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.