DePaul Dominates Mercer 95-64
Remains Undefeated in Chris Holtmann Era
Remains Undefeated in Chris Holtmann Era
Remains Undefeated in Chris Holtmann Era
By Joshua M Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
@joshmhicksmedia
The Chris Holtmann head coaching era continues to move in the positive direction as DePaul defeats Mercer 95-64 to remain undefeated so far this season. The Blue Demons set the tone to start the game, with junior Conner Enright taking charges on back-to-back defensive possessions and graduate forward David Skogman and senior forward Troy D’Amico hitting 3-point baskets to help the team get a 12-4 early lead.
Remains Undefeated in Chris Holtmann Era
Remains Undefeated in Chris Holtmann Era
Upon coming out of the first game timeout, the Blue Demons continued their hot start by forcing 4 turnovers over a 2-minute span and going on a 8-0 scoring run within a minute to expand their lead to double digits, leading 22-9 with 13 minutes left in the first half.
The Blue Demons didn’t let up, continuing with another 18-3 run over a 7-minute period while holding Mercer to 1-12 shooting and forcing 4 turnovers, allowing the team to expand their lead to 29 heading into halftime, 51-22. The Blue Demons held Mercer to 37 percent shooting from the field and 20 percent from the 3-point line. D’Amico led the way for the Blue Demons with 9 points.
The Blue Demons’ dominance continued into the second half. The Blue Demons continued to push the gas pedal with a 14-2 run to extend their lead. Players like junior guard CJ Gunn, sophomore guard Jacob Meyer and junior forward NJ Benson joined the party, giving the team additional offensive support.Though the Blue Demons had some ups and downs in the second half, they still finished the game strong with a 31-point v ictory. The Blue Demons scored 53 bench points, with senior forward JJ Traynor, Gunn, Benson and Meyer leading the charge. The numbers were a good sign to coach Holtmann, and he gave insight on how he wants to utilize his rotations more in games throughout the season, something he admitted he never really operated on in previous coaching stints.
Remains Undefeated in Chris Holtmann Era
“We do need to be able to play and have good depth,” Holtmann said. “Our bench is going to be really critical for us throughout the year and I’d like to be able to play 9 or 10 guys on most nights. It may be a little bit more than I’ve played at points throughout my career but I would like to do that if I could.”
Traynor believes that even though the bench played well tonight, no matter who is leading the charge, the job remains the same and the team has to remain consistent in that production.
“Whether we are coming off the bench or starting, our job remains the same,” Traynor said. “We come in having to play with a lot of energy and confidence and good things will happen.”
The Blue Demons are now 3-0 to start the season. The Windy City hasn’t had that type of production coming from DePaul in awhile. Gunn understands the importance of the winning streak, but remains humble. He wants to make it clear that though this is an accomplishment, the team still has a long way to go.
“This city hasn’t seen that in a long time,” Gunn said. “For us, we’re going to keep taking it day by day as if it was the first game of the season. We’re going to stay level and go into every game well prepared.”
Windy City Falls to Grand Rapids on Buzzer Beater
Hoffman Estates, Ill. – The Windy City Bulls, presented by BMO, the NBA G League affiliate of the Chicago Bulls, fell to the Grand Rapids Gold 121-124 in their Sunday rematch. Despite the loss, Windy City again had five players in double figures, three with 20-plus points, and one with 30-plus points. Guard Javon Freeman-Liberty led the Bulls on the floor with 32 points and six assists.
Chicago Bulls two-way guard DJ Steward tallied 25 points and six assists, shooting 62% from the field. Bulls two-way forward/center Adama Sanogo added another double-double to his season, notching 22 points and 13 rebounds for Windy City.
Windy City had a hot start, going 4-4 on three pointers and 2-2 from inside the arc for their first 16 points, but the Gold took the first quarter by three. The second quarter was kept close, but the Gold entered the half maintaining their three-point lead. A needed steal for the Bulls in the third quarter came from guard Jordan Jackson, who assisted Javon Freeman-Liberty on a cutting dunk to give Windy City the lead.
The final stretch saw seven lead changes and four ties as the Bulls battled to maintain their lead. Denver Nuggets guard Jalen Pickett, on assignment with the Grand Rapids Gold, posted 17 points in the fourth, including the game-winning three at the buzzer. Chicago Bulls two-way forward EJ Liddell contributed 16 points for Windy City, while shooting 60% from the field.
Guard Ryan Arcidiacono chipped in 12 points from the bench, along with five assists. Jordan Jackson and center David Muoka saw their first minutes with the Windy City Bulls, playing 18 and 12 minutes respectively.
ON AIR Daily News Sports Editor Joshua Hicks (at right) discusses the upcoming season with new ON AIR Sports Reporter Kalia Butler on Media Day, October 31, 2024, when the Windy City Bulls introduced its 2024-25 season team and staff. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News.
Jalen Pickett led all scorers with 37 points, shooting 65% from the field, while also dishing out 12 assists. Two-way Denver Nuggets center PJ Hall put up 22 points and took down eight rebounds. Windy City heads to Detroit to wrap up their road trip before returning home. The matchup is slated for Tuesday, November 12, at 7:00 pm CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
UIC Secures Victory on Homecoming Night Against Yale
By Joshua M. Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
@joshmhicksmedia
In a game of runs, the UIC Flames sent a positive message to fans Friday night by securing a win on home opening night against the Yale Bulldogs 91-79. The team has started the season 2-0 with their next game against Northwestern on Tuesday, November 12.
