Sky earn first postseason berth in club history
The Chicago Sky secured their first playoff berth with a 82-64 WNBA victory over the New York Liberty on Friday at Allstate Arena.
Sylvia Fowles collected 14 points and seven rebounds as the Eastern Conference-leading Sky (19-8) clinched a postseason spot for the first time in seven WNBA seasons.
Plenette Pierson scored a game-high 25 points to lead the Liberty (10-16).
The Sky led 17-12 after one quarter and 26-21 with a little more than five minutes left in the second period. The Liberty rallied for a 27-26 lead on Pierson's 18-foot jumper at the 3:47 mark, but Elena Delle Donne answered with a free throw and Courtney Vandersloot added a jumper as the Sky regained the lead at 29-27.
Chicago went on to a 38-33 halftime lead, and then outscored New York 15-4 in the first 3:38 of the third period for a 53-37 edge. By quarter's end the lead had ballooned to 67-45.
The Liberty got no closer than 18 points in the final period.
Swin Cash and Delle Donne each scored 11 points while Vandersloot added 10 for Chicago.
Delle Donne played in her second straight game since being sidelined for a two games with a foot injury.
Chicago travels to Atlanta Saturday while New York visits Connecticut on Sunday.
