10:39to creep.
10:40And then it's almost like you forget how to win.
10:4312 clutch games that the Sky have played.
10:46That's the sixth most in league history.
10:48They're 0-2 in the last four games, the clutch games.
10:52And we're talking about a game within the last five minutes when it's a five-point differential.
10:58Fob takes a 17-footer.
11:01And Stephens with a rebound.
11:03Chicago allowed 30 fourth-quarter points to Dallas.
11:06Dallas shot 63% in the fourth quarter alone.
11:09You don't just forget how to play defense in the fourth quarter.
11:12I think at this point, it's more mental than anything.
11:15Stephens for three, lets it fly.
11:17And she's a perfect three-for-three from three.
11:21All nine points coming from distance.
11:30Fob will take it, but her toe is on the line.
11:32It's a long two-attempt.
11:33Ball's loose.
11:34Jaquez has it.
11:35If you're Seattle, you don't want to go away from what got you in this game to start.
11:40And that's scoring in the paint.
11:41Eight of their 12 points have come in the paint.
11:44They have a definite size advantage against Chicago.
11:46I would take advantage of that.
11:51That's another great back-to-back offensive possession.
11:54By the way, Chloe Bibby defending Fom right now.
11:58She's getting her first WNBA minutes here.
12:00Her season debut.
12:02That's a baseline two.
12:05And Seattle looking tough here to start.
12:09I thought Chloe Bibby was a great pickup.
12:12Ah, there she is.
12:14Her first points of the season.
12:16Chloe Bibby, it comes from distance.
12:19She just made me look really good.
12:21She made you look really good.
12:28That three-pointer forcing the timeout here for Seattle.
12:34And Bibby, the latest pickup.
12:36June 30th, she was signed on a developmental contract.
12:39Didn't waste any time to get on the board.
12:40Well, to be honest with you, I couldn't believe that she was even available to pick up.
12:44I just thought this was just a great job of snatching her up quickly before someone else did
12:50because of her ability to do just that.
12:53She is excellent at the pick-and-pop transition threes.
12:57Just a really good job of stretching the defense,
13:01which, if she were playing with Camila, would give Camila more room to operate.
13:05Obviously, playing with Azrae or Elizabeth Williams, she could do either.
13:09She comes from winning programs at Mississippi State, at Maryland.
13:13Very well coached and got great experience with the Indiana Fever last year.
13:17I know when this guy picked her up, you had said, oh, I love Chloe Bibby.
13:21I love myself some Chloe Bibby.
13:24I sure did.
13:26You talked about it.
13:27The programs that she's played for, but she was a significant contributor.
13:30She played about five games with Golden State last year,
13:33then was picked up with the Indiana Fever late in the season.
13:36You'll remember that the Fever had all kinds of injury situations.
13:39They were looking for contributors.
13:41She was part of that roster and played a significant role-player piece for the Fever last year.
13:48Which is why I was so surprised that she was even available this late in the season
13:53because of how well she played in that reserve role with Indiana last year.
13:59All right.
14:00So Seattle's got to regroup here after that Bibby three-pointer.
14:03Largest lead of the game, 21-14.
14:08You know, playing and sustaining those leads is something Tyler Marsh has talked about as well.
14:13You know, they had that double-digit advantage, an opportunity loss in the last game against Dallas.
14:22With this lead, they want to put the pedal to the metal and keep it going.
14:26Steph Dolson, the old Chicago Sky friend, has checked in.
14:30Moves the ball around to Ziya Cook.
14:33It's not there.
14:34Ball's loose.
14:35Stephens has it.
14:43Sloot gives it up to Bibby.
14:46And Stephens knocked away.
14:50Former Chicago Sky teammates.
14:52It'll be a turnover for Chicago Sky.
14:55I know it ended up being a turnover, but I really like that pass, that high-low pass from Bibby
15:00to Azuray.
15:01There's no better passer to another post than a post player, in my post player opinion.
15:07It says the post coach.
15:10Steph Dolson with the rebound.
15:14Three-pointer, nothing but net.
15:17Katie Lou Samuelson.
15:18You remember, she was drafted by Chicago back in 2019.
