Both the Chicago Sky and Los Angeles Sparks must rebound from a rough start to their return from the Olympic break.
On Saturday, the visiting Sky seek a fifth consecutive win over the Sparks, who have lost four straight at home.
Chicago (10-15) entered the month-long break for the Paris Olympics with an impressive 93-85 win over two-time defending champion Las Vegas. However, the Sky returned to shoot 37 percent, and allowed Phoenix to make 56 percent of its shots during Thursday’s 85-65 home loss.
It was the Sky’s first game since long-distance shooting threat Marina Mabrey was dealt to Connecticut. Chicago, outscored 30-12 in the first quarter, shot 21 percent (4 of 19) from 3-point range.
Despite losing for the third time in four games, Chicago still enters Saturday holding the eighth and final playoff spot.
“We have to be about us,” Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon said. “If we don’t focus on ourselves, we’re in trouble.”
Star Sky rookie Angel Reese had 11 points with 15 rebounds Thursday. She had just six points and six boards during Chicago’s 83-73 home victory over Los Angeles on May 30.
The Sky have won four straight against the Sparks, including three by at least eight points.
Los Angeles (6-19) has lost 12 of 14 and played as poorly as Chicago in Thursday’s 103-68 home loss to New York. Rae Burrell scored 15 off the bench and Dearica Hamby added 14 points and 13 boards for L.A., which was outscored 29-10 in the first quarter, shot 36 percent overall and allowed the Liberty to go 15-of-30 from 3-point range.
“This is a franchise with a rich tradition,” Sparks coach Curt Miller said. “This doesn’t happen to the Sparks on the Sparks’ home court. “My hope is that it bothers them, but we gotta move on.”
Los Angeles has averaged just 74 points during its four-game home skid.
Hamby had 24 points with 13 points in the loss in Chicago in May.
It’s uncertain if Chicago’s leading scorer Chennedy Carter (17.2 points per game) will play after missing Thursday’s contest with a non-COVID illness.
–Field Level Media