The Flames got off to a slow start, trailing 7-0 in the first four minutes of the game. After the Bulldogs’ run, the Flames started to find their offensive rhythm thanks to a few quick baskets from sophomore forward Sasa Ciani and senior forward Filip Skobalj.
Their efforts led to the Flames going on a 8-0 run and making five out of their next seven field goals, allowing them to take a 19-17 lead halfway through the first half. But the Bulldogs went on a run of their own, and when they came back, it was difficult for the Flames to get over the hump.
Even when the Flames made runs of their own, the Bulldogs always found an answer. Flames graduate guard Tyem Freeman came off the bench giving the team a spark with 8 points, but Bulldogs senior guard John Poulakidas watered down the fire, hitting timely baskets to keep the Bulldog’s lead alive.
Shooting 48 percent from the field and 58 percent from the 3-point line, the Bulldogs led at halftime 41-34. Yale also out-rebounded the Flames 24-16. Poulakidas led all scorers with 10 points. After the first half, it appeared dull on the Flames side, but the second half took a twist and the Flames began to rise up. In the heat of the moment, the Flames began the second half scorching the Bulldogs a 13-0 run that led the Flames to take the lead behind the leadership of junior guard Javon Jackson.
After taking the lead, the team didn’t look back, flipping the switch defensively and shooting the ball effectively. Thanks to the contributions of junior guard Jordan Mason, Freeman and Jackson, the Flames secured the win. Freeman gave the team a huge boost coming off the bench with 19 points. Last season, though he shot 45 percent from the 3-point line, he didn’t play as much. With a new role on a revised roster, Freeman is taking advantage of his opportunities.
“In a new environment, he’s really gelled and he’s really comfortable here,” Flames head coach Rob Ehsan said. “He’s always had that kind of talent, and he’s earned a good opportunity.”
Ehsan gave credit to his players for their resiliency to sticking to the game plan and coming together as a unit to create the comeback. Led by Jackson, the Flames expressed not only trust in their leaders, but they were also demonstrating the depth the team had as a whole.
UIC guard Javon Jackson (22) stretches past Yale center Samson Aletan' (10) and goes up for two points, helping the UIC Flames come from behind for Friday's 91-79 win. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News.
“We told the guys that if we keep shooting and play confident, they will hopefully go in,” Ehsan said. “Jackson spark plugged us in the second half. When he got going, the team fed off of it. The [second half] wasn’t anything different [than the first half]. Just stuck with the game plan and we ended up playing well in the second half.”
Yale forward Isaac Celiscar (8) lands on his feet and maintains his balance as he grabs and holds on to a rebound, despite heavy pressure from the UIC Flames. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News.
UIC guard Ethan Pickett (4) skillfully maneuvers the ball while evading Yale's defensive moves and heads down court to score two more for the Flames. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News.
UIC guard Joshua Reaves (23) aims to shoot over the head of Yale guard Bez Mbeng (2). Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News.
Ehsan wants to put together a product that makes fans proud. After securing the home opener against a solid NCAA tournament contender, he hopes that winning culture continues to progress in a positive direction
.“Our team has been practicing so hard and they want to represent UIC and represent Chicago. To have 3,000 plus fans here and get a win in the way that we won added to the excitement in the building. Hopefully we can continue to put a good product on the floor that people around here are proud of.”
INDIANA FEVER WINS On Chicago Sky Home Court 100 to 81
The Sky Lose Season Series to Indiana with Doube-Digit Loss
The Sky Lose Season Series to Indiana with Doube-Digit Loss
The Sky Lose Season Series to Indiana with Doube-Digit Loss
By Joshua M. Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
In a historic star studded matchup FridayAugust 30, 2024 the Chicago Sky failed to even the season series against the Indiana Fever with a 100-81 loss. The Sky fell to 11-20 on the season, fighting for the 8th playoff spot. Sky rookie forward Angel Reese made history as she passed Tina Charles (398 rebounds in her rookie season) for first on the WNBA all-time rookie rebounds list with 399 rebounds this season, per Sky PR. However, her double-double performance (10 points, 11 rebounds) wasn’t enough to prevent the team’s current five game losing streak.
Both teams went back and forth trading baskets to start the game. But thanks to Sky guard Lindsay Allen’s 10 first quarter points, the Sky went on a 15-1 run to give the team a 21-9 lead before the first break of the game. The Fever made a comeback behind the leadership of guard Kelsey Mitchell, but the Sky were able to hold their own, finishing the first quarter with a 26-23 lead, shooting 45 percent from the field and 50 percent from the 3-point line.
After a quiet first quarter, Fever guard Caitlin Clark came alive to start the second quarter, scoring two straight 3-point shots to give the Fever control of the lead. The Sky struggled scoring for the majority of the quarter, only scoring 16 second quarter points.
The Sky trailed the Fever 47-42 at halftime. They finished the half shooting 37 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line. Allen led the team with 16 points and 5 assists.
The Fever took their second quarter momentum into the third quarter, with Clark and Mitchell firing on all cylinders. The Sky’s defense struggled to slow the Fever down, as the Fever extended their lead to double-digits. Though the Sky struggled, Allen’s offensive efforts kept the team close, keeping the Sky within striking distance.
The Sky Lose Season Series to Indiana with Doube-Digit Loss
The Sky Lose Season Series to Indiana with Doube-Digit Loss
All eyes are on top rookie Chicago Sky Forward Angel Reese (5) as she battles to reach the basket despite heavy Indiana defense. Photo by John L. Alexander/ONAIR Daily News.
