Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot sets WNBA record with 18 assists in win over Fever
Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot had a historic outing on Monday night at IMG Academy.
Vandersloot, while leading the Sky to a dominant 100-77 win over the Indiana Fever, put up 18 assists — breaking the WNBA single-game record.
Ticha Penicheiro held the previous record at 16, which she set twice in 1998 and 2002.
“I thought this record was untouchable. Ticha set the bar very, very high,” Vandersloot said, via the Associated Press. “I don’t think this one will be touched very often. It’s tough to get 16 assists in a game. This one is really special. My teammates were knocking down shots. They were as happy as I was and it makes it that much enjoyable for me.”
BIG CONGRATS to @Sloot22 on the 17 assists - a new @wnba assist record!! How cool was that #17 came with a pass to @alliequigley for a 3!!!
Happy for you Sloot!! 🙏🏽💙— Ticha Penicheiro (@TichaPenicheiro) September 1, 2020
Vandersloot breaks record with wife’s help
Vandersloot’s final two assists of the night came in perhaps the most memorable way possible.
Vandersloot, late in the fourth quarter, found her wife Allie Quigley in the corner for a 3-pointer for her 17th assist of the game. She hit Quigley again for another 3-pointer just two possessions later, too.
“It puts a little cherry on top. It’s really special,” Vandersloot said, via the Associated Press. “I know she was happy for me. She wanted to do that for me.
“It was initially for Ruthy, but the backup plan was always Allie. You can always count on Allie to knock down some late shots.”
Teaira McCowan led the Fever with 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench. Candice Dupree added 14 points. Indiana has now dropped four straight, two of which came at the hands of the Sky.
Vandersloot finished the night with 13 points while shooting 4-of-8 from the field. Quigley dropped 19 points while hitting 4-of-7 from behind the arc, and Kahleah Cooper led the way with 21 points. The win snapped a two-game losing skid for Chicago, which currently holds the best record in the Eastern Conference but the fifth-best in the league.
"And I don't want anybody else calling their point guard a point gawd, cause....we have the one." - @gabbywilliams15 on @Sloot22's historic night. 😂 pic.twitter.com/HYj3vkdbh5
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) September 1, 2020
“I know if I’m going to cut, I know she’s going to see me. I know if I run the floor, I know she’s going to see me,” Sky forward Gabby Williams said. “I think she’s the only point guard in the country that you can say that about. I don’t want anybody else calling their point guard a point god, because we have the one.”
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