Chennedy Carter scored 19 points and rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso both notched double-doubles to boost the host Chicago Sky to a 78-69 victory over the Atlanta Dream on Wednesday.
Chicago outscored Atlanta 24-15 in the fourth quarter on the way to its third victory in the past four games.
The Dream have lost eight of nine, a slide that includes an eight-point home loss to Chicago on July 2.
Marina Mabrey converted a three-point play to break a tie and put the Sky ahead 68-65 with 4:17 remaining in the game. Chicago (9-12) never relinquished the lead after that but the Dream stuck around.
Allisha Gray’s layup off a backdoor cut feed from Maya Caldwell drew Atlanta (7-14) to within a point with 1:23 to go.
Dana Evans missed a free throw after referees whistled Atlanta coach Tanisha Wright for a technical foul, but the Sky recovered as Carter and Reese scored baskets on the next two possessions to help Chicago pull away.
Reese snagged a game-high 13 rebounds to go with 11 points that left the crowd in suspense. Reese extended her WNBA record to 14 consecutive games with a double-double thanks to a pair of free throws with 6.4 seconds left. The run includes three double-doubles against the Dream, who were led by Gray’s 20 points.
Naz Hillmon and Haley Jones added 12 points apiece for the Dream.
Atlanta remained without second-leading scorer Rhyne Howard, who has been sidelined since June 19 with a left ankle injury.
Jordin Canada (finger) and Aerial Powers (calf) were out for the Dream, as well. Cheyenne Parker-Tyus returned from a foot injury, grabbing a team-leading eight rebounds.
Cardoso contributed 10 points and 11 boards for the Sky.
Sparked by 15 points from Carter, Chicago took a 38-34 lead into the break. After scoring the first seven points of the game, the Sky withstood a run from the Dream, who benefited from a balanced attack to grab a 28-22 advantage with 6:11 left in the second quarter.
Carter scored seven of her team’s next 16 points to close the half, including a trey that put the Sky ahead by six with 2:17 to go before the break.
–Field Level Media