UConn head coach Geno Auriemma once said he would field a team with 10 Stefanie Dolsons. Over the past week, opponents likely felt they were facing that many clones of the Chicago Sky post player.
On Monday, the WNBA announced that Dolson had won her first career Player of the Week award. Representing the Eastern Conference, the 25-year-old has been vital to Chicago’s recent success. In a victory against Dallas last Wednesday, Dolson had 13 points and came within a rebound of a double-double. Two days later, she hit 10 of 14 shots en route to 23 points in a road win against New York.
Chicago’s winning streak ended on Sunday in a double overtime battle with Dallas, but not before Dolson earned a career-high 26 points. She added 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season. The trio of games illuminates Dolson’s developing leadership since she was traded to Chicago; she is on pace for career highs in scoring (14.2 points per game) and field goal percentage (56.4 percent).
In the Western Conference, Breanna Stewart of the Seattle Storm picked up second career Player of the Week award. The second-year forward out of UConn is on par with her production from a year ago, which means ample opportunities to pile up highlights. In a Wednesday loss to Connecticut, Stewart collected 22 points and 8 rebounds. In Saturday’s victory over Atlanta, she finished with 24 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists.
A virtual lock for the upcoming All-Star Game, Stewart has scored 20 points or more in the last six games. For the season, the 22-year-old has reached the 20-point mark in 15 of Seattle’s 19 games.