The Chicago Sky earned a 77-66 road win over the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, July 7, using a balanced offensive effort and strong defensive pressure to secure their third victory in the last five games.
Chicago improved to 7-14 on the season, 6-7 against Western Conference opponents and 4-7 on the road. The Sky led for more than 36 minutes and built their advantage behind a strong opening quarter, outscoring Phoenix 24-15.
Rookie Sydney Taylor led Chicago with 16 points, shooting 6-for-11 from the field and 3-for-7 from three-point range. Taylor helped pace a balanced Sky offense that saw seven players score at least seven points.
Natasha Cloud added 11 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals, while Kamilla Cardoso delivered a strong two-way performance with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and four blocks. Azurá Stevens added nine points and 10 rebounds, reaching her 1,000th career defensive rebound.
Courtney Vandersloot made her first start of the season and scored seven points in 18 minutes. Rookie Aicha Coulibaly gave Chicago a lift off the bench with eight points and seven rebounds, while Rachel Banham added seven points.
Phoenix was led by former Sky guard Kahleah Copper, who finished with 25 points and four rebounds. DeWanna Bonner added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Alyssa Thomas had 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals. Valeriane Ayayi and Monique Akoa Makani each scored nine points.
Chicago’s defense helped decide the game. The Sky forced 20 Phoenix turnovers, scored 25 points off turnovers, and tied their season high with 11 steals. Chicago also outscored Phoenix 30-22 in the paint and got a major advantage from its bench, which outscored the Mercury reserves 25-9.
The Sky led by as many as 20 points and held Phoenix to just 13 points in the third quarter. Taylor scored 10 of Chicago’s 19 points in that period, helping the Sky keep control before closing out the 11-point win.
