Thursday night was a brutal return to WNBA action after the FIBA World Cup break, with the Chicago Sky getting absolutely shellacked by the playoff-bound Washington Mystics, ending in a crushing 110-80 blowout loss. Right from the jump, it was clear the Mystics owned the court, running away with a 30-point trouncing that leaves you wondering what just happened.
Sky Couldn’t Hang, Turnovers Piled Up
This wasn’t just a loss, it was a total breakdown. The Mystics, led by Shakira Austin, Kiki Iriafen, Georgia Amoore, and Michaela Onyenwere, were in control everywhere. They dominated the glass, hit shots from deep, and just kept generating runs. The Sky couldn’t match Washington’s physicality and, man, the turnovers were just killer. They coughed up the ball 16 times, double the Mystics’ eight. Courtney Vandersloot tried to keep things together, leading Chicago with 14 points and five assists. Sydney Taylor chipped in 12 points and four assists, while Kamilla Cardoso added 10 points and seven boards. Losing Natasha Cloud to a knee injury in the second half after only two points definitely didn’t help either.
Bench Stepped Up, But Taylor Needs to Look Ahead
Despite the overall struggle, the bench did show some fight. Rachel Banham and Gabriela Jaquez each added 10 points, with Aicha Coulibaly grabbing nine points and two rebounds. Jaquez got real about the bench’s mindset after the game, saying they “always talk about we’re a deep team, and everyone stay ready and ready to play and do the role out there.” She’s right, but the whole squad has “to be better as a team, especially taking care of the ball and making sure we’re getting stops on defense.” Fan favorite Sydney Taylor, who’s been open about wanting a long-term future with the Sky, started hot with the first points and two three-pointers, but then she just faltered in the second half. Coach Tyler Marsh knows she puts a ton of pressure on herself, saying, “She wants to be the one all the time, and you love that about her.” But for Taylor to keep growing, Marsh emphasized she’s got to “be able to look to the next play.”
With only three more games left in the season, starting on the road against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, another year is wrapping up without a playoff trip. Marsh’s goal for the finish line is simple: “We gotta play with the same type of, passion and energy that we have been all year. We haven’t been deterred by our record or any outside noise.” That’s the mindset you need, even when the season’s pretty much done. Let’s see if they can bring that passion to Atlanta.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Swish Appeal.
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