Chicago Sky coach Tyler Marsh addressed a lively locker room after his team forced the Golden State Valkyries into 29.3% shooting during a win at San Francisco on Wednesday.
“When we play defense like that,” he said, “we can compete with anyone, anywhere.”
Chicago (2-0) will aim to channel that intensity again on Friday as a season-opening, four-game road trip continues with a visit to the Phoenix Mercury.
Backed by double-digit scoring efforts from Rickea Jackson (18 points), Sklar Diggins (15) and Jacy Sheldon (12), the Sky defeated the Valkyries 69-63.
Acquired in an April trade with the Los Angeles Sparks, Jackson is averaging a team-best 18.5 points through two games, narrowly ahead of fellow offseason acquisition Skylar Diggins (18.0).
“Rough shooting in the first half, but you stuck with it,” Marsh told Jackson on Wednesday. “We kept giving you the rock and you took us home.”
Phoenix (1-2) is coming off an 88-84 loss to the Minnesota Lynx in its home opener on Tuesday.
After thumping defending WNBA champion Las Vegas by 33 points on Saturday in a Finals rematch, the Mercury have lost back-to-back games.
Minnesota’s Nia Coffey swished a 3-pointer with 25.6 seconds left to create a four-point cushion. The Mercury slumped to 31.6% shooting in the fourth quarter.
“I feel like our offense is a little choppy and we let that affect our defense,” Phoenix forward DeWanna Bonner said, “and that’s what you can’t do, no matter what.”
Still, bright spots remain. Kahleah Copper scored a game-high 30 points against the Lynx while Bonner (16) and Alyssa Thomas (10) added to the attack.
Copper is confident the team will regain its stride quickly as various players reacclimate after competing overseas. Among them: point guard Monique Akoa Makani, who is finishing a commitment in France as her team, Bourges, plays for its league championship.
“We’re still learning each other,” Copper said. “People are still learning the plays. Some of us only had three practices. It’s just been tough, but we’re going to figure it out. There’s nothing more to say. We’re going to figure it out. That’s it.”
–Field Level Media
