The Tribune

By DOUG FEINBERG

AP Basketball Writer

UNCASVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Courtney Vandersloot had the second triple-double in WNBA playoff history with 12 points, a league playoff-record 18 assists and 10 rebounds to help the Chicago Sky beat the Connecticut Sun 101-95 in two overtimes last night in the opener of their best-of-five semifinal series.

With the game tied at 93, Candace Parker scored on a layup off a neat pass from Vandersloot for her record-breaking assist.

Vandersloot, who broke Sue Bird’s mark of 16 set last postseason, then threw a beautiful pass to Stefanie Dolson to give the Sky a four-point lead with 1:29 left. Connecticut couldn’t recover, scoring only its second basket of the second OT on Brionna Jones’ jumper with 13.7 seconds left that made it 98-95.

Vandersloot got her 10th rebound with 7.9 seconds left. Sheryl Swoopes had the only other triple-double in WNBA playoff history, which she did in 2005.

Jonquel Jones, who was honoured as the league’s MVP before the game, led the Sun with 26 points and 11 rebounds.

Brionna Jones, who earned Most Improved Player honours as well, added 22 points and 10 rebounds for Connecticut, which lost only one game at home during the regular season en route to the league’s best record.

This was the league’s first double-overtime playoff game since 2015 between the Mystics and Liberty.

Both teams had chances to end the game before the second OT. DeWanna Bonner missed an off-balance shot at the end of regulation. With the game tied at 91 in the first OT, the Sky dribbled the clock down before Brionna Jones stole the ball. Connecticut couldn’t get a shot off before the buzzer, sending it to the second extra session.

The Sun, who won the last 14 games of the regular season, got off to a slow start in their first game since September 19. They trailed by 11 but scored 10 of the final 12 points to trail 24-21 after one quarter.

Connecticut kept its roll going in the second and led 44-40 before Diamond DeShields scored the final seven points of the half for Chicago to give the Sky a 47-46 lead at the break.

Neither team could get much separation in the third quarter and the Sky led by three heading into the final period.

REPRESENTATION

MATTERS

Coach Curt Miller was proud that he could continue to be a role model as the only openly gay man to coach in the WNBA,

“It’s part of what my legacy will be. I want to be visible,” said Miller, who was honoured as the league’s Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. “I want to represent the next wave of gay male coaches that now have someone to look at that you can thrive and be successful and no one can tell you otherwise.”

Miller admitted earlier in his career he was more focused on being a successful coach then helping to be a trailblazer. “I didn’t want to be the gay coach,” he said. “I wasted some years to be a role model to the next generation of young gay men that are struggling.”

TIP-INS

Chicago won two of the three matchups during the regular season, but the Sun were missing Jonquel Jones for all three games.