Vandersloot, Pondexter help Sky cruise to 93-70 win over Sun

ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) Courtney Vandersloot had 14 points and seven assists, Cappie Pondexter added 13 points, and the Chicago Sky beat the Connecticut Sky 93-70 Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.

Chicago's Elena Delle Donne, who led the WNBA in scoring (23.8 per game) and was named league MVP last season, missed the game with an illness.

Connecticut missed six of its first seven field-goal attempts as the Sky, who never trailed, built a 10-4 lead.

Rachel Banham and Morgan Tuck each hit a 3-pointer to cut the Sun's deficit to 14-13 with 1:38 left in the first quarter, but Cheyenne Parker scored the final seven points in a 19-5 run that gave Chicago a 15-point lead with 5:57 to go in the first half.

The Sun, who opened the season No. 10 in the Associated Press WNBA Power Rankings, trailed by double figures the rest of the way.

The third-ranked Sky made 31 of 37 free throws and outrebounded Connecticut 46-33.

Alex Bentley led the Sun with 14 points. Banham scored 13.