\u201cI\u2019ve been working on trying to get more reps and seeing the ball go through,\u201d Stevens told the Sun-Times earlier this week. \u201cJust remembering that I can shoot. It\u2019s hard when you don\u2019t have shots going in. It\u2019s really frustrating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marsh was a player-development specialist on Becky Hammon\u2019s staff in Las Vegas before coming to Chicago. He tinkered with Aces guard Jackie Young\u2019s three-point shot, helping to fuel her breakout from beyond the arc.<\/p>\n
After the Sky\u2019s win against the Fire, Marsh noticed a few small things with Stevens, including her footwork, that he wanted to address.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t want her confidence to waver,\u201d Marsh said. \u201cI think she\u2019s been turning down some open ones, and she\u2019s missed some open ones. But we don\u2019t want that to discourage her.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, in this world, being a head coach, it\u2019s a little bit harder to find individual time to be on the floor, especially in season, so you try to pick and choose and find the moments for it.\u201d<\/p>\n
It isn\u2019t just Marsh, either. General manager Jeff Pagliocca, formerly a skills trainer, served up passes to Stevens after shootaround in Connecticut. The two have been discussing different things for her to focus on when she gets open.<\/p>\n
Stevens has been improving in other areas. After a slow start on the glass, she is averaging eight rebounds over the last five games. She also is developing a nice high-low connection with Cardoso and averaging 3.2 assists in that span.<\/p>\n
But the shooting remains the key. Stevens isn\u2019t alone in her struggles. After a brief hot stretch spearheaded by Skylar Diggins and Sydney Taylor, the Sky have fallen back to a league-worst 23.6% from three-point range over their last three games.<\/p>\n
Not-free throws<\/p>\n
Shooting troubles have followed the Sky to the free-throw line.<\/p>\n
Backup center Elizabeth Williams is shooting 37% from the line, worst in the league among qualifying players. Her form has a hitch: She rises onto her tiptoes, pauses, then releases while coming back down.<\/p>\n
Williams told the Sun-Times on Wednesday that she is trying to adjust her process this season. She removed the dribble from her routine to create more fluidity.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve had different coaches try to modify [my free throws], but I think now it\u2019s just getting it right,\u201d Williams said. \u201cOnce I get it right, then the numbers will reflect that.\u201d<\/p>\n
As a team, the Sky shoot only 75% from the line, which has cost them games. But unlike some of their other problems, this one should be fixable.<\/p>\n
Go big or go home<\/p>\n
The Sky will close their homestand against the Aces on Sunday afternoon at the United Center, their first of two games there this season.<\/p>\n
The move is part of a larger WNBA trend: Teams that usually play in small or mid-sized arenas are moving select games into larger buildings. The Sky sold out both games at the United Center last season.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n After more than a year of ACL recovery, the Sky\u2019s floor general returns to a team still trying to find itself on offense.<\/p>\n [month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone] read<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/7510319\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3932x3033+0+0\/resize\/840x648!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd5%2F11%2Fc89982ad4683b21663c50d85e012%2F2217048241.jpg\")
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\n \u00a0\n <\/p>\n
![\"Dallas](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/54fd1fe\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/4521x3014+0+0\/resize\/840x560!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F5f%2F50%2F016de3ef4b2185257a5c7b6adc7e%2F2277394220.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Portland](\"https:\/\/cst.brightspotcdn.com\/dims4\/default\/0d7a817\/2147483647\/strip\/true\/crop\/3681x4601+0+0\/resize\/840x1050!\/quality\/90\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fd3%2F50%2F6f2ece454a03b347048c9a534002%2F2283194928.jpg\")
<\/p>\n