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Takeaways: Chicago offense too much for New York Liberty to handle

By Erica Ayala

WHITE PLAINS, NY - JUNE 29: Jamierra Faulkner #21 of the Chicago Sky handles the ball against the New York Liberty on June 29, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WHITE PLAINS, NY - JUNE 29: Jamierra Faulkner #21 of the Chicago Sky handles the ball against the New York Liberty on June 29, 2018 at Westchester County Center in White Plains, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Steve Freeman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – AUGUST 1: Tina Charles #31 of the New York Liberty talks with Epiphanny Prince #10 of the New York Liberty during the game against the San Antonio Stars during a WNBA game on August 1, 2017 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – AUGUST 1: Tina Charles #31 of the New York Liberty talks with Epiphanny Prince #10 of the New York Liberty during the game against the San Antonio Stars during a WNBA game on August 1, 2017 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Mark Sobhani/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Tina Charles cannot be stopped

Despite an ailing shooting hand (we were told at halftime Charles’ wrapped wrist was a precautionary measure), Charles met another milestone. She passed Tangela Smith to secure a spot as 17th on the WNBA all-time scoring list.

“She is consistently our best scorer. We need her presence, scoring and facilitating. She is a focal pointthat we really go through,” Smith of Charles following the game. “She needs to touch the ball every single possession. Not necessarily that she is shooting it, but she needs to touch it to create for others and put pressure on the defense.”

No doubt the Liberty need Charles, but they also need other players to step up. In a game that went down to the wire, four New York players hit double-digit scoring, as compared to six Chicago players.

Even Scoring from Chicago

Heads around the league turned when Chicago coach Amber Stocks deployed five-in, five-out substitutions in the preseason and first few games of the season. The hockey-like line changes offered fresh legs every shift. But, they also provided a bit more.

“Having multiple scoring threats is something we focused on when building our roster,” said Stocks postgame. “We’re building this team to not be a team based on one player, but to be a team that moves the basketball.”

Well, give a gold star to the Chicago staff, as the entire starting five posted double-digit points led by rookie Diamond DeShields with a 22-point game. The second shift alone tallied 27 bench points. Jamierra Faulkner went three-for-four from deep, a reward for the aggressive drive-and-kick play that left the Liberty scrambling defensively.

“[Jamierra] is a resilient person which allows her to be a resilient player,” said Stocks. “Her competitive spirit and servant-leadership with the way she is as a point guard.”

Stocks believes those wholesale substitutions are paying dividends now.

“We have experienced players,” Stocks said. “We have established we won’t rely on one individual or a limited rotation … we’ve established that we may go eight, nine, or even ten-deep in the first half to allow other players to have the legs and the lungs to thrive in the third and the fourth quarter.”

The Prince Effect

The Liberty desperately needed another scorer besides Tina Charles and it looks as though they’ve found it in Epiphanny Prince. She racked up 21 points and five assists in 25 minutes of play. Prince missed the beginning of the season after suffering a concussion. In the last two games, she’s looking more healthy but has a ways to go.

“I’m not feeling like myself yet, but I just happy to play and try to get there,” said Prince in the Liberty locker room last night. If two back-to-back 20+ points isn’t 100% for Prince, there might be more offense to come. For New York, it can’t come soon enough.

Yet, it’s not offense alone that the nine-year WNBA veteran brings to this team.

“Not only is she a great scorer in a variety of ways–3 balls, pull-ups, finishing at the rim–she can also find people and is a good facilitator,” said coach Smith of Prince. “It’s really nice to have that presence because the other team has to honor her when she is on the floor.”

With the Sky win, they improve to 6-9 while the Liberty drops to 4-11. The New York Liberty and Chicago Sky both head to Illinois to play the second game of a home-and-home series on Sunday.

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