LAS VEGAS — The Sky were just 10 seconds away from advancing to the semifinals for the first time since since 2016.
After forward Astou Ndour hit a three-point shot in the fourth quarter to give the Sky a two-point lead, the Sky forced an Aces turnover. All the Sky had to do was keep the ball in their possession for the final 10 seconds.
After a quick foul, that number went down to just nine.
But point guard Courtney Vandersloot, in the biggest possession of her season, struggled to get over the half-court line in time. Suffocated by the defenders, she lobbed the ball to forward Diamond DeShields in a last ditch effort only to have it intercepted by Aces forward Dearica Hamby, who took one dribble past Vandersloot before throwing up a long-distance three.
The shot went in, putting the Aces up 93-92 with five seconds left.
But five seconds in basketball can feel like minutes.
DeShields tried to drive to the basket, but the Aces’ pressure was too much. She kicked the ball out to Ndour, who missed the game-winning three.
After the game, the Sky chose not to make Vandersloot available. Meanwhile, coach James Wade was adamant Hamby’s shot shouldn’t have counted.
“She stepped out of bounds,” Wade said. “The last possession, before she scored, she stepped out of bounds.”
In reality, the game shouldn’t have come down to the wire as it did. It was the Sky’s game to lose.
The Sky squandered several double-digit leads throughout the game, including a 14-point lead in the second quarter and a 10-point lead in the third. They also held Aces stars Liz Cambage and A’ja Wilson to a combined three points in the first quarter, though the two All-Star bigs ultimately found a way to penetrate the Sky’s defense.
It also didn’t help that the Sky’s best sharpshooter, Allie Quigley, had an off night, going 0-for-6 from three-point range and scoring only six points.
After the heartbreaking loss, a teary-eyed DeShields, who scored a team-high 23 points, described the locker room as any other time a season ends.
“It hurts losing to a team like that,” DeShields said. “We had a lot more to give.”
Copper, who came in clutch off the bench and tied a season-high 16 points on Sunday, comforted DeShields through the brief post-game news conference by placing her hand on the All-Stars shoulder.
“It wasn’t a good feeling coming to the locker room knowing that you gave it your all and not to come out the way you wanted it,” Copper said. “[Wade] came and he picked us up We were down. ... It’s tough, it’s really sensitive.”
Though the ending of this game will sting for awhile, the Sky have a lot to look forward to after their turnaround season from lottery pick to playoffs.
DeShields took the step forward the team had hoped for and became a key part of the Sky’s offense. Vandersloot continued to be the team’s heartbeat and set records for assists. Ndour, who scored 17 points, had a breakthrough after Jantel Lavender went down with a foot injury.
But this will be a busy offseason for Wade. Six players — included Vandersloot, Quigley and center Stefanie Dolson — are on expiring contracts.
Wade is proud of what his team has accomplished this season, but he hasn’t taken time to reflect on it. It’s too hard after a season cut shorter than anticipated.
“It’s very painful, but for somebody like me personally, I really hope this pain doesn’t go away,” Wade said.
