WNBA Chicago Sky

Sky Snap Six-Game Losing Streak, Beat Sparks 80-63

Published on June 28, 2023 under Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Chicago Sky News Release


The Chicago Sky snapped their six-game losing streak, beating the Los Angeles Sparks 80-63. The Sky are now 6-9 on the season and 4-2 against the Western Conference.

A June 9 loss to the Sparks kick-started the Sky's six-game losing streak. With the win, the Sky are 3-7 in the month of June. Courtney Williams led the team in scoring for the first time this season, putting up a season-high 21 points (Previous high: 13 points on 5/26 against Washington)

C. Williams also posted nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks and she led or tied for team lead in scoring, rebounds, steals and blocks

C. Williams tied a season-high in a game with three made three-pointers

Today was C. Williams' first 20-point game since July 5, 2022

C. Williams' last 20-point double-double was September 8, 2021

The Sky's 17-point win is the team's largest margin of victory since their 100-62 playoff victory over the New York Liberty on August, 20, 2022 and their largest regular season margin of victory since June 23, 2022 against the Sparks

Elizabeth Williams (390 career blocks) passed Tina Charles (389) for 12th on the All-Time blocks list

Nneka Ogwumike passed DeLisha Milton-Jones (1,806 rebounds) for 12th on the all-time defensive rebounds list with nine defensive rebounds today

NEXT UP: The Sky stay at home to take on the Sparks for the second straight game. The Sky are 1-1 against the Sparks this season and are 2-5 in Wintrust Arena. In the first game between the two teams, the Sparks defeated the Sky 62-77 and last game, the Sky defeated the Sparks 80-63 to end a six-game losing streak.

In two games against the Sparks, Courtney Williams is averaging 12.5 points, Alanna Smith is averaging 14 points and Copper is averaging 12 points. In the first matchup between the two teams, Smith posted career highs of 19 points and five blocks. In both matchups between the teams, Nneka Ogwumike registered a double-double, posting 19 points and 14 rebounds in the 6/9 game and 16 points and 11 rebounds in the 6/28 game.

KEY RUNS:

The Sparks opened the game on a 14-5 run from 5:42 to 1:58 in the first quarter

The Sky went on a 14-5 run from 1:31 in the first quarter to 7:06 in the second quarter

The Sky went on a 21-9 run from 5:20 in the second quarter to the end of the second quarter

The Sky went on a 16-6 run from 4:55 in the third quarter to 8:11 in the fourth quarter

The Sky went on a 14-4 run from 5:22 to 2:01 in the fourth quarter

KEY STATS:

The Sky shot 45.5% (30 of 66) from the field and 42.9% (9 of 21) from three compared to the Sparks who shot 34.9% (22 of 63) from the floor and 30.8% (4 of 13) from downtown

The Sky started the first half shooting 0 for 7 but ended it by shooting 18 for 29 (62.1%)

The Sky led the Sparks 46-37 at halftime. The last time the Sky led at halftime was against New York on 6/2, 43-35

The Sky are now 4-1 in games they lead at halftime

Chicago had three blocks in the third quarter

The Sky finished the win with fewer turnovers than the Sparks, committing 13 turnovers to the Sparks' 18

When the Sky commit fewer turnovers than their opponent, they are 5-1

The Sky's largest lead was 17 points, the final point differential between the two teams. The last time the Sky led by 17 or more points in a game was against the Minnesota Lynx in the team's season opener on 5/19

CHICAGO NOTES:

Courtney Williams reached 900 career defensive rebounds with seven in today's game

C. Williams had six first quarter rebounds

Marina Mabrey and Dana Evans combined for 10 of the Sky's 19 first quarter points

Evans, the WNBA's leading scorer per game (9.1 entering today) off the bench among players with six or more qualifying games, had 11 points off the bench today

James Wade is now 3-6 on Coach's Challenges this season after beginning the year 3-0

Elizabeth Williams passed Tina Charles for 12th on all-time blocks list with 390

C. Williams scored seven of the Sky's 18 fourth quarter points in the fourth quarter

After today, Kahleah Copper (1,802 career shot attempts) only needs three shot attempts to tie Candice Dupree for 5th on the Sky all-time shot attempts list at 1,809

After today, Marina Mabrey only needs one more three-point attempt to reach 600 career three-point attempts. She ended the game with five three-point attempts

Alanna Smith had her fifth game this season of at least two steals and two blocks. Smith's two steals tie a career high which she has achieved 12 times in her career and seven times this season

LOS ANGELES NOTES:

Jordin Canada accounted for 10 of the Sparks' 20 first quarter points (two points, eight points created from assists)

Canada is averaging 14.5 points in two games against the Sky this season

Karlie Samuelson accounted for 10 of the Sparks' 20 first quarter points (six points, four points created from assists)

Nneka Ogwumike had a double-double in today's game, with 16 points and 11 rebounds

N. Ogwumike reached 2,500 career rebounds. Ogwumike is the sixth player in WNBA history with 5,000+ points, 2,500+ rebounds, 500+ assists and 500+ steals. She got there in 333 games, only trailing Tamika Catchings (331) (Across the Timeline)

N. Ogwumike's double-double was her 93rd of her regular season career, which ranks sixth all time. She trails Tamika Catchings by just three double-doubles and is seven away from becoming the fifth player in WNBA history to log 100+ regular season double-doubles (Across the Timeline)

N. Ogwumike tied Candace Parker for second on the Sparks' all-time games started list with 333

Check out the Chicago Sky Statistics

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