The Chicago Sky (6-9) went 2-0 on the week and moved up to 8th in the WNBA standings after snapping their 4-game skid with wins over the Dallas Wings and Indiana Fever.

Here are some takeaways from the recent slate of games:

Third time’s the charm vs. Indiana

The Chicago Sky hosted the Indiana Fever for the first time this season on June 23 in front of a sold out crowd at Wintrust Arena. It came down to fourth quarter production with the Sky going on a 18-5 run in the final minutes to pull out the 88-87 victory over the Fever.

“We wanted to win the game, that was it. Nothing else needs to be said. We wanted to win the game,” Cardoso said after the win.

The Sky were down by as much as 15 heading into the final minutes of the game where the Sky previously had lost composure and allowed opponents to run away with games late. However, Angel Reese and Cardoso fed off the electricity in the building to both put up double-doubles. 

“Staying poised,” Reese said after the win. “I think sometimes we get comfortable. A lot of times we get comfortable. We had a good lead for a little minute, and then we got comfortable and I felt like we didn’t have that much energy. Just staying poised, not letting ourselves get down. 

“I think I did a great job being able to bring energy. If it was defensively, offensively, rebounding, steals, doing whatever to be vocal and help the team. I think my teammates really rely on my energy, and being able to be super positive for them. So I just try to always give that every night.”

Cardoso finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds while Reese picked up her 8th consecutive with 25 points and 16 rebounds, becoming the first rookie duo since 1998 to record double-doubles in multiple games.

Reese became the first rookie since A’ja Wilson in 2018 to have 25+ points and 15+ rebounds in a single game and the only rookie in Sky history to have 20+ points and 15+ rebounds in a single game.

“We talk about it all the time that she’s an incredible rebounder,” head coach Teresa Weatherspoon said after the game. “We knew that would translate over, because that’s a will and a want to and desire to get it done. We knew that would translate over, and the work that she’s put in, you know, to be efficient around the rim.

“As we’re moving forward in the season, she’s put in a lot of work. She’s played against some incredible post players already. So she’s learned a lot of the how-tos. That’s why it’s growing. She’s understanding this level of play.”

Chennedy Carter followed their lead with 23 points of her own and has become very comfortable in her starting role. Carter is averaging 20.0 ppg as a starter whereas off the bench, she put up an average of 12.9 ppg.

“Chennedy is one of the best guards, period,” Weatherspoon said. “She’s growing with her teammates and starting to understand what they do, because not only can she score the ball, she’s a willing passer. Whatever you ask Chennedy to do, she gets it done without question, without hesitation, without reservation. She goes in and she gets it done.”

“This is me getting back to what I do and getting back into the role that I am,” Carter said before the contest. “I think that each and every game is an opportunity to get closer with my teammates and build, and I think that’s really important coming off a game like the last one.”

Snapping the skid vs. Dallas

The Sky looked to snap a 4-game losing skid against a heavily injured Dallas Wings team, and they did just that with their first double-digit win of the season with the 83-72 victory on June 20. 

“When you’re on a 4-game losing streak, a win is a win,” Marina Mabrey said after the win. “We’re happy to get the win, and we can kind of build off that energy and momentum, but also focusing on they got us 33-24 and 4th quarter. Just keeping our foot on the gas and putting 40 minutes together, and being able to get constructive criticism off of wins too and being able to learn from wins, too.”

While the Sky were playing against a handicapped Wings team, the defensive identity Weatherspoon has preached all season showed in the contest. The Sky as a team caused 16 turnovers and turned them into 10 points. They also ran the floor with 14 points in transition, something the Sky haven’t seen in a win since the start of the season.

Reese’s comfortability in the WNBA continues as she broke the consecutive double-double record by a first year player with her 7th one in a row, finishing with 16 points and 18 rebounds. 

“I just wanna win,” Reese said after the game. “I came to Chicago to win. Luckily I was dropped to number 7 and came to Chicago, was able to just come here and just be able to thrive, and being able to have great teammates, great coaches, and just a great atmosphere culture here that really, really loves me. So that’s what’s important to me.”

Stats and Notes

• Reese and Cardoso are the 5th pair of teammates and the only rookies to each have at least 15 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 65% or better in the same game vs. IND
• Reese joins only Yolanda Griffith and Tina Charles as the only first-year WNBA players to put up 15+ points, 10+ defensive rebounds and 8+ offensive rebounds in a single game vs. DAL