Connecticut Sun Defeat Sky, 92-63
Published on June 22, 2026 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Connecticut Sun News Release
Uncasville, CT - Tonight, the Connecticut Sun (3-15) defeated the Chicago Sky (4-12) 92-63 to on Monday inside Mohegan Sun Arena.
Brittney Griner led the Sun with 14 points and eight rebounds in the contest. Olivia Nelson-Ododa recorded her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 15 rebounds, while Leila Lacan and Charlisse Leger-Walker earned 12 and 13 points respectively.
Leila Lacan got the Sun started with two from inside the paint, but the Sky responded with Sydney Taylor earning three from beyond the arc. Both teams seemed to get in an offensive rhythm early in the contest with Kamilla Cardoso and Lacan securing points from inside the post. Connecticut took advantage of Chicago's foul trouble with Olivia Nelson-Ododa going 2-of-2 at the charity stripe to tie the game 7-7. Azura Stevens and Nelson-Ododa traded back-to-back buckets as the contest saw its third time leveled. Both squads went scoreless until a foul sent Natasha Cloud to the line for two giving the Sky a 11-9 lead. However, it didn't take long for Connecticut to answer as Aaliyah Edwards picked up her first two points of the contest and shortly after knocked down a 25' three to extend the Sun lead 15-11. Connecticut ended the first quarter with a 16-12 lead shooting 29.4 percent while holding the Sky to 16.7 percent shooting. Chicago's 12 points is the second lowest scored in the first quarter by the Sky this season.
The second quarter began with a successful trip at the free throw line for Cardoso cutting into the lead 16-14. After a quiet first frame, Gabriella Jaquez knocked down her first two of the night following a dish from Rachel Banham. Diamond Miller extended her range from '26 and pushed the Sun lead out 21-16. A 26' three from Banham closed the gap and put the Sky withing just one at 23-22. Brittney Griner recorded her first points of the night, extending the Sun lead once again. With a little over five minutes left in the half, Kennedy Burke combined for five points with consecutive buckets and joined the 1000+ career points club. The Sun's defense was on full display as a Nelson-Ododa block on Elizabeth Williams turned into a Charlisse Leger-Walker three on the other end. After having no answer offensively, the Stevens tacked on two to Chicago's score, but Griner turned in consecutive buckets pushing the Sun out 45-30. Connecticut led 47-30 going into the half, with Leger-Walker at the helm with 11 points.
Coming out of the half, both teams started the third quarter at the line after early fouls. The Sun found its first eight points from Nelson-Ododa, Leger-Walker, and Lacan from inside the paint. Griner eclipsed the late Margo Dydek as the league's all-time block leader recording her fourth block of the night with 878. Despite the large gap, Maddy Westbeld and Cloud continued to knock in shots for the Sky as they began to cut into the lead. Saniya Rivers and Griner found themselves at the free throw line where they combined for six points and gave the Sun a 22-point lead, 66-44. Down the stretch it was all Edwards adding four points to close out the quarter 70-44.
The momentum from the third quarter carried over into the fourth with the Sun logging seven quick points from inside. The Sky used points earned at the free throw line and two from Cardoso to put the score at 77-48, but Miller quickly answered at the rim following a dish from Nelson-Ododa. The Sun led 81-50 after Lacan cut to the basket for an easy two. With a little over two minutes remaining, both teams turned to their bench to finish the quarter. Raegan Beers logged her first points of the contest pushing the lead to 83-54. The Sun sent Taylor to the line for two, but game was already out of reach for Chicago. Gianna Kneepkens earned four points with 30 seconds remaining and Connecticut sealed the victory 92-63.
Game Notes:
Kennedy Burke entered the 1000+ career points club in the second quarter.
Brittney Griner eclipsed Margot Dydek as the all-time block leader with her fourth block of the night on Kamilla Cardoso.
The Sun picked up its first win in seven games and the first win inside Mohegan Sun Arena.
Olivia Nelson-Ododa recorded her first double-double of the season with 11 points and 15 rebounds.
Saniya Rivers became the fifth person in her rookie class to record 500 career points.
Team Score Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 PTS REB AST
CON 92 16 31 23 22 Griner-14 Nelson-Ododa-15 Leger-Walker-5
CHI 63 12 18 14 19 Cardoso-16 Cardoso-14 Diggins-4
NEXT GAME: The Connecticut Sun will host the Washington Mystics on Friday, June 26 at 7:30 PM EST.
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