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Postgame Notes: Sky Finish Opening Weekend 2-0, Defeat Phoenix 75-69

May 21, 2023 - Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) - Chicago Sky News Release


FINAL SCORE: CHI 75, PHX 69

CHICAGO SKY (2-0) @ PHOENIX MERCURY (0-2)

FOOTPRINT CENTER | WNBA REGULAR SEASON | GAME #2 | MAY 21, 2023

TEAM HIGH POINTS HIGH ASSISTS HIGH REBOUNDS

CHI K. Copper (15) C. Williams (7) E. Williams (8)

PHX B. Griner (27) D. Taurasi (6) B. Griner, B. Turner (10)

TODAY'S GAME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE: The Sky is now 17-24 against the Mercury in the regular season. In 2022, the Sky went an undefeated 3-0, and before that in 2021, Chicago was 0-3 against Phoenix in the regular season before winning 3-of-4 in the 2021 WNBA Finals.

Dana Evans matched her career high in assists with five assists

Four out of five Chicago starters notched double figures (Copper, C. Williams, Evans, E. Williams)

Morgan Bertsch set career highs in points (eight) and rebounds (seven)

Mercury center Brittney Griner played in her first home game for Phoenix since 10/13/21, the 2021 WNBA Finals against Chicago

Griner passed Sylvia Fowles for third on the all-time blocks list with 722 blocks

Diana Taurasi reached 1,300 career regular-season three-pointers

Griner notched a double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds

NEXT UP: The Sky travel back home to Wintrust Arena to face the Washington Mystics on Friday, May 26 at 7 p.m. CT for the Sky's home opener. The game will be televised on ION, the first of ten ION games this year for Chicago on Friday nights.

Friday's matchup includes last season's WNBA leader in Assists, Natasha Cloud, two-time WNBA MVP and former Sky player Elena Delle Donne, along with rising star and 2022 WNBA All-Rookie Team Shakira Austin.

KEY RUNS:

Sky went on a 13-4 run from 7:58 to 3:43 in the first quarter

Sky opened the second quarter on a 17-6 run from 9:42 to 4:21

Mercury went on a 14-6 run from 1:13 in the third quarter to 4:52 in the fourth quarter

Mercury got within two points with 1:48 remaining after which the Sky went on a 6-2 run to end the game

KEY STATS:

Sky had several players play through foul trouble, with Kahleah Copper and Elizabeth Williams both picking up their fourth fouls early in the third quarter

Sky grabbed 11 offensive rebounds, scoring 13 second-chance points compared to the Mercury's three offensive boards and seven second-chance points

Sky pulled down a season-high 39 rebounds

Sky forced 19 turnovers and scored 22 points off those turnovers after forcing 21 turnovers against the Lynx in the season-opener

Sky shot 40.0% from three and are shooting 38.5% from deep on the season

CHICAGO NOTES:

Robyn Parks made her WNBA regular-season debut, entering the game with 2:13 remaining in the first quarter

The Sky are outscoring teams 45-20 (+25) in second quarters this season compared to being outscored 107-115 (-8) in all other quarters

Kristine Anigwe scored her first points in a Sky uniform in the second quarter

Anigwe reached 100 career rebounds

Courtney Williams accounted for eight of the Sky's 15 fourth-quarter points (four points, two assists, four points created from assists)

PHOENIX NOTES:

Brittney Griner reached 1,500 career defensive rebounds

Brianna Turner reached 100 career steals

Griner scored 11 of the Mercury's 18 points in the third quarter

Sug Sutton tallied a career-high 13 points

Today was Griner's fourth regular-season game with 25+ points, 10+ rebounds and 4+ blocks, tying Tina Charles for No. 4 all-time

Check out the Chicago Sky Statistics

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Women's National Basketball Association Stories from May 21, 2023


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