platform thinking oh, its really dark, thatd kind of suck yourse

LOS ANGELES -- The semifinal playoff series between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Chicago Sky could hang on the recovery of Elena Delle Donnes thumb.Delle Donne had surgery recently and coach Pokey Chatman said she wont play in Game 1 of the best-of-five series that begins Wednesday at Long Beach State and is doubtful for Game 2.Chicago guard Allie Quigley is impressed with how the Sky have played without the star forward.I just think we knew when she went down that we were all going to have to step up, Quigley said. Everyone was ready. Were not going to be like the team where, `Oh, theyre not that good without Elena. Everyone took it personal and stepped up big.The second-seeded Sparks, who had a double bye and havent played in 12 days, are planning for all scenarios, with or without Delle Donne. Chicago is planning to play without her.The Sparks, who had the second-best record in the league at 26-8, have shortened practices and structured them more like games in preparation for the playoffs.I also think theres an element of two things happening, Sparks coach Brian Agler said. I think we sat around for 5 1/2 weeks and everyone told us how good we are, and I think we softened up. Thats No. 1. No. 2, now its playoff time. Its easier to get peoples attention. I cant tell you the outcome of the games, but I think well be more engaged and focused.Delle Donne has captured the attention of the WNBA and its fans. And in her absence, her teammates are showing they can become a more guard-oriented team and be successful at it.Credit the players for stepping up individually and collectively, Chatman said. Unfortunately, in the past weve had to do that. Elena has suffered with some injuries and the back injury. Theres not this collective sigh or panic on the players part.Dont misunderstand me, its an arduous task ... but also, its the beauty of sports that someone goes down and someone steps up. Some veteran players like Cappie Pondexter, Courtney Vandersloot and Tamera Young, theyve stepped up and changed the way we played in terms of our pace.The fourth-seeded Sky have played well without Delle Donne, going 4-2 with her out of the lineup.Chicago must play the Sparks with all of their All-Stars, like Candace Parker and WNBA MVP Nneka Ogwumike. Ogwumike led the team in scoring with 19.7 points per game.The Sparks have won all three meetings against Chicago this season, all by double digits.While the Sparks were waiting through byes, they scrimmaged and on Tuesday, visited with the homeless in nearby Venice and passed out blankets and shoes.They were back scrimmaging on Tuesday.Theyre playing great basketball, and theyve been without (Delle Donne), Parker said. Weve got to prepare for them. They have so many different weapons.Delle Donnes absence, and her regular-season scoring average of 21.5 points per game, is glaring for Chicago, which beat Atlanta to advance.We prepare like shes never coming back because everything else would be Merry Christmas to us, Chatman said. You have to because you dont want to put undue pressure on her to come back too soon if shes not ready. Chicago White Sox Gear . The Masters champion and winner of last weeks Australian PGA has a three-round total of 14-under 199 at Royal Melbourne. "Im in a really good position for tomorrow," Scott said. 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From relative unknown to champion, Australias Rhiannan Iffland produced a stunning performance to win the Red Bull Cliff Diving Womens World Series title in her debut season.A wildcard entrant, Iffland produced a dream debut season, shocking everyone and rewriting the history books by becoming the first ever wildcard entrant to win a Red Bull Cliff Diving Womens title.I feel over the moon right now, said Iffland. I think finding out about the title yesterday made it easier, and I had a little bit of less stress on my shoulders. All I wanted to do today was got out there and have a good time.Winning four of the seven competitions with a 100 percent podium record throughout the season - including winning her debut competition in Texas - the 25-year-old needed so few points to secure the title under the lights in Dubai, she won the title with her opening round dive.But Iffland kept her foot on the gas determined to finish the series in style to make her the undisputed dominator of the World Series, delivering a series of world class dives to claim her fifth win of seven rounds.It hasnt really sunk in yet, so I guess after tomorrow the competition is finished then itll really hit me. I felt a little less stress on my shoulders and ppulled the dives off and I am really happy.ddddddddddddYesterday prior to training it was a bit frightening with all the lights and the different atmosphere, but one or two dives in it was okay and I felt quite confident up the platform. You cant go out to the end of the platform thinking oh, its really dark, thatd kind of suck yourself out, so I think that went quite in my favour and I felt quite comfortable today.Iffland wasnt the only athlete from Down Under to reach the podium at Dubai with fellow Aussie Helena Merten, the youngest permanent athlete in the field, finishing with a personal best second place.Its pretty nerve wrecking, but I grew up in a show environment where I kind of had the same environment with a black audience, spotlight in my eyes and a light pool, Merten said. It was cool today, so lets see for my harder dives, but so far I really like the setting.This years Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series was the biggest-ever in their eight year history, with nine testing competitions, including seven for the women, between June and October, with divers diving from heights of 26m to 28m. ' ' '