preseason loss – Sioux Falls’ Sky fell 108-104 to the Mercury as ball movement improved, but three-point volume and defensive clarity remain works in progress.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Sky’s preseason opener came with clear teaching points for coach Tyler Marsh, even if the scoreboard didn’t favor Sioux Falls.
Marsh said the emphasis for Saturday’s first preseason game against the Mercury was ball movement and player movement. and the early rhythm suggested the plan was landing—at least at times.. In the first quarter. the Sky’s most consistent scoring came from center Kamilla Cardoso. especially as she was found off slips.. Still. much of the offense relied on isolation looks. with forward Rickea Jackson doing much of the heavy lifting in that stretch.
By the second quarter, the Sky’s offense looked more connected.. Guard Rachel Banham got open looks and converted on three straight three-pointers. a reminder of what the spacing can do when the ball is moving quickly enough to create clean opportunities.. Banham was direct afterward: “At times. we did get stagnant.” The Sky. she said. are “still figuring out how we’re going to move together and move the ball.”
That tension—between the desire for constant motion and the reality of how quickly defenses can adjust—showed up again in the shooting numbers.. A core question for the Sky is whether they can generate enough three-point threats to keep opponents honest.. The game made the issue feel practical: the Sky attempted 16 threes, while the Mercury launched 34.. Movement is harder to sustain when defenders don’t have to respect the three-point line. because they can load toward drives and paint touches.
The Sky’s roster-building has leaned toward getting to the rim rather than prioritizing volume shooting.. Jackson and point guard Skylar Diggins are both pieces built for driving and creation. and the coaching staff expects that style to create advantages in transition and in half-court attacks.. Stretch forward Azura Stevens—out with a knee injury—could further change the spacing math when she returns. but Saturday’s performance suggested it may not be a complete fix on its own.
Defensively. Marsh hasn’t yet pinned down the exact identity he wants the Sky to play with. and the preseason game didn’t provide much clarity either.. The Sky allowed more than 50 points in the first half. including a particularly tough stretch where Mercury wing Kahleah Copper scored 19 on her own.. The atmosphere of a preseason matchup matters—teams often treat defense like a set of experiments rather than a final-grade system—but the numbers still underline a point: if the Sky want their ball movement to last through full possession defense. they’ll need to tighten the coverage before the season gets serious.
For a team fighting for consistency, preseason minutes are also about resolving the competition for roles.. With starters resting in the second half, Hailey Van Lith became one of the most noticeable performers in Sioux Falls.. The combo guard scored 20 points on an 8-for-8 night, and her mid-range game looked sharp.. Afterward. Van Lith described a mindset shift across her stints—first feeling out the physicality. then recognizing that the mid-range could become available as the game opened up.. She pointed to watching Skylar Diggins “pick them apart in the mid-range in the first half” and said she expected similar looks.
Van Lith’s performance matters beyond one game.. She spent the offseason rehabbing an ankle injury that limited her as a rookie last season. and her confidence now shows up in the control she’s seeking: better reads. more composed possessions. and a steadier flow when defenders pressure the ball.. That growth is especially relevant in a preseason where coaches are trying to map out lineups that can handle momentum swings—both offensively and defensively.
There was another layer to the matchup’s setting, too.. Mercury coach Nate Tibbetts has a personal connection to South Dakota: he grew up there and previously coached in the G League for the Heat’s affiliate. the Sioux Falls Skyforce.. The decision to bring the Mercury to the Sioux Falls arena reflects how organizations chase momentum not only on the court. but also through visibility and community engagement.. Tibbetts shared how special it is to come home and feel supported. saying the experience has been “really fun” for him and his wife.
For fans watching the Sky, the immediate takeaway isn’t the loss—it’s the pattern.. The offense flashed when it moved, but it stalled when spacing and off-ball motion weren’t consistent.. The numbers also suggest a clear area to watch: can Sioux Falls develop enough three-point pressure to prevent defenses from packing the lane?. If the Sky can answer those questions while sharpening defensive structure. the next preseason steps will likely look less like experimentation and more like a blueprint.