Allie Quigley goes off in Sky’s loss to Lynx

Allie Quigley scored 24 points, shooting 6-for-12 from the three-point line. 

Guard Allie Quigley stepped up when the Sky needed her the most. But unfortunately, it wasn’t enough in their 73-72 loss to the Lynx on Wednesday at Wintrust Arena.

With the Sky down by 11 points, Quigley, one of the Sky’s steadiest players, lit it up from the three-point line going 6-for-12.

She hit a three with 22 seconds left in the third quarter to give the Sky their first lead in the second half. Quigley celebrated by screaming and pumping her fist next to guard Diamond DeShields, who contributed 13 points in the loss.

Quigley finished with 24 points. It was her ninth double-digit scoring performance in her last 10 games.

Quigley had such a phenomenal game, coach James Wade trusted her with the final shot. She made an off-balanced jumper as the clocked wound down in the fourth quarter, but it was waived off because she shot it after a foul.

With 2.2 seconds left in the game, the Sky seemed confused during the potential game-clinching inbounds play. In a last-chance effort, Quigley threw the ball up again but it bounced off the rim as the shot-clock expired.

After the game, Wade took blame for the miscommunication on the final play.

“I messed up,” Wade said. “It’s a play that we did a few weeks ago and we did it again like later but I didn’t get them organized because the lineup was a little funkier than I thought it would be. I messed up. And I wish I could take it back but I can’t.”

All salute the “General”

Point guard Courtney Vandersloot continues to be one of the league’s most underrated players.

This week, Vandersloot, 30, became the second-youngest WNBA player to record 1,500 career assists. On Wednesday, she finished with four assists, bringing her total to 1,504.

Vandersloot set a season assist record last season with 258, and she’s on pace to smash that record, averaging 8.2 assists per game.

Though Vandersloot has been a staple in the Sky’s offense, she hasn’t been voted an All-Star since her rookie season in 2011.

Wade believes that needs to change.

“She’s probably one of the most quiet and soft spoken but fierce superstars,” Wade said before the game. “But sometimes that works against her because they don’t see her beating her chest like everybody.

“But we know what she is, we know who she is, so we show appreciation for her every day. If we end up having a special season it’s going to be because of her.”

The All-Star rosters will be announced Thursday.

Confidence is key

Guard/forward Gabby Williams, who struggles with overthinking her game, had one of her best games of the season against the Lynx. She looked composed and confident.

As a result, she finished with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Wade praised Williams for her versatility as she frequently switches from point guard to power forward mid-game.

“We just want her to be comfortable contributing, and when she’s in a comfortable situation and contributing, she’s good,” Wade said.