Quick Three: Sky 97 Sparks 86
Chicago rights its wrongs to record a team victory led by Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso and capped by a strong finish from Ariel Atkins
After a slow start, the Sky mounted a thrilling come-from-behind victory tonight—powered by a dominant second half that showcased glimpses of the improvements seen in Sunday’s game in Atlanta, along with further progress on the issues that contributed to that loss. Let’s dive into the key positives that fueled tonight’s win and take a closer look at how the Sky will adjust to losing one of their standout performers as she heads off for international duty.
1. Sky Show Grit After Shaky Start
Anytime you’re coming from behind and on a run, one of the biggest challenges is getting over the hump. After burning so much energy to cut a double-digit deficit down to a one-possession game, finding a second wind to actually take control can be elusive. Too often, the tank’s just too empty. But tonight, backed by their home crowd, the Sky didn’t let up. They built momentum with a huge third-quarter push and sustained it through the fourth—turning an extended 18–6 run into an 11-point victory.
Sustaining that kind of edge for nearly 20 minutes takes energy across the board, but it was clear the turnaround began with Chicago’s work on the glass. The Sky out-rebounded the Sparks by 15 in the second half alone, including a +7 edge on the offensive boards that led to a 12-point second-chance scoring advantage after halftime. And it wasn’t just about the volume of extra possessions—it was the efficiency. Chicago converted 6 of 7 second-chance opportunities, making every missed box-out by LA feel like a costly mistake.
In some ways, it was a throwback to the high points of last season’s Sky team—when sheer willpower kept them alive in games their overall performance (three-point shooting, for example—just 6-of-18 tonight) suggested they shouldn’t win. And just like last season, Angel Reese’s relentless work on the glass helped fuel that grit—she pulled down 17 rebounds as part of a well-rounded night that also included 18 points and 6 assists. But this time, when the Sky needed a finishing touch—something that often eluded them last year—Ariel Atkins delivered. Her late-game precision added just the right dash of polish to an otherwise gritty victory.
After a quiet start from the field (3-of-11 for 9 points through three quarters), Atkins made the most of her fourth-quarter minutes—going 2-of-3 for 4 points, dishing out 2 assists, and taking on the difficult assignment of guarding Kelsey Plum. She ultimately fouled out on a crafty (and arguably push-off) move by Plum, but by then, her impact was clear. Once again, the veteran proved she can rise to the moment—so long as the Sky keep things close enough to give her that chance.
2. Cardoso Heavily Involved Before AmeriCup Departure
After I took pointed aim at Kamilla Cardoso’s lack of involvement in Sunday’s loss to Atlanta, the Sky responded with intention—featuring a steady dose of first-half sets designed to get her the ball, and a continued emphasis to feed her throughout the game. The result was compelling: a career-high 27 points on hyper-efficient shooting (10-of-15 FG) and a season-high eight trips to the free-throw line. And while Cardoso held natural advantages over Azurá Stevens (size) and Dearica Hamby (defensive limitations), this wasn’t simply a case of backing down the Sparks’ post players all night.
Instead, Tyler Marsh and his staff found ways to get Cardoso the ball on the move—allowing her growing comfort as a fluid scorer to shine. These actions became nearly unguardable for Los Angeles. Her physicality as a screener demands real preparation, and even a basic slip to the basket can leave defenders completely wrong-footed.
Even when she held her screen, the Sky’s ball handlers—especially Rachel Banham, who finished with 4 assists and ran the offense with strong intent—consistently found her on the roll. That connection was glaringly absent in Sunday’s defeat, but shone through as a huge strength of the offense tonight.
With Cardoso now headed to AmeriCup with Brazil, the Sky will have a real gap in their frontcourt. Elizabeth Williams has played well in recent weeks, but the concern lies in the lack of depth behind her. Maddy Westbeld has yet to log significant minutes, and there are no other true bigs on the roster. Still, Chicago should be thinking long-term. From that perspective, Cardoso’s performance tonight was exactly what you’d hope to see: a clear blueprint for how to maximize her talents. If the Sky can avoid another one-step-forward, two-steps-back pattern when she returns—a trend that’s plagued other areas of their season—then Cardoso is set up to keep making a major impact in the second half of her sophomore year.
3. Bench Continues to Carry Offensive Burden With Ease
Atkins may have stepped up late, but the Sky likely wouldn’t have even been in the hunt without the scoring spark from their bench. Reese and Cardoso combined for 28 points by the end of the third quarter, but the other three starters managed just 17 points in the first 30 minutes on a dismal 6-of-22 FG and 2-of-9 from deep. For tonight, though, that wasn’t an issue. Chicago’s bench—still among the league’s top scoring units (25.9 PPG, 2nd)—delivered 20 first-half points, keeping the Sky within striking distance (down 48–42 at halftime) and laying the foundation for the third-quarter surge that flipped the game.
With Elizabeth Williams moving into the starting lineup, those bench scoring numbers will almost certainly dip in the coming weeks—unless Maddy Westbeld makes an unexpected breakout in her first extended minutes. Still, the contributions from Williams and the other reserves remain vital to maintaining the team’s balance, which has become one of its great strengths.
Michaela Onyenwere continues to attack the basket with aggression and bring her trademark energy on defense. Hailey Van Lith, still adapting to the point guard role at the pro level, flashes downhill scoring and tenacious defense on a nearly nightly basis. Kia Nurse, despite not having the shooting season her explosive preseason promised, is creeping toward her career three-point mark (32%)—going 2-of-6 tonight and sitting at 31% for the 2025 season. Beyond the numbers, Nurse continues to have Marsh’s trust, logging the final 13:12 of the victory without rest. Her near team-high +13 plus-minus reflects her presence during the decisive run but also suggests the coaching staff made the right call.
Whether each player landed in the role they envisioned when joining Chicago this season is open for debate. But the willingness of these four to embrace their roles—especially as Nurse’s continues to evolve—has fueled their consistent production. With Cardoso headed to AmeriCup, this bench group will be leaned on even more, with Williams stepping into the starting five and the others absorbing a lion’s share of Cardoso’s minutes while Westbeld handles the remainder.