15:22A shot of about 28% from the three with Chicago.
15:25Only played about seven minutes a game.
15:27Wasn't a good fit for her.
15:28But you can see the longevity that she's had in this lead because of how she can knock down her
15:34holes.
15:34Jaquez, that's a good, strong take.
15:36A tough two to get.
15:41And Samuelson, it was fun, actually, to watch her warm up with her daughter.
15:46It's very cute.
15:49Melvin with the back down, back to her look.
15:51Horstin can't corral it.
15:54It's another turnover here for Seattle.
15:56There's three turnovers on the game.
15:59Gabriela Jaquez, as we talk about this talented rookie class in the WNBA, she's one of them.
16:05She's so versatile.
16:06She can shoot the three, but then also finish through contact.
16:09Because I thought there was a lot of contact on that last bucket.
16:17VanderSloot directing traffic.
16:2290 seconds left to play here in the first quarter.
16:26Single digits on the shot clock.
16:28Stephens turns the corner.
16:30Can't pay it off.
16:31There's a lot of contact on that drive as well.
16:39Cook deciding to penetrate against Sheldon.
16:41Pulls up.
16:43In the paint for two.
16:44And so right now, what you have offensively, Lisa, these teams are kind of mirror images of one another.
16:50All the players that are on the floor for both teams right now can space out, shoot the three, really
16:56stretch the D.
16:57So that's going to allow driving lanes.
17:02Dolson with the rebound.
17:03Long outlet pass to Samuelson.
17:09And Melvin will reset.
17:14There's a cross match.
17:16Dolson versus Gabriela, but they waited too late.
17:19Seattle waited too late to try to take advantage of them.
17:24Look at this drive, this last drive by Azuray.
17:27She takes Dolson off the bounce.
17:29That's a foul right there.
17:30And you can see, you can clearly see that she's impeding her move.
17:34And that's that freedom of movement that we've heard so much about this WNBA season.
17:39That should have been a foul.
17:45Akez picks up the loose change.
17:47About four-second differential game and shot clock.
17:49Pibbe fires.
17:51Can't hit that time.
17:52Sheldon gives him another opportunity.
17:54Shot clock still in play.
17:56And a reset to 14 seconds.
17:58Now seven on the shot clock.
18:00Here's Sloot.
18:01Courtney VanderSloot hasn't taken a shot yet, but finds Chloe Pibbe.
18:04Oh, potty bucket and one.
18:07Nice little season debut for Pibbe.
18:11Chloe Pibbe is getting her minutes worth early in this game.
18:16We've seen her shoot the three, and that's a really nice pocket pass by the general.
18:21And Chloe finishing through traffic.
18:24I can't say it enough what a great pickup this was for Chicago.
18:29Defense!
18:31Defense!
18:33Defense!
18:36Looking for the back door.
18:37Sloot read it perfectly.
18:39Half-teams from left.
18:40Oh, it's almost there.
18:42She got a good look at that.
18:44I mean, they practice it every day.
18:48Except if she would have made this one, she wouldn't have gotten $100 and a can of popcorn for it.
18:53Some change.
18:54This guy, though.
18:55Never, ever.
18:56She would never.
18:58Jacey Sheldon, the biggest fan in the world.
19:01There she is.
19:02Her sister, Abby.
19:04And she knows right where the cameras are.
19:06She is.
19:08She is.
19:09She is.
19:09She is.
19:09She is.
19:10She is.
19:11She is.
19:12Melbourne.
19:14First drive here in the second quarter.
19:16Our mic'd up, of course, is brought to you by Magellan Corporation.
19:21Fun to see the personalities.
19:22I love that feature because you get a little bit on the inside of their warm-ups and they show
19:27a little bit of their personality.
19:29Some are more comfortable on the mic than others.
19:31Well, you know what I love about Jacey Sheldon when she's mic'd up is you just get to see how
19:36polite she is.
19:37Like, she thanks every single person who rebounds for her.
19:43Milanka.
19:44That's a tough two to try to defend.
19:46Elizabeth Williams did her best.
19:49Standing vertical.
19:51And Milanka with another two.
19:53Her first field goal of the day.
