The Chicago Sky hosted the Los Angeles Sparks in the first of three meetings this season. This is the last of their three-game home stand before they go on the road for Saturday's game against the Indiana Fever.
Rickea Jackson gets her second start with Layshia Clarendon remaining in concussion protocol. Head coach Curt Miller missed the game because he was being inducted into the Mid-American Conference Hall of Fame in Cleveland.
Game Recap
The Chicago Sky are all about beating you out front and getting easy buckets in transition. In the first quarter, they forced six turnovers, which allowed them to get to the rim for quick layups.
They went on an 18-6 run to lead by 11. Chennedy Carter came off the bench and scored eight quick points while Marina Mabrey hit two threes to get six points. The Sparks got some good looks, but the shots would not fall. The miscommunication on both ends of the floor did not help.
They cut the lead to 8 thanks to a 5-2 run to start the second quarter. But Chicago immediately answered with a 5-0 run to increase their lead to 13. Both teams were attacking the offensive glass for second opportunities. Sparks turned it over five more times, which once again led to easy points in transition.
Dana Evans scored 11 points in the second quarter, which was a major factor in Chicago's lead increasing. The Sparks went almost four minutes without scoring, which led to a 12-4 run by the Sky. They also dominated the paint and fastbreak points, increasing their lead to 21.
Both teams had a sloppy start in the second half as Chicago started racking up fouls and turning the ball over. The Sparks also continued turning the ball over, committing four more in the quarter. They started showing some life midway through the quarter thanks to a 9-3 run to cut the lead to 14.
The intensity picked up on both ends of the floor for the Sparks as they got to the free throw consistently. They closed the quarter on a 20-8 to get the game within single digits. They fed Dearica Hamby, and she bullied her way in the paint. After scoring 11 in the first half, she scored 10 in the third quarter.
It was a nine-point game heading into the fourth quarter, leading to a dramatic finish. Unfortunately, the Sparks' momentum stopped and Chicago got their groove back on both ends of the floor. The Sparks continued making their shots, but could not make the game any closer than nine, and Chicago eventually pulled out the win.
Dearica Hamby led the Sparks with 24 points and 13 rebounds. Kia Nurse finished with 17 points. Rickea Jackson finished with 10 points on 80% FG.
Marina Mabrey led the Sky with 20 points and hit a career-high six threes. She also had seven rebounds and led the team in assists with seven. Elizabeth Williams finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, four steals and four blocks. Dana Evans finished with 15 points, four assists and led the team with five steals. Chennedy Carter finished with 14 points.
It was an all-around team effort by Chicago. They had 13 offensive rebounds, 40 paint points, 10 fastbreak points, 13 steals, 27 assists, and 18 points off 19 Sparks turnovers.
What's Next
The Chicago Sky will go on the road and take on the Indiana Fever. This is one of the most anticipated games of the season. The world will see Caitlin Clark versus Angel Reese in full effect. The game will take place on Saturday, June 1 and air on ESPN. Game will start at 12:00PM EST.
The Los Angeles Sparks will head back to the west coast and take on the Phoenix Mercury. The game will take place on Sunday, June 2 and air on WNBA League Pass. Game will start at 6:00PM EST.
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