The Chicago Sky entered their most recent game needing a win to stay alive in the WNBA playoff race, but fell short in a 113-90 loss to the Indiana Fever. The defeat snapped a three‑game winning streak and left the Sky at 15‑23, officially out of postseason contention.
Looking ahead to Connecticut
Despite the setback, the Sky will travel to the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Tuesday to play the Connecticut Sun, who are 9‑27 this season. The matchup offers Chicago a chance to evaluate its young core and continue building for the years ahead.
Sky forward Natasha Cloud contributed 16 points in the loss to Indiana and was involved in a heated verbal exchange with former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who was ejected from a courtside seat. Azura Stevens added 14 points, while rookie Aicha Coulibaly scored 12 on perfect shooting (5‑for‑5).
Coach Marsh stresses development
“I don’t think anybody in the locker room is ready to mail it in,” Sky head coach Tyler Marsh said after the Indiana game. “We all understand we got a job to do. We got an organization and city to continue to play for. We got a lot of young players that still have time to continue to develop. We’re not just playing for the right now, we’re playing for the future too.”
Marshall’s comments underline the team’s focus on growth rather than immediate results. Center Kamilla Cardoso, who leads the Sky in points (14.7 per game) and rebounds (8.8 per game), posted 16 points and 14 rebounds in a 92‑63 loss at Connecticut on June 22, and she scored 26 points in Chicago’s 94‑88 victory over the Sun on July 30.
Connecticut Sun’s recent struggles
The Sun have endured a difficult stretch, falling nine times in their last eleven games, including a 77‑68 loss to the Los Angeles Sparks on Saturday. The Sparks opened that game with a 32‑point first quarter before shifting to a defensive mindset, a change that frustrated Sun head coach Rachid Meziane.
“I didn’t really like how our starting five came out tonight,” Meziane said. “We didn’t start the game with the right defensive energy… I was a little surprised because the last five games we really started well.”
Saniya Rivers led Connecticut with 14 points and matched a career high with four steals, while the Sun shot 35.1% from the field but forced 25 turnovers that generated 30 points.
Injuries and roster notes
Connecticut’s star Brittney Griner has missed four straight games due to a left‑knee injury, though she posted the team’s highest point totals in two of the three meetings against Chicago.
Both teams will use Tuesday’s game to assess roster depth and give younger players additional experience as the season moves toward its final weeks.
For Chicago fans, the focus remains on the development of players like Cardoso, Cloud, Stevens, and Coulibaly, while the Sun will look to rebound from recent defeats and find consistency before the season concludes.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