19:55Actually, she was 0 for 5 before that one.
19:57Melbourne with a takeaway.
19:59Finding Samuelson with a leak out.
20:01In for two.
20:02In for two.
20:17Sydney Taylor.
20:19Another one.
20:22And I bring that up to say that's self-induced.
20:25So those are two areas that Chicago is completely in control of, which is defensive rebound and then taking care
20:31of the ball.
20:33Dolson in and out.
20:40Rachel Pano.
20:42That's what the sky needs her to do is knock down those distant shots.
20:45I like that from the birthday girl.
20:48Don't even give the defense a chance to set up.
20:51She sees her defender backpedaling.
20:53Just let it fly.
20:56Ziya Cook.
20:57Pass deflected.
20:58Elizabeth Williams and a loose ball foul.
21:04Let's check in with Kalia.
21:06Shimmy, you mentioned rebounding being a big factor.
21:09That was one of the things that head coach Tyler Marsh said in that last sky huddle.
21:13He also said defensively after holding the Storm to 19 points in the first quarter.
21:18In the second one, he wants to hold them under 20 as well.
21:21And then offensively, looking to have a lot of ball reversals.
21:25He said that's going to help them be able to find their point of attack.
21:28And Taylor now has gone back to pack.
21:30A three-pointer and then the two-pointer.
21:32She's got seven points here in the game.
21:34And she heats up.
21:35When she sees one go in and then that kind of gives her the confidence to keep piling it up,
21:42she's the only player on this sky roster that I don't mind when the ball sticks with her.
21:49And this is what I mean with the ball sticking with her, where she takes multiple dribbles,
21:52where she's just trying to set up her defense, get her defender off balance.
21:56That's, I think, when she's at her best.
21:58She gets rhythm that way.
22:00So I don't mind it when the ball sticks with Sidney like that.
22:02You've got to understand your personnel when you're a coach, right?
22:05That's right.
22:06That's right.
22:07Here's Taylor.
22:08Oh, she'll take it all herself.
22:09Blue pass to everyone defensively.
22:13And they're up to the largest lead.
22:14When they say a three-level score, that's exactly what they're talking about.
22:18In order.
22:19A three, a mid, a middie, and then getting to the rim.
22:27Pippi nearly deflected that pass out to Cook as a wide-open three look.
22:32And Panem with the rebound.
22:34Samuelson on the deck.
22:39And a jump ball coming.
22:50What this looks like to me, Lisa, is one body on the ground, two bodies,
22:54three bodies on the ground.
22:55This looks like two teams right now that are fighting for their playoff hopes.
23:01Every game moving forward for both of these teams is incredibly important
23:06if either one any chance at finishing in that top eight.
23:11Yeah, I mean, you look at these teams in the standings.
23:14They're in that lower third.
23:16But still, as we approach the All-Star break, you've got, you know,
23:20half of the season left to play.
23:22And both of these teams have shown promise with some individual talent.
23:28Cloud turns it over.
23:29Samuelson was waiting for it for an easy two.
23:40Vanna was calling for it.
23:44Rachel Vanna may be a day-game shooter.
23:50Williams double-teamed.
23:52Williams tried to get out of it.
23:54My Forsberg from across the court calls the reach-in foul.
24:02They could have caught this foul about two, three seconds earlier than they actually did.
24:12It's Samuelson's first.
24:17There's Cloud between the legs.
24:19Looking for that screen.
24:20Feeds Williams.
24:21Beautiful feed.
24:22Williams had a look at it on the turnaround.
24:24Well, it's the length of Milanga.
24:26It forced Elizabeth Williams to fade away, take a tougher shot than she needed to.
24:34Milanga, backdoor.
24:36Johnson, finger-roll finish.
24:38The feathery touch.
24:42It's the spacing of Seattle right now that's really conducive to back cuts.
24:49Vlaje Johnson is the first at double figures with 10.
24:52You mentioned how much better she plays, how much better her numbers are in Seattle wins versus losses this year.
24:59Taylor time!
25:01Hagen and Hoop it for an and-one chance!
25:07Sydney Taylor is one of the most dynamic, not just rookies, but players in this entire league.