But the team’s deficit grew to 14 as they headed into the fourth quarter down 78-64. Shooting only 38 percent from the field, the team only put up 38 points between the second and third quarters, while the Fever put up 55 points during that same stretch.
The story continued in the fourth quarter, with the Sky struggling to find consistent offense while the Fever broke down the Sky’s defense. Clark’s dominance continued to extend the Sky’s deficit, becoming too much for the Sky to handle. There were some moments in the fourth quarter where the team lost their composure, especially when it came to dealing with the referees. The team is young, but the team made it clear that it doesn’t justify their behavior throughout the game.
“Us leaders and vets have to step up in those moments,” guard Rachel Banham said. “I think we could’ve done a better job of that. You could see how things snowballed really quickly.”
The Sky Lose Season Series to Indiana with Doube-Digit Loss
Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) is determined to stop Chicago Sky guard Lindsay Allen (15) from getting near the basket. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News
Sky forward Michaela Onyenwere echoed Banham’s sentiments, stressing the importance of consistency and how the lack of it impacted the teams and the game negatively.
“It’s a level of consistency,” Onyenwere said. “The refs are human but at times it feels like there is no consistency so it’s hard when there are fouls everywhere. In the fourth quarter it felt like ‘what happened?’ and there was a foul. We have to be better and as leaders be held accountable for that but there is also a level of consistency that just wasn’t there.”
Though the players’ sentiments were expressed, head coach Theresa Weatherspoon debunked the narratives, emphasizing the real struggles of the team: having a lack of discipline, will and approach to defend.
“We have a lot of things that we need to correct, and it starts with the defensive side of the ball,” Weatherspoon said. “We are a defensive team with offensive runs. We aren’t getting stops, we aren’t being disruptive. We are allowing teams to get shots however they want it when they want it. It is difficult to defend that. We have to be better on the defensive side of the ball. All five players.”
The team’s next home game is Friday, September 6 at 8:30 pm.
Chicago Sky's Diamond DeShields (0) shoots over the head of Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10) as the Sky struggles to make a comeback after losing a First Quarter lead. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News.
Chicago Sky guard Lindsay Allen (15) maneuvers past Indiana Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell (0) keeping the Sky within striking range of taking back the lead. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News.
Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) fires off a shot in the face of opposition from the Sky, widening the gap in the fourth quarter to insure victory over Chicago. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News.
Stars Come Out To See Battle of The Rookies
Stars Come Out To See Battle of The Rookies
Stars Come Out To See Battle of The Rookies
Shaquille O'Neal was one of the many celebrities who came to the Wintrust Arena to witness the head to head matchup between Chicago Sky's top rookie Angel Reese and Indiana Fever's top rookie Caitlin Clark. Photo by John L. Alexander /ON AIR Daily News
Stars Come Out To See Battle of The Rookies
Stars Come Out To See Battle of The Rookies
Basketball fans enjoy an unofficial game analysis by Shaquille O'Neale as the Chicago Sky faced the Indiana Fever on their home court. The highly publicized game attracted many familiar faces to the packed stadium. After a stellar career with the Los Angeles Lakers, Shaquille O'Neal, affectionately known as "Shaq" by friends and fans, is now a sports analyst on the television program Inside The NBA. Photo by John L. Alexander /ON AIR Daily News
Stars Come Out To See Battle of The Rookies
Celebrity fans like these two NFL players, new Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift and Chicago Bears linebackerTremaine Edmunds, came to watch the Sky battle it out with the Fever as both teams sought to set new WNBA records. De'Andre Swift was recently traded to Chicago by the Philadelphia Eagles and Tremaine Edmund, first drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2018, joined the Chicago Bears in 2023. Photo by John L. Alexander /ON AIR Daily News
By Naimah Latif
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
CHICAGO - The Wintrust Arena came alive as a festive crowd got ready to celebrate another home game Chicago Sky win as the team faced the Atlanta Dream Wednesday July 10, 2024.
The Sky sjot out of the gate withan early lead, with points scored by Sky center Angel Reese and Sky guard Moriah Jefferson and a heavy Sky defense that kept Atlanta scoreless until 5:40 left in the first quarter.
A few well calculated 3-pointers put Atlanta ahead 13-12, but a score by Sky guard Chennedy Carter Carter put Chicago back on top 14-13. At the end of the first quarter, the Sky's lead ha. slipped away, ending the quarter in a deficit of 18-22.
Sky guard Diamond DeShields kicked off the second quarter scoring, followed Angel Reese.
Atlanta forward Cheyenne Parker-Tyus missed two free throws, allowing Chicago to narrow the gap, and a basket by Angle Reese tied the score at 28-28.
More shots fired off by Sky's Chennedy Carter put Chicago in the lead with 36-32. Two missed free throws by Atlanta center Tina Charles gave an opening to Chicago to pull ahead. A shot by Chennedy Parker brought the score to 36-34 at the half.
Chicagao SKy's Angel Reese (5) goes airborne as she maneuvers through heavy defense from the Atlanta Dream to fire off a shot. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News
Rebounds by Atlanta guard Rhyne Howard and along withwell placed free throws helped Atlanta pull ahead in the third quarter but Chicago came back to tie the score 50-50 with 2;29 lefrt in the quarter. At the end of the third quatrter the teams were deadlocked at 54-54.
Two missed free rthrows by Atlanta center Tina Charles gave an opening to Chicago to pull ahead.
Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7) fights her way to the basket to pull the Sky ahead in the fourth quarter. Photo by John L. Alexander /ON AIR Daily News
But two more free throws hit by Atlanta forward Naz Hillman tied the game again at 60-60.
In the last three minutes of the game Chicago pulled ahead. A rebound snatched by Sky center Kamilla Cordoso led to timely baskets sunk by guard Chennedy Carter and forward Angel Reese, and the Chicago Sky clinched a 78-69 win over the Atlanta Dream.
Las Vegas Beats Chicago Sky at Buzzer, 77-75
Chicago Sky center Angel Reese (5) celebrates after landing a basket early in the first quarter, giving the Sky a lead over the Aces. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily New
By Naimah Latif
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
In a tight game that went down to the wire, the Las Vegas Aces squeaked past the Chicago Sky at the buzzer, winning 77-75 Sunday August 25, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
The Sky took the lead in the first quarter, with Lindsay Allen's pass to Mchaela Onyenwere for a 3 pointer from the corner, putting Chicago ahead 3-0. Chicago ended the first quarter with a 17 to 12 point lead, thanks to 3-pointers from Michaela Onyenwere.
Las Vegas caught up in the second quarter, and the score was tied 30-30. Then, moments before the buzzer Las Vegas center A'ja Wilson scored, giving Las Vegas a lead over Chicago 32 to 30 at halftime.
Sky center Angel Reese and Sky guard Chennedy Carter evened the score twice during the third quarter, but back-to-back 3-pointers by Las Vegas center Megan Gustafson put the Aces back on top 40-34. The Aces maintained the lead until Angel Reese landed a foul shot and Sky center Kamilla Cardoso hit two in a row to put the Sky up 50-48. At the end of the third quarter, the Sky and the Aces were tied 52-52.
The fourth quarter was a battle to the very end. Aces guard Chelsea Gray hit a 3-pointer, Aces center Megan Gustafson and Aces guard Jackie young sank baskets back to back followed by a a free throw by Aces guard Kelsey Plum, giving Las Vegas an 8 point lead over the Sky, but the Sky came back , sinking baskets to tie the score 75-75.
Sky guard Chennedy Carter was top scorer for the Sky, with 25 points. Sky guard Lindsay Allen scored 16, while Michaela Onyenwere totaled 15.
Chicago Sky center Angel Reese (5) maneuvers past Los Angeles Aces center A'ja Wilson (22) to score late in the fourth quarter. Photo by John L. Alexander/ ON AIR Daily News
Angel Reese scored 11 points, for her sixth double-double in a row and her 22nd of the season. Las Vegas Aces center A'ja Wilson had 18 rebounds and put up 20 points, including the game winning point to give the Aces a 77-75 win over the Sky.
The Chicago Sky will host the Washington Mystics on Wednesday August 28, 2024
Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso (10) stretches to block a shot by the Las Vegas Aces as the two teams battle to break a tie score. Photo by John L. Aleander/ON AIR Daily News
Chicago Sky guard Moriah Jefferson (4)drives past Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum (10) on her way to the basket. Photo by John L. Alexander/ON AIR Daily News
Aces' Kelsey Plum (10), Sky's Angel Reese(5) and Sky's Kamilla Cardoso (10) battle for the rebound after a missed shot. Photo by John L. Aleander/ON AIR Daily News
WASHINGTON MYSTICS DEFEAT CHICAGO SKY 74-70
The Sky falter late against the streaking Mystics
The Sky’s Dana Evans (11) drives the lane and looks for a teammate to pass to late in the fourth quarter. Photo by Andrew Diederich/ON AIR Daily News
The Sky's Lindsay Allen (11) creates some space on the baseline and pulls up for a mid-range jumper amidst two Mystics defenders. Photo by Andrew Diederich/ON AIR Daily News
By Andrew Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
The Chicago Sky remain unable to snap their losing skid. They drop a heartbreaker in front of their home crowd to the Washington Mystics, 74-70. Leading by seven with just four minutes to go, the Sky surrendered a 9-0 run and were simply unable to recover.
A quick glance at the box score won’t show anything too alarming. The Sky shot above average from the floor, were efficient behind the arc, and pulled down eleven more rebounds than their opponents. However, a deeper search shows what really led to their demise - 23 turnovers which turned into 21 points for the Mystics. Rookie Angel Reese had 6 turnovers herself and was unable to offset that with her scoring, finishing with 7 points on 30% efficiency.
No one recognized the offensive woes more than Lindsay Allen. The Sky’s floor general spoke postgame on what went wrong, saying “They came out and crushed the ball. They were aggressive, they were assertive, they were the aggressors. And the game usually favors the aggressors, and we were just sloppy with the ball, which was unacceptable. So we just have to be better.”
The Mystics Stefanie Dolson (31) holds firm against the Sky’s Kamilla Cardoso (10) in the post. Photo by Andrew Diederich/ON AIR Daily News
Despite the offensive struggles in the clutch, there are a lot of positives to take away from the Sky’s performance. Leading the charge for Chicago was Michaela Onyenwere, who notched 15 points on 50% from the field. Rookie Kamilla Cardoso stuffed the stat sheet in her own right with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and a career-high 6 assists. Both Onyenwere and Cardoso have stepped into an increased role with Marina Mabrey’s departure and Chennedy Carter’s recent absences.
The Sky’s recent addition in three-point specialist Rachel Banham was noticeably quiet in the box score, only recording 3 points on 2 shots from downtown.
