Aces, Sky each aim to end mini-slumps

After a heartbreaking 82-80 road loss to the title-contending Connecticut Sun Friday night, the Chicago Sky can look forward to a three-game homestand, starting with Sunday's battle against the reigning WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces.

One of the focal points for the Sky (11-17) is to not back down, no matter the opponent. Chicago put that on display against the Sun, overcoming a 10-point halftime deficit to take a one-point lead (64-63) going into the fourth.

The Sky will need that same type of attitude against the Aces (17-11), who have dropped their past two games. Chicago also has lost two in a row.

"It's something we've been trying to build on. Not quitting ever," guard Lindsay Allen said in a postgame interview after scoring 14 points. "We were only down 10 at the half and felt we had 20 minutes to turn it up, and that's what we did. You always want to start the quarter strong, especially the first and third. We have to continue to play hard and play for each other and play together."

The teams were tied at 17 after one period but the Sun took a 45-35 at the half.

Chennedy Carter led the Sky with 19 points, Kamilla Cardoso scored a career-high 18 points and star rookie Angel Reese tied her career-high mark of 20 rebounds to go along with 13 points. She's the first player in league history to have back-to-back 20-rebound performances.

The Aces are coming off an 87-74 loss to the Minnesota Lynx on Friday despite 24 points from A'ja Wilson, who is pouring in 26.8 points per game this year.

Las Vegas cut a 17-point deficit in the third quarter to four with 6:14 left in the game but never got closer.

The Aces have their worst record this late in the year since 2019 when they were was 19-11.

Wilson isn't concerned, however, remaining confident in herself and her team. Las Vegas is 1-1 against Chicago this year.

"If we can just continue to string little things together, I'm going to continue to be there for my teammates always," Wilson said in a postgame interview. "I'm going to always still bet on us, no matter what."

--Field Level Media