25:13And she's not afraid of the challenge.
25:15And that includes going up against and scoring against 6'6", Milanga.
25:26Blue Shield of Illinois threw it all.
25:32Jordan, one of the, what, 7,000 campers that we talked about on a camp day here today.
25:38This is the first tip across the league.
25:41Minnesota and the Sparks will tip an hour after this one.
25:46You know, it's always interesting when they have a West Coast team playing a day game in a central time
25:51zone or eastern time zone.
25:53Because it's like, what, a 9 a.m. tip Seattle time.
25:57Well, what benefits Seattle, Lisa, is they've been out here on a road trip for a while.
26:02I mean, they've been on the East Coast and Atlanta and Washington.
26:05So it's just an hour time difference than what they're used to.
26:07But at this point, their bodies are adjusted.
26:13Two personal fouls now on Elizabeth Williams, who was frustrated with that.
26:27And Milanga is back at the free throw line.
26:31One for four going into these free throws.
26:33Take a fast break with fast play from the Illinois Lottery.
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26:41Just in her second year in the league with Seattle, not even all the way done with her second year.
26:47She is already top ten in Seattle's history in double-doubles.
26:53Yeah, the youngest to get to nine career double-doubles going into today.
26:59The last game she had that double-double against Washington.
27:02Ten points and the career-high 15 rebounds.
27:04Taylor just hung on the rim and bounced off.
27:11Pass deflected there by Natasha Cloud, who finds Stephens on the push.
27:17Stephens with that crossover.
27:19Step through, move beautifully tied with the lefty finish.
27:23And that's exactly how you challenge someone with the length and the shot-blocking ability of Don Milanga.
27:29You have to play off two feet.
27:31That way you can go to your counter moves.
27:35Fong.
27:37Out to Heideman, not there.
27:40Heideman a little bit cold in terms of the Tisha Heideman standards this year.
27:45Just one for five after that miss.
27:48And Elizabeth Williams, just a few plays ago, recorded a black 10th all-time in WNBA history.
27:58And one of the best defenders that this game has seen.
28:03At her best, she had as high as the number four ranked defensive rating in the league a few years
28:10ago.
28:11Right now, she's still in the top 40% of the league in defensive rating.
28:15Now, Figaro finish there for Taylor.
28:18And Cyndi Taylor's up to 13 points.
28:21Stephens has 11.
28:23And Johnson for Seattle with the ball right now has 10.
28:25Your double-figure score is Johnson adding to it, though.
28:28Already with 12 points here in the first half.
28:30It's a youth movement between these two rookies that we're seeing going back and forth.
28:36And Alifam, Dominique Malanga.
28:39The youth is just outstanding in this game.
28:45Johnson not only can score, but she's actually the best rookie rebounder, if that surprises you.
28:51And the pass finding all the way to Fahm for two.
28:55Fahm's second field goal of the day.
28:59Cloud bounce pass.
29:01Stephens with the finish!
29:04Plus one for Azare Stephens.
29:10Azare Stephens has just gotten better and better and better since coming back from her injury.
29:16And the thing that's kept her going, Lisa, is even when her shot wasn't falling,
29:20she was still active, finding ways to get to the rim and make plays like this,
29:24finishing through contact, getting to the free-throw line, and rebounding.
29:28Her rebounding was outstanding during her shooting slump.
29:31It's the first person to run Fahm.
29:36And the lead stays in double figures.
29:38Largest lead has been 13, Samuelson.
29:40A delayed foul call against Bibby on the contest.
29:46Delayed but not denied.
29:49Definitely got her on the hand.
29:52I think Chloe Bibby was kind of hoping that Randy Richardson would notice it,
29:58but can't get much past him.
30:07Samuelson at the free-throw.
30:12Her fifth different franchise of her career.
30:15Of course, a UConn product.
30:17Played 20 games in that 2019 season when she was drafted by the Sky.
30:24And she's, uh, that's a 74% three-point rate.
30:28So you know if you're guarding her.
30:30And Chloe Bibby's a three-point shooter.
30:31She knows this.
30:32You know that she's coming off of the screen to get a three-off.
30:38You know it, but it's hard to pull back sometimes.