Coach Weatherspoon remains confident in what Banham can do for this offense down the line. “We have to have her ability to score… We're looking to get her more shots and open looks so she can really gain her confidence because she never lacks it at all.”
Still though, the Sky’s play on defense can leave much to be desired. Perhaps it was due to the possible COVID outbreak which canceled practice on Tuesday, or something else entirely, but the Sky didn’t possess the necessary defensive energy late in the contest. The Mystics were easily cutting to the basket or finding space in the open floor to knock down uncontested shots. This was most apparent in the final seconds, with the Sky unable to defensively rebound Julie Vanloo’s missed foul shot, allowing Brittney Sykes to knock down a foul shot of her own to go up two possessions.
Sky rookies Kamilla Cardoso (10) and Angel Reese (5) look to the referee for an explanation on a foul call. Photo by Andrew Diederich/ON AIR Daily News
Veteran Diamond DeShields remained encouraged about this team’s offensive potential. She herself had 12 points on 5/7 shooting off the bench.
“I just found myself in a position throughout the year trying to take advantage of the opportunities that are given,” the longtime Sky player mentioned.
“Sometimes it's on the defensive end where I have to be more assertive, and tonight it was on the offensive end…just trying to do what the team needs from me, honestly.”
The Mystics’ Karlie Samuelson (14) tries to recover on defense as the Sky's Diamond DeShields (0) heads to the rack. Photo by Andrew Diederich/ON AIR Daily News
Other key contributors were Stefanie Dolson and Ariel Atkins of the Mystics, combining for 32 points and 40% shooting from behind the arc. Along with Emily Engstler off the bench, their timely threes kept chipping away at the Sky’s lead in the second half.
The Sky now fall to 11-19, having lost 5 of their last 6. Their next task is tackling Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever at home on Friday, August 30th.
PHOENIX MERCURY DEFEATS CHICAGO SKY 85-65
Phoenix's gold medalists overwhelm the youthful Sky squad
Phoenix's gold medalists overwhelm the youthful Sky squad
Phoenix's gold medalists overwhelm the youthful Sky squad
Isabelle Harrison of the Sky makes a post move on the Mercury’s Brittney Griner late in the first half. Photo by Andrew Diederick / ON AIR Daily News
By Andrew Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
In some of the first action after the conclusion of the WNBA Olympic Break, the Phoenix Mercury dominated on the road against the Chicago Sky, 85-65. Any proponents of the “rest equals rest” adage certainly can use this game as evidence.
The Mercury’s trio of Kahleah Copper, Brittney Griner, and Diana Taurasi all recently won gold with team USA at the Paris Olympics, and it was those three who shined the brightest on Thursday night.
Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon was one of the first to acknowledge how talented this Phoenix Mercury team truly is.
“Brittney Griner is one of the best post players doing it right now,” Weatherspoon said. “Can’t allow the looks here and everyone else gets continually.”
Defense indeed was the main issue in what led to the Sky’s loss. The aforementioned Copper, Griner, and Taurasi combined for 63 points on 64% shooting, and the Mercury as a whole shot over 52% from beyond the arc.
Star rookie Angel Reese echoed her coach’s sentiment on the defensive effort.
Phoenix's gold medalists overwhelm the youthful Sky squad
Phoenix's gold medalists overwhelm the youthful Sky squad
Natasha Cloud, Kamilla Cardoso, and Brittney Griner wait as free throws are awarded to the Sky in the third quarter. Photo by Andrew Diederick / ON AIR Daily News
“We let them get too many good looking shots, when that happens you just have to knock shots down,” Reese said.
Reese was only one of two Sky starters to reach double figures, notching totals of 11 points and 15 rebounds for yet another double-double. Still though, her 4-14 efficiency alongside the Sky’s 37% field goal percentage overall left much to be desired.
Without their leading scorer in Chennedy Carter, who was out with a non-COVID illness, the Sky had trouble sharing the ball and finding the open woman.
Chicago has been able to make up for their (at times) inefficient offensive output by out rebounding their opponents and capitalizing on second chance opportunities.
Without those advantages in this game, the Sky never truly had control of the matchup from the tip to the final buzzer.
Notably, this is a new look Chicago Sky team from the first half of the season. Sharpshooter guard Marina Mabrey was dealt at the trade deadline to the Connecticut Sun for a package deal including Rachel Banham, Moriah Jefferson, and draft picks.
Banham in particular was a key pickup for the Sky, who acquired her in the hopes of patching up the perimeter defense and adding more outside scoring potential to the offense.
Phoenix's gold medalists overwhelm the youthful Sky squad
Rachel Banham, the newest member of the Sky, looks for a teammate against tough defense from Celeste Taylor. Photo by Andrew Diederick / ON AIR Daily News
It was evident that the Sky wanted to get Banham open looks, as she was the focal point of many offensive sets the team ran in the half-court or after a stoppage in play. Despite going 1-6 from downtown, Banham was happy to get room to shoot and remained optimistic about how potent the Sky’s offense can be.
“My teammates do a good job of setting screens for me, and coach draws up stuff for me all the time,” Banham said. “The offense is going to come, it’s the defense we need to lock in on and that’s going to be our focus right now.”
Guard Dana Evans led the way for the Sky with 14 points off the bench, as she maneuvered through ball screens and tight perimeter defense from the Mercury’s Natasha Cloud to knock down a number of mid-range jump shots. Angel Reese’s fellow rookie in center Kamilla Cardoso did indeed finish 5-8 from the field for 10 points, but was noticeably outmatched by the physical play from Natasha Mack and Griner.
The Sky now fall to 10-15, sitting firmly in the 8th seed and final playoff spot. They now embark on a multi-game roadtrip which sees them play the Los Angeles Sparks and Connecticut Sun, with a rematchagainst the Phoenix Mercury in between the two.
Chicago Sky Defeat Dallas Wings 92-77
A Reese-less Sky Soar at Home
A Reese-less Sky Soar at Home
A Reese-less Sky Soar at Home
The Sky’s leading scorer Chennedy Carter (7) goes baseline around Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale (24) to get the ball to a teammate in the first half. ON AIR Daily News
By Andrew Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
The Chicago Sky capped off a great sports Sunday in the Windy City by claiming victory over the Dallas Wings, 92-77. It was an impressive outing in spite of the absence of all-star rookie Angel Reese, who is out for the season with a left wrist fracture. That clearly didn’t matter to this Sky team as they handled the Wings for their largest margin of victory all season.
Chennedy Carter has refused to slow down after coming back from her hiatus with an illness. The Sky’s leading scorer on the season stepped up again to notch 28 points along with four rebounds and six assists. After seeing the immediate improvement in scoring with Carter back in the lineup, it’s clear she truly helps dictate the flow of this Sky offense. She has now recorded her two highest assist marks of the season in her last two games, an encouraging sign that this Sky offense has found their groove.
It certainly wasn’t just Carter who was grooving however. Isabelle Harrison started in place of Reese and recorded a season-high 21 points, and Michaela Onyenwere, Kamilla Cardoso, and Dana Evans each scored in double-figures. Turnovers were the biggest obstacle all season, but the Sky cleaned up their offense, even going the entire third quarter without giving the ball up. They gave themselves chances to score in the half-court, in transition, with ball screens, or even just isolation.
A Reese-less Sky Soar at Home
A Reese-less Sky Soar at Home
Chicago Sky's Dana Evans (11) mirrors Dallas Wings guard Sevgi Uzun (1) on defense near the half-court line, leading to a steal. ON AIR Daily News
Evans spoke postgame on how fluid the offense was moving.“I feel like moving the ball, getting it from side to side, is always good for us,” Evans said. “Once we share the ball and get everyone involved, we take easy shots and we’re really dangerous.”
The Sky even managed to out rebound the Wings 38-34 without their best rebounder in Reese. Kamilla Cardoso pulled down 11 herself, which marks her 6th double-double in her young career. The interior on both ends of the floor was mainly controlled by the Sky all game, though Isabelle Harrison admits there’s room to grow on the defensive end.
“Those are big girls after all,” Harrison said. “Ball pressure is one thing, but we can improve on how we defended as a team down low.”
Defensively, the Sky remained stout for the most part. The interior defense held firm led by the rim defender in Cardoso, but major contributions from Harrison and Brianna Turner stopped any sustained success the Wings had around the rim. The perimeter was shored up by Evans, Diamond DeShields, and Lindsay Allen, holding the Wings to just 3 of 15 from beyond the arc.
Add in the efficient outside shooting, and it truly felt like a complete game all around for the Chicago Sky. Coach Teresa Weatherspoon had great praise across the board for her players postgame, but what stood out the most were her words pregame on what Angel Reese continues to bring to this team even from the bench.
“We all feel for (Angel), she’s done a hell of a job for us all season long… but she’s tough. She walks in here with a great amount of energy. She’s walking in and encouraging the team and pushing everyone.”
The Sky now sit at 13-22 in the 8th and final playoff spot. With just 5 games to go, they’ll continue their playoff push at home on Wednesday against the Washington Mystics.
Sky forwaerd Isabelle Harrison (20)puts up a floater over some tough defense late in the first quarter. ON AIR Daily News
The injured Angel Reese celebrates a teammate’s three-pointer on the bench. ON AIR Daily News
THE SKY BREAK 7 GAME LOSING STREAK WITH WIN VS LA SPARKS
By Joshua Hicks
Sports Editor
ON AIR Daily News
@joshmhicksmedia
The Chicago Sky snapped their 7-game losing streak and secured a much-needed win against the LA Sparks 92-78 behind rookie forward Angel Reese double-double (24 points, 12 rebounds). The win keeps them in the playoff position as they fight for the final playoff spot. Thanks to the leadership of Reese and the return of their scoring guard Chennedy Carter, the Sky came out the gate with the first punch. The offensive rhythm was flowing and the tone was set by dominating the boards as the team jumped to an early 10-6 lead. But the Sparks defense picked up, forcing the Sky to turn over the ball five times that led to seven points off turnovers to give them the lead.
The Sky held their own and created a small comeback, thanks to the 60 percent 3-point shooting led by guard Diamond DeShields and guard Rachel Banham, keeping the team within striking distance heading to the second quarter with a 20-19 deficit. The back and forth continued with Sparks rookie forward Rickea Jackson leading the charge, scoring 9 of her 15 first half points in the quarter.
Though the Sparks made their runs, the Sky held their own with forward Michaela Onyenwere contributing 6 of her 8 points to keep the game close.
Toward the end of the quarter, the Sky’s defense picked up, causing the Sparks to turnover the ball four times. Thanks to some timely baskets from Carter, the team regained the lead, finishing the quarter with 48-42 while shooting 54 percent from the field and 66 percent from the 3-point line.
The Sky’s hot shooting continued in the second half, and Reese continued her aggressive play into the third quarter. She scored six quick points, while Sky guard Lindsay Allen joined the offensive party by making a couple 3-point shots to help extend the Sky lead to double-digits. Reese’s 11 third quarter points and defensive intensity led the charge for a 27-point quarter, extending the lead to 14 points at the end of the quarter. The same efforts carried into the fourth quarter, with the Sky maintaining their double-digit lead and having almost 3 players with double-double/triple-double stats.
Chicago Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7) takes a shot from 3 late in the second half. Photo by Brandon CollieON AIR Daily News
Sky guard Chennedy Carter gets fouled hard by LA Sparks forward Dearica Hamby (5) in the 4th quarter. Photo by Brandon Collier/ON AIR Daily News
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon calls Carter’s energy contagious, stating her presence gave the team an extra boost on the court. She believes her presence on the court made life easier for them to score in comparison to the last few games she’s missed due to COVID-19.
“She does an incredible job of getting to the rim, breaking defenses down and giving our players easy access to the rim,”Weatherspoon said. “She makes life easier because of the attention that she draws. It makes life easier on the offensive side of the ball.”
Sky guard Chennedy Carter (7) aggressively attacks the basket with LA Sparks guard Odyssey Sims (6) defending. Photo by Brandon Collier/ON AIR Daily News
Carter’s return paid dividends on the offensive end, not only with her 15 points, but facilitating as well. Her seven assists made it easier for the Twin Towers of rookie center Kamilla Cardoso and Reese to dominate the paint.
“I love double teams,” Carter said. “Ball screens is something that I’m strong at. When it comes to that situation I typically know how to navigate it, find myself and find my teammates.”
The win brought life back into the Sky’s locker room. Reese admitted that there were lots of emotions throughout the 7-game skid that tested the character of the team. But the team put in the work and responded. Tonight’s win demonstrated that even though they are a young team in every facet of the game, in Reese’s eyes, they are not far away from consistently winning basketball.
“We have players on the team that haven’t been in the league in awhile,” Reese said. “Some players have never started in their lives. Two rookies that have never played in the league before, you have to realize the mashup of this team. We have a brand new head coach and the coaching staff is new. Realize what we’re made of now, and realize we are coming.”
The next game is Sunday, Sept. 8, Sky vs Dallas Wings, at the Wintrust Arena.
Shorthanded Sky Team struggles to find rhythm at home
Kamilla Cardoso tries to defend without fouling as Aaliyah Edwards drives to the basket. (John L. Alexander / On Air Daily News)
By Andrew Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
The Chicago Sky lost their win streak in ugly fashion Wednesday night, September 11, 2024. In a pivotal match for playoff contention, the Mystics routed the shorthanded Sky by 31 points, Chicago’s largest margin of defeat all season.
The team was without key contributor guard Diamond DeShields on top of already missing rookie forward Angel Reese and center Elizabeth Williams, but the team as a whole seemed to lack a competitive energy from the tip to the final horn.
In the two teams’ fourth matchup this season, the Mystics came out hot and ensured the Sky would be playing from behind. Leading 22-8 at one point in the first quarter, the Mystics would finish the first frame leading 29-13.
Even though the Sky held their opponents to 14 points in the second, they would only muster 16 themselves, going on to be outscored by an additional 17 points in the second half.
The Sky’s best performer was rookie center Kamilla Cardoso, who finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, although she herself called the loss “embarrassing” in a postgame interview.
Chennedy Carter heads towards the basket while being met by Brittney Sykes. (John L. Alexander / On Air Daily News)
“I really hope we figure out what was wrong and go back to the court tomorrow at practice and do whatever we gotta do to fix it.” Cardoso said, who got into foul trouble early, was visibly frustrated on numerous possessions down the stretch.
Cardoso did not get much help on either side of the ball. Guard Chennedy Carter and forward Isabelle Harrison were Cardoso’s only teammates to reach double figures. The rest of the Sky only combined for 19 points, coming on 9/33 shooting.
The beautiful offensive rhythm displayed in Sunday’s game against the Wings was nowhere to be found. Inability to find or create easy shots either led to poor shot selection or a turnover, an issue that has plagued the Sky all season.
The final tally stood at 35.7% shooting and 15 turnovers.Some expected the Sky to take a slide defensively with the loss of Angel Reese, but not in the dramatic manner seen on Wednesday.
Breakdowns in the pick-and-roll, poor movement in transition, and an overall lackadaisical approach let the Mystics offense look unstoppable. Washington finished at a 50% field goal percentage and outrebounded the Sky 37-32. Mystics forward Aaliyah Edwards and guard Brittney Sykes combined for 29 points with forward Sika Koné notching her season-high 11 points against her former team.
Sykes and Edwards of the Mystics collide as they both leap for a rebound. (John L Alexander / On Air Daily News)
After the game, there was no bigger critic of the Sky than themselves. A common theme with this 2024 team is accountability and addressing what needs to change. Cardoso’s previous comment was followed by head coach Teresa Weatherspoon acknowledging how poor of a performance the Sky put out. “There's ways that you can lose. But not like this. It's not who we are,” Weatherspoon said. Weatherspoon also specified what went wrong in her eyes.“We went over every single play that they ran, and every bit of what our defensive schemes are and should be, and how we must be better on that side of the ball and what it should look like. We didn't do that,” she said.
Still, this is quite the battered Sky team. This was their first game with forward Kaela Davis, signed to a 7-day hardship contract due to the Sky’s laundry list of injuries including Reese and DeShields. Davis had not recorded minutes in the WNBA since 2022, where she spent time with the Seattle Storm, Phoenix Mercury, and even a single game with the Sky themselves.
