Chicago Sky’s Struggles Continue with Loss to Atlanta Dream
It’s been a tough stretch for the Chicago Sky. On Friday night, they faced their third consecutive defeat, falling 88-70 to the Atlanta Dream, marking their seventh loss this season.
Sky’s general manager, Jeff Pagliocca, mentioned earlier that the team really needs to see more from Angel Reese, the former LSU standout. Unfortunately, her performance didn’t shift the momentum, even as Rhyne Howard from the Dream scored an impressive 36 points, setting a new season high and achieving a career-high in three-pointers.
After the game, Coach Tyler Marsh expressed his frustration, saying, “We have to do a better job of stopping the bleeding.” He reflected on the team’s defensive efforts in the first half and some parts of the third quarter, stating, “We executed a defensive game plan, but we need to maintain that focus for the entire game.”
Reese had a decent start, going 2-for-2 in the first quarter along with five rebounds and two assists. She contributed significantly in the second quarter with eight points but struggled as Atlanta took control of the game. Ultimately, she finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.
This season, Reese hasn’t quite matched her all-star caliber performance from last year. Her shooting percentage has slipped, and she’s averaging about 10.3 points per game compared to 13.6 last season, along with a turnover rate of 3.8.
Pagliocca acknowledged her inconsistency, saying, “She has had some great games, but also some where she hasn’t performed at her best. She’s versatile and we need her to contribute in various ways.”
With a revamped roster and a new head coach, the Sky are still trying to navigate through this challenging phase. Pagliocca expressed disappointment about the team’s current standing, saying, “This is unexpected, and I’m very disappointed. We had substantial expectations for this season.”
Currently, the Sky are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference with a 2-7 record. They will have a chance to turn things around when they meet Connecticut on Sunday.