30:43Cloud, backdoor cut.
30:44Taylor lost it.
30:48Hands were active here by Seattle.
30:50Speaking of active hands, Jaquez deflects that.
30:52Taylor.
30:54And a transition take foul.
30:58By Seattle.
31:00So the Sky will get a free-throw.
31:03And then possession.
31:05Smart.
31:07You see how quickly Sidney Taylor tried to get that shot off?
31:10She's smart.
31:11These rookies are something else.
31:17Taylor makes good on the free-throw.
31:20As soon as Sidney Taylor gets fouled, look at her go right into her shooting motion.
31:25And, of course, it's a transition take because you can't take a foul to thwart a transition play.
31:29But just really smart, heads-up play by the rookie.
31:34Taylor's actually the leading scorer in the last three games without Skyler Diggins.
31:38Averaging about 17 points per game.
31:42Stephens for two off the glass.
31:44Sassare Stephens is putting forth a brilliant game here so far.
31:4816 points.
31:50Diggins!
31:53Diggins!
31:55Diggins!
31:56Diggins!
31:56Diggins!
31:57Diggins!
31:59Diggins!
32:00Diggins!
32:01Diggins!
32:01Diggins!
32:01Diggins!
32:01And Sloot will chase it down.
32:05Courtney Vander Sloot again playing the match.
32:07Wow, Johnson was challenging, but whistled for the foul call.
32:12Comes over.
32:13Give Cloud a tap on the head here.
32:15We will take a timeout.
32:16Skye up by 13 with 2.44 left in the first half.
32:23I think Skye, the mascot, is having fun, but Azrae Stephens is having a lot more fun.
32:28Look at what she's doing the last four games.
32:30We've referenced it before, particularly the rebounding.
32:34The rebounding has always been something that she has prided herself in, and that's something that when she was struggling
32:41from behind the arc, Lisa, the rebounding was consistent.
32:44You know, I look around at Camp Day, and it's the most colorful that Wintrust is every single year.
32:51You've got the orange t-shirts, the green t-shirts, the pink t-shirts, the red t-shirts, all in
32:57different sections.
32:59Melvin, to Fahm, as Stephens comes over on the help side.
33:03She was double teamed and still got that to go.
33:05She has that perfect combination of strength and balance, and I didn't really appreciate it until I got a chance
33:12to watch her warm up this morning.
33:15Just seeing her on film, film doesn't do her justice of just how strong she is physically.
33:25Sloot's a very modest numbers here in the first half, and she tries to size up that three-pointer.
33:30No points, and actually one assist just for Courtney VanderSloot, still in the minute restriction.
33:35She's played eight minutes here so far in the first half.
33:39Fahm from straightaway.
33:40Don't forget, she can do that, too.
33:46Her first three-point attempt and make nine points for the rookie.
34:03Kyneman was looking for Fahm.
34:06Turnover forced here by Chicago.
34:09Nine turnovers here by Seattle that average about 15 per game.
34:14And a kickball by Heidemann.
34:19It's hard to believe how young Awa Fahm is.
34:23I mean, she's really versatile.
34:25It's why she was such a high priority for Seattle in the draft.
34:29You saw her finish at the rim through the contact, but she can also stretch the D.
34:33She shoots about 35% from behind the arc, and I think that's what makes her so unique at 6
34:38'4",
34:39the ability to be able to do both of those things.
34:42Now Azrae Stephens flex on it, muscling it through the rookie on that play.
34:51Azrae Stephens said, you know what?
34:53I'm sick and tired of you talking about all these rookies.
34:57You've got to show some love to the vets, because I have versatility and size, too,
35:02and I can flex on them just like these young ones can.
35:07Fahm with the rebound.
35:11Azrae Stephens, 18 points here in the first half.
35:14Her season high is 24.
35:16Her career high is 26.
35:23Heidemann with a kickout to Horstead.
35:25Back to Fahm.
35:26She'll take that.
35:28And Pippi clears.
35:30Shot clock still in play.
35:31Sloot leading the break.
35:33Hesitation goes right at Malpin.
35:36And Sloot's first good look here.
35:38She'll have free throws.
