CHICAGO — If there’s any consolation for the Chicago Sky, it’s that the New York Liberty are going to make a lot of teams look bad this year.
Natasha Cloud led five Liberty players in double figures Thursday night as the defending champions ran roughshod over the Sky, 99-74. Cloud scored a team-high 18 points, Sabrina Ionescu had 16, Breanna Stewart 12 and Jonquel Jones had 11. But the number that should get everyone’s attention is 17 points from Kennedy Burke off the bench.
The Liberty are, simply, loaded. And they made history Thursday night by knocking down a record 19 3-pointers in the win.
New York took control in the second quarter, outscoring Chicago 25-9. But say this for the young Sky: They kept playing. New York only outscored them 46-42 in the second half, though the Liberty did rest most of their starters for much of the fourth quarter.
Chicago’s big problem, just as it was last season, is finding offense. Angel Reese was 0-for-8, while Kamilla Cardoso was 3-of-8. The Sky got a boost off the bench from Rachel Banham, who was 5-of-7 from 3-point range. But this team needs to find its shooting groove. And fast.
Catch up on USA TODAY Sports’ live updates, score and highlights for the Liberty vs. Sky matchup on Thursday:
Liberty beat Sky: Full game highlights
Sky has ‘confidence’ in Angel Reese despite off night
Angel Reese’s bad night was just that. A bad night. That’s the way Sky coach Tyler Marsh sees it after Reese had just two points on 0-of-8 shooting. Reese did have 12 rebounds and three steals.
‘Some of (her shots) were just rushed. That was really it,’ Marsh said after the Sky was routed 99-74 by the defending champion New York Liberty. ‘Angel knows we have confidence in her, just like we do in Kamilla. We have constant belief and confidence in all of our players to make those.’
Cardoso also had a rough night. She had six points on 3-of-8 shooting and four rebounds.
Playing the Liberty will make any team look bad. But the Sky are young and are trying to implement a new system with a new coach with a lot of new pieces. That’s going to take time, said Courtney Vandersloot, the veteran returned to Chicago in the offseason after spending the last two years with the Liberty.
‘It’s still early. Obviously there’s a lot to work on, a lot to improve. But we’re going to figure it out,’ Vandersloot said. ‘We didn’t think it was going to come all perfect together in the first two games. We’re not panicking. I think we’re still in a really good place mentally.’
End of Q3: Liberty 75, Sky 54
The Chicago Sky came out of the locker room inspired and went on an 8-point run, cutting their 21-point deficit into 13 points less than two minutes into the third quarter. But the Liberty responded and extended their lead over the Sky back to 21-points heading into the fourth quarter.
Sabrina Ionescu has a game-high 16 points, shooting 5-of-9 from the field and 2-of-5 from three. Breanna Stewart added 12 points and two blocks, while Jonquel Jones is up to 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
The Sky have given up 20 turnovers that has led to 22 points for the Liberty.
Courtney Vandersloot and Rebecca Allen are the only Sky players to reach double-digits with 11 points each. Angel Reese has been held scoreless (0-of-7 FG), but is up to 10 rebounds (8 offensive).
Sky go on 8-0 run vs. Liberty
Where was this Sky in the first half?
In a 21-point hole at halftime, Chicago opened the third quarter with a quick 8-0 run. Kamilla Cardoso outmuscled Jonquel Jones for a layup to get things started, Courtney Vandersloot made a 3 and then had the assist on a 3 by Ariel Atkins. That was enough for Sandy Brondello, who called a timeout with 8:40 left.
The Sky still has a lot of work to do – a lot a lot – but it’s a good sign that they’re refusing to quit.
Halftime: Liberty 53, Sky 32
Well that got out of control quickly.
The Liberty outscored the Sky 25-9 in the second quarter, allowing the defending champions to go into halftime with a 21-point cushion. New York leads 53-32.
Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones lead the Liberty with 12 points apiece, but New York is getting contributions from everyone. On both ends of the court. Everyone who has played two minutes or more has scored and has at least one rebound, and all but two of those players also have assists. The Liberty also have eight steals. Eight!
The Sky, meanwhile, well, they’re trying. They just can’t score consistently and are getting killed by their turnovers – 15 and counting.
Sky minority owner Dwyane Wade sits courtside
A perk of being an owner, and a Hall of Famer, is prime seating.
Dwyane Wade was sitting courtside for the Chicago Sky’s home opener Monday night. Wade, a Chicago native who won three NBA titles with the Miami Heat, has been a part-owner of the Sky since 2023. He sat opposite the Sky bench and got a loud ovation when he was shown on the Jumbotron at the end of the first quarter.
End of Q1: Liberty 28, Sky 23
New York Liberty superstar Jonquel Jones can’t miss … literally. Jones is up to eight points, shooting 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from 3. Sabrina Ionescu is also having her way and dicing up the Sky defense. She scored 10 points in the first quarter, shooting 3-for-5 from the field and 1-for-3 from 3.
Sky veteran Courtney Vandersloot has four points. Angel Reese has struggled offensively so far. She remains scoreless and is 0-for-5 from the field. Defense is a different story — Reese is already up to seven rebounds. The Sky’s bench, however, is keeping the contest close. Chicago’s bench has scored 12 of the team’s 23 points, led by four points from Rebecca Allen.
Courtney Vandersloot welcomed back with open arms
Back as if she never left.
Courtney Vandersloot’s return to the Chicago Sky, the team that drafted her, after two years in New York was the Sky’s biggest move this offseason. That’s partly because she’s one of the best point guards to ever play the game, and helped lead Chicago to its only title, in 2021. But Vandersloot is also beloved in Chicago and by Sky fans.
She was introduced last before Thursday night’s home opener, and took the court to a loud chorus of ‘Slooooot!’
What time is Liberty vs. Sky?
The New York Liberty vs. Chicago Sky game will tip off at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, May 22 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
How to watch Liberty vs. Sky game: TV, stream
- Time: 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT
- Location: