Sky stare – After draws with the Mystics, Sun and Tempo didn’t turn into a surge, the Sky limp into a brutal stretch against the Dream, Fever, Liberty and Wings—while their defense and ball control stay steady and their shooting does not.
TORONTO — The Sky were handed a breather over the last three games, drawing the Mystics (4-5), Sun (2-10) and Tempo (6-5). None of those teams are title contenders.
It still didn’t translate into the kind of statement this stretch could have produced.
Instead, the Sky lost two of three and dropped to 4-7. Now the schedule flips. The next four games offer no mercy, with each opponent able to make the case as a title contender.
First comes the Dream, at home Tuesday. The Dream own the league’s second-best defense and second-best record. For the Sky. the matchup carries an added edge: Dream forward Angel Reese. the league’s top rebounder. is set to face her old team. The Sky, meanwhile, are now the league’s worst defensive-rebounding team. A feast is the expectation.
Then the Fever await at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Indiana sits at 5-5 and has had its share of early-season dysfunction. but it still carries a trio of superstars—and Kelsey Mitchell. who has the kind of game that tends to make the Sky’s night feel longer. The last time the Sky beat the Fever?. Nearly two years ago.
After Indiana, comes the Liberty, who have won four straight and boast one of the league’s most stacked rosters. Finally, the Wings arrive. In their first meeting. Dallas gave the Sky a lesson in the difficulty of containing a trio of shotmakers: Paige Bueckers. Arike Ogunbowale and Azzi Fudd. Since then, the Wings have just gotten better.
So what can the Sky carry into this gauntlet after losing five of their last six?
Defense and ball control are holding up. The Sky’s defense still ranks eighth in the league, even if it no longer has the early-season bite. They play solid transition defense and have held opponents to 32.4% from deep.
They’ve also taken care of the ball. The Sky rank top five in fewest turnovers, which means they don’t hand opponents easy possessions.
Taken together, it’s why they can still believe they’re giving themselves a chance to win. The problem is simple—and unforgiving: they can’t reliably put the ball in the hole. The Sky are shooting 35.8% from the field and 23.9% from 3, and both numbers rank at the bottom of the league.
Stevens steps it up
One of the few Sky players who shot well against the Tempo was Azura Stevens. In her fifth game back from injury, she dropped 18 points on 8-for-15 shooting. She also grabbed a team-high 10 boards.
But she didn’t pretend her performance solved the bigger issue. Asked about rebounding, Stevens said after the game, “Rebounding is pretty simple,” adding, “Just got to turn and hit your man. … It’s pretty much effort. I don’t think there’s a lot of skill behind rebounding.”
Rookie returns
A second positive came from the return of rookie Gabriela Jaquez. She missed four games with a hyperextended knee, then came back against the Tempo—posting 11 points and 2 steals in 19 minutes off the bench.
During Jaquez’s absence, Marsh made adjustments to the starting lineup. First, the team turned to veteran guard Natasha Cloud, then to Rachel Banham. Cloud gives the team more defense, Banham provides 3-point shooting, and Jaquez offers a bit of both.
Now those pieces will have to matter quickly. The Sky’s schedule turns into a test of everything they’ve leaned on so far—defense, ball control, and effort—at the exact moment their shooting and defensive rebounding are under the most pressure.
Chicago Sky Angel Reese Kelsey Mitchell Natasha Cloud Rachel Banham Azura Stevens Gabriela Jaquez WNBA Dream Fever Liberty Wings rebounding turnovers