35:40I love to see plays like this from Courtney Vander Sloot.
35:43Her in transition, like, that's vintage Sloot.
35:47But her ability to just take it herself, her willingness to take it herself,
35:51and then draw, initiate the contact,
35:54that tells me that she's confident in her knee
35:58and in who she is upon her return as a player.
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36:15All you've got to do is just track her minutes
36:17to know what her minute restriction is in the last six games.
36:21Well, she played 20 minutes in the last game.
36:24Johnson, finger roll finish.
36:26And the and one.
36:31A little pizzazz from Flaugé.
36:33I would expect nothing less.
36:36But I just don't know if that was a foul, actually.
36:41It looked kind of clean to me by JC,
36:44and I know JC was protesting.
36:46She's a player who usually doesn't argue if she didn't foul.
36:50But regardless, it was a great move by Flaugé.
36:54This is the free throw attempt,
36:55her first free throw attempt of the day.
36:57She's up to 14 points.
37:05Paquez.
37:06Oh, in amongst the trees.
37:13When you talk about that minutes restriction by Kourtney,
37:16it looks like she's going to finish this first half
37:18at exactly 10 minutes.
37:21The question, too, with Tyler Marsh working with Sloot,
37:25do you start her in the second half of the third quarter
37:28with those minute restrictions?
37:29Klaus Hayes got that move down.
37:32Cue it up.
37:38Paquez, the recipient from the Sloot Dime.
37:44Final few seconds.
37:46Melvin with a half-court heave.
37:49And Chicago has had a lead as large as 14 points.
37:53They go ahead into the locker room, up by 12.
37:56They look connected.
37:57They don't look like there's any sort of hangover at all
38:02from the Dallas loss.
38:03They look really good.
38:05And I think Azaree Stephens is playing her best right now.
38:08And her best is needed with Camila Cardoso being out.
38:12Well, a fun afternoon here so far.
38:14Even fun when the home team is leading for all of these campers.
38:17We're at halftime, 56-44.
38:20Sky over storm.
38:21And the only trip Seattle makes to Chicago this year.
38:31Six, the most that this guy have put up in the first half here this year.
38:35And the second half, remember that Portland game
38:37where they set all kinds of records.
38:38They had 71 in the second half.
38:41They've also had a 58-point game in the second half.
38:43So maybe the second half, maybe it will trend in that direction here today.
38:51And that gets Seattle off on the right foot on the first possession.
38:56It's a great job by Jade Melvin.
38:58This is what is so special about her game.
39:02She has one speed, and that's warp speed.
39:04She goes so hard whether she has the ball in her hands in transition
39:08or she's making basket cuts.
39:11It's hard to guard.
39:12That type of speed is hard to guard.
39:16And Melvin is averaging career-high scoring field goal percentage.
39:20You made it.
39:20Rebounding.
39:21Assists.
39:22Steals per game.
39:25And they get Chicago on that first possession.
39:30No Camila Cardoso out with a knee injury.
39:33She was scratched here on this game day.
39:35Again, no Skylar Tiggins for the fourth straight game,
39:37if you're just joining us.
39:40Cindy Taylor just got the offensive rebound.
39:41That's only their second of the game for Chicago.
39:44Yeah, Elizabeth Williams slays it up with the left-hand reverse style.
39:48Good post-to-post feed.
39:51Elizabeth Williams in the starting lineup for the first time
39:54with no Camila Cardoso for the Sky.
39:57Heideman, left-handed finish.
40:01And Tisha Heideman is putting up numbers,
40:04offensive numbers that she never has before in her WNBA career.
40:08It's the most field goal attempts per game in her career.
40:12And it's not even close.
40:15She's put up over 400 points in a single season.
40:19She's never done that.
40:20There's Heideman again.
40:22These are like Marquette numbers that she's putting up.
40:24There's Heideman for the four-time range.
40:24You're slowing down.
40:25You're revered.
40:25Then there's a good day over there.
40:25There's a good night going.
40:25Yes, then there is BM here.
40:26She's playing on Stapat conten风 90 times today.
40:27Let's take a boat ahead.
40:27It's innocent.
40:27Thanks to the river.
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