The Chicago Sky’s playoff hopes just crashed and burned, officially eliminated after a brutal 113-90 loss to the Indiana Fever on Sunday night. It was Kelsey Mitchell and Caitlin Clark who absolutely lit up Wintrust Arena, combining for a ridiculous 67 points and burying the Sky’s season for good. After winning three straight on their home stand and looking to finish strong, this is a gut punch no team wants to take.
The Sky Fought Hard, But The Storm Was Coming
You gotta give the Sky credit, they came into this final showdown against the Fever wanting to cap off their home stand with a win. DiJonai Carrington was back from the injured list, and Sydney Taylor, despite a groin injury putting her on a minutes restriction, was expected to be a “big boost” after her recent string of performances, including that buzzer-beater against the Golden State Valkyries. Natasha Cloud was bringing the noise, like she always does. The first half was a battle, a furious pace from both sides, and the Sky even led 51-50 at halftime. Cloud was everywhere, supercharging the offense, penetrating the paint, and hitting from long range. Kamilla Cardoso was a beast inside and on the boards, and Aicha Coulibaly gave them that extra strength and quickness off the bench. It seriously looked like the Sky had a chance to keep their season alive.
Clark and Mitchell Went OFF, And Then Things Got Wild
Then came the third quarter, and everything changed. Mitchell and Clark didn’t just play well, they legitimately lit up the Chicago skyline, hitting shot after shot. The Fever went on a massive 17-7 run that started at the end of the first half, and it just kept rolling. The Sky clawed their way back a bit, with Cloud hitting an off-balance spin shot to cut the deficit to six, 81-75, with just over a minute left in the quarter. But then the intensity burst through the seams in a different way. Cloud traded barbs with former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who was sitting courtside wearing a shirt that read “Woman (noun) an adult female.” Kanter, who announced he was “entering” the 2027 WNBA Draft as part of an anti-transgender athlete crusade, got kicked out and heard it from the stands. When the game resumed, the Fever didn’t blink. They absolutely ran away with it, outscoring the Sky 30-13 in the fourth quarter to seal the 113-90 win. Clark finished with 37 points, including eight 3-pointers, and Mitchell dropped 30 points with six 3-pointers. Just unreal.
Individual Sky Players Showed Up, But The Road Ahead Is Tough
Despite the heartbreaking loss, some Sky players really stepped up. Cloud led the team with 16 points and seven assists, going 7-for-9 from the field. Azurá Stevens added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Cardoso finished with 11 points and six rebounds, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the foul line. Coulibaly chipped in with 12 points and six boards, and DiJonai Carrington had seven points and three rebounds. Sydney Taylor struggled, though, going 0-for-9 from beyond the arc for four points. Head Coach Tyler Marsh acknowledged Taylor’s tough night, saying, “I think we’ve gotten so used to Sydney just being Sydney that we don’t give her the grace of having a game like tonight.” After the game, Stevens talked about what comes next for the team. She emphasized, “Not to get too down. We played two really great games. Tonight, we didn’t get it, but we have a couple road games coming up that we gotta regroup for and be ready for. So just not to take this one too hard.”
The Sky are out, but they still have those road games coming up. Can they regroup and show that fight Stevens talked about? That’s all that’s left on the table now, so we’ll be watching to see how they respond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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