The Chicago Sky did not need a single dominant performance to beat the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday night. They just needed everyone to show up, and that is precisely what happened. Seven players finished in double figures or just below, the bench outscored Phoenix’s reserves by a wide margin and the Sky walked out of Mortgage Matchup Center with a 77-66 victory that has their momentum quietly building at the right time.
It was Chicago’s third win in their last five games, and it came entirely on the road, where the Sky had been struggling. The final margin of 11 points tells only part of the story. At their peak, Chicago led by as many as 20.
Taylor continues to make her case
Rookie Sydney Taylor led all Sky scorers with 16 points, hitting six of her 11 field goal attempts and connecting on three from beyond the arc. The performance is becoming a pattern. Over her last nine games, Taylor is averaging just under 18 points per appearance on better than 51 percent shooting from the field, numbers that keep her Rookie of the Year conversation very much alive.
She was particularly influential in the third quarter, accounting for 10 of Chicago’s 19 points during that stretch as the Sky extended their lead and began to put the game away.
Defense and depth win the night
While Taylor provided the offensive spark, it was the collective effort that defined the win. Kamilla Cardoso was quietly excellent on both ends of the floor, finishing with nine points, four rebounds, four assists and four blocks. That performance made her just the second player in the WNBA this season to post at least four in each of those categories across multiple games, joining a player widely considered the best in the league.
Forward Azura Stevens was a force on the glass, pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds to go along with nine points in her seventh consecutive game logging at least 25 minutes. She also reached a significant personal milestone, recording her 1,000th career defensive rebound during the contest.
Veteran guard Natasha Cloud orchestrated Chicago’s attack with six assists, 11 points, four rebounds and two steals in 32 minutes. Her footprint on the game extended beyond the box score. She was responsible for eight of the Sky’s 24 first-quarter points through direct scoring and assists, and then repeated that contribution in the fourth quarter as Chicago held off a late Phoenix push.
Bench production that made the difference
The Sky’s reserve unit outscored Phoenix’s bench 25 to 9, a gap that proved decisive. Rookie Aicha Coulibaly was the standout contributor off the bench, posting eight points and a career-best seven rebounds in just 14 minutes. Rachel Banham added seven points to keep Chicago’s second unit functioning at a high level throughout.
Courtney Vandersloot made her first start of the season and contributed seven points in 18 minutes alongside Cloud in the backcourt, giving head coach Tyler Marsh a reliable option at the guard position.
Phoenix had no answer for Chicago’s pace
The Mercury were not without their bright spots. Former Sky guard Kahleah Copper led Phoenix with 25 points and four rebounds, and Alyssa Thomas contributed 11 points, seven rebounds, five assists and four steals in a well-rounded showing. DeWanna Bonner added 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
But Phoenix committed 20 turnovers on the night. Chicago converted those miscues into 25 points while surrendering only 15 points off their own 19 turnovers. That differential, combined with Chicago’s 21 assists on 26 made field goals, illustrated just how disciplined and connected the Sky were from start to finish.
What comes next
Chicago now prepares for their second of four consecutive road games, heading to Los Angeles to face the Sparks on Friday, July 10 at 9 p.m. Central Time. The game will air on ION. The Sparks are coming off a loss and are led by one of the most prolific scorers in the league, making it a significant test for a Sky team that appears to be finding its rhythm at exactly the right moment.