The extra body on the bench certainly didn’t change any energy levels here, but some sort of bounceback is nearly certain given the Sky has close to a full rotation to run with. Chicago remains 8th in the WNBA standings at 13-23, sitting one game ahead of the Dream and Mystics themselves for the final playoff spot. They head to Minnesota to take on the Lynx Friday night at 6:30 PM.
WASHINGTON MYSTICS DEFEAT CHICAGO SKY 89-58
The Sky bench discusses their frustrations during a Mystics run in the third quarter. (John L. Alexander / ON AIR Daily News)
Lindsay Allen and Kamilla Cardoso check on their teammate Michaela Onyenwere. (John L Alexander / On Air Daily News)
All-Star Angel Reese wears a hard cast on her surgically repaired wrist, seen here as she strikes a pose pregame. (John L Alexander / On Air Daily News)
PHOENIX MERCURY DEFEATS CHICAGO SKY 93-88
Sky unable to contain Mercury’s stars during home finale
Sky unable to contain Mercury’s stars during home finale
Sky unable to contain Mercury’s stars during home finale
By Andrew Diederich
Sports Reporter
ON AIR Daily News
Amidst their push for the playoffs, the Chicago Sky were unable to finish late against the Phoenix Mercury, dropping the game 93-88 on Sunday, September 15, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena. They finish the season series winless against the Mercury, however this game was by far the Sky’s best against them. Sometimes the opponents have two future hall-of-famers in Diana Taurasi and Brittney Griner.
“(The Mercury) went to what they knew worked, which was BG. She’s an amazing player,” said Michaela Onyenwere of the Sky, adding that ”They’re a veteran team with a lot of experience and I think that showed in the fourth quarter.”
The Sky indeed gave themselves a chance to win up until the end. As mentioned, Griner and Taurasi of the Mercury had monster outings, together tallying for 51 points on 55% shooting. But a surprisingly balanced offensive attack from the Sky kept things neck-and-neck throughout. Past struggles with outside shooting were nowhere to be found in the Sky’s 14 made threes, one less than their franchise record. Combined with a remarkable 26 assists and only 7 turnovers, the Sky got buckets much more easily than their two recent performances.
Rachel Banham got the start at small forward and spoke postgame on what she liked within the Sky’s offense. “The spacing was just really fun today, and we got really good movement.” “Even our bigs like Izzy (Isabelle Harrison) played super active outside of the paint.”
Banham had the hot hand early, finishing with 17 points including 5 three-pointers. She followed Onyenwere and Chennedy Carter in the scoring department for the Sky, who notched 18 and 20 points respectively. Other key contributions came from Lindsay Allen’s 7 assists and Dana Evans’ 13 points and 5 dimes off the bench.
Sky unable to contain Mercury’s stars during home finale
Sky unable to contain Mercury’s stars during home finale
Brittney Griner heads baseline on the Sky’s Kamilla Cardoso. Griner would finish the night with 26 points and 10 rebounds. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
Unfortunately, the Mercury took advantage of the depleted Sky roster to put forth a great offensive game of their own. Already without key bigs in Angel Reese and Elizabeth Williams, Kamilla Cardoso logged only 9 minutes due to her shoulder injury, which had her questionable to play at all this weekend. With their best interior defender Cardoso on the bench, Isabelle Harrison was the sole big to see significant time on the court. This meant slowing down Griner was even more difficult than it usually is, on top of managing Taurasi, sharpshooter Sophie Cunningham, and speedy point guard Natasha Cloud. Indeed it was those four for the Mercury who scored all but 11 of their 93 points.
Of course, slowing down a star-studded squad like the Mercury is much easier said than done. Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon sounded much more pleased with her team’s effort here than the last home game against the Mystics.
“These young ladies love to be a part of the grit and the grind…Unfortunately sometimes when you compete like this, the ball doesn’t bounce your way and you walk off the court the way we had to walk off tonight. The one thing you can see is that we competed. And when you compete, you can walk off holding your head high.”
Sky unable to contain Mercury’s stars during home finale
Diana Taurasi lays it up with her off hand with Chennedy Carter soaring to defend. (John L. Alexander / On Air Daily News)
This was the final home game of the season for the Sky. They are tied along with the Mystics and Dream at a record of 13-25, thanks to the Dream’s overtime victory against the Mystics Sunday night. With two games left to go and the tiebreaker between the tied teams belonging to the Mystics, it’s unlikely the Sky will play any postseason basketball. However that’s certainly not what coach Weatherspoon believes. After the final buzzer, she took to the mic to speak directly to the home crowd, concluding with a definitive message:
“We ain’t done yet”. Weatherspoon would later end her postgame presser with the same sentiment.
It’s uncertain whether the Sky will truly be done with their 2024 season come next week. They head to Atlanta to take on the Dream on Tuesday, then up to Connecticut for a matchup against the Sun. Whether the focus is on the first round of the playoffs or the first round of the draft, there’s much on the horizon for Chicago’s WNBA team.
The Sky regroup during a stoppage in play. (Andy Diederich / On Air Daily News)
Dana Evans extends for the finger roll finish early in the first half. (John L. Alexander / On Air Daily News)
Point Guard Lindsay Allen looks for space after getting past her defender in Natasha Cloud. (John L. Alexander / On Air Daily News)
The Sky’s bench celebrates a three-pointer from Rachel Banham in the first quarter. (John L. Alexander / On Air Daily News)