A pair of struggling squads face each other for a chance to gain some positive momentum when the Chicago Sky face the Connecticut Sun on Monday in Uncasville, Conn.
The Sky enter with a five-game losing streak, while the Sun have dropped their last seven decisions to occupy last place in the WNBA.
Chicago (4-11) has faced a pair of particularly crushing defeats recently. After falling to the New York Liberty 96-95 on a Sabrina Ionescu layup with 10 seconds left on Wednesday, the Sky fell 93-92 to the Dallas Wings on Saturday in a game in which they did not trail until the final 12 seconds. Dallas reeled off a 7-0 run in the final 35 seconds to extend Chicago’s misery.
Kamilla Cardoso scored 26 points for the Sky, just a point off her career best. Cardoso shot 10-for-13 from the field while grabbing nine boards. Sydney Taylor added 18 points and Skylar Diggins tallied 14 points and six assists, but for the second straight game, a last-second chance to win misfired for the Sky.
Three attempts in the final seconds failed to connect and officials declined to call a foul, to the consternation of Chicago players and coaches.
“It was a clear foul and we deserved to have that one,” Sky coach Tyler Marsh said after the game.
Marsh was impressed with Cardoso’s play in the loss and noted, “She’s got the tools to be a consistent offensive threat… and when she’s that dominating of a presence down low, it opens up another world for us offensively.”
Connecticut (2-15) has problems of its own, having gone winless since May 30 against the Los Angeles Sparks.
The Sun led by 14 points with eight minutes to play but lost 101-97 to the Toronto Tempo on Friday. Kennedy Burke paced five Sun players in double figures with 18 points off the bench. Brittney Griner and Leila Lacan each tallied 16 points, with Griner adding eight rebounds.
Coach Rachid Meziane praised Burke’s season-high scoring effort and said, “She did her job. I just know that she can help us more.”
Despite the seven-game losing streak, Meziane remained optimistic.
“The team chemistry is very, very good. I think that’s something that will allow us to stay positive,” he said.
Chicago previously bested Connecticut 85-80 at home on June 5.
–Field Level Media
