The Sky picked up a much-needed 92-78 victory over the Sparks. Before this win, Chicago had dropped the last 7 games, making this one of the most important matchups of the season. With their backs against the wall, they had the best game since the All-Star break. It’s not a coincidence that this coincided with the return of Chennedy Carter, who missed the last 3 games due to health protocols. This isn’t only good news for the Sky but for WNBA fans in general because Carter is one of the most exciting players to watch. Chicago missed her transition offense and ability to take pressure off of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
All of the key players for the Sky contributed towards this win. Angel Reese deserves a lot of praise for her efficient performance last night. She silenced the critics who harped on her efficiency by shooting 60% from the field and hitting a 3-pointer. This was her 4th 20-point game of the season and the 1st since returning from the Olympic break. This is an amazing accomplishment for Reese who was not considered to be a good scorer in her rookie campaign.
Fellow rookie and skyscraper, Kamilla Cardoso, quietly put together another great game. Her touch around the rim is phenomenal and she even stepped back to hit a mid-range jumper. She finished one rebound shy of a double-double and had 5 blocks for the 2nd time this season. In her 1st season, she has already established herself as one of the best shot blockers in the league, averaging 1.4 a game. However, the key to unlocking all of this was Chennedy Carter.
Carter shined in the Sky’s win against the Sparks. She filled up the stat sheet, narrowly missing out on a triple-double. While she’s known for being an elite scorer, it’s her playmaking that was truly missed by the Sky. The Sparks were blitzing Carter and she was able to consistently find the open player, often Reese or Cardoso. She provided reliable guard play, something that the Sky have struggled with outside of a streak of solid performances by Lindsay Allen. Carter impressed so much that she left the game to a standing ovation by the Chicago crowd.
The Sky have now tied the Dream for 8th place. Atlanta picked up an overtime win yesterday against the Wings. After the Marina Mabrey trade, the Sky have struggled to find the right lineups and rotations. However, this win was a step in the right direction and they should feel optimistic that they can make the playoffs. Chennedy Carter’s return appeared to motivate the Sky and they will look to carry this momentum over to their game against the Wings on Sunday.