The New York Liberty kicked off their championship defense in strong form, notching a 92-78 win over the Las Vegas Aces in their season opener. They now aim to build on that success as they head to Chicago on Thursday to face the Sky.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Sky had a tough beginning to their season, falling to the Indiana Fever in a lopsided 93-58 loss. The team struggled offensively, managing to shoot only 29.1% from the floor. Despite the rough outing, rookie Angel Reese stood out with a solid performance, recording a double-double with 12 points and 17 rebounds. Unfortunately, she received little support from the rest of the roster during the game.
Thursday’s matchup gives Chicago a chance to bounce back, but they’ll need a more complete team effort to challenge the reigning WNBA champions.
End of 1st Quarter: Liberty 28, Sky 23
The New York Liberty came out firing, with Jonquel Jones putting on a flawless shooting display she’s already racked up eight points, going a perfect 3-for-3 from the floor, including 2-for-2 from beyond the arc. Sabrina Ionescu has been equally sharp, slicing through Chicago’s defense with ease. She tallied 10 points in the opening quarter, hitting 3-of-5 shots and knocking down one of her three three-point attempts.
On the Sky’s side, veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot has chipped in with four points, but rookie Angel Reese is still finding her rhythm on offense. She has yet to score, missing all five of her shot attempts. That said, she’s been active on the glass, already grabbing seven rebounds.
Chicago’s second unit has been key in keeping things competitive. The Sky bench has accounted for over half of the team’s points so far, contributing 12 of their 23 total, with Rebecca Allen leading the reserves with four points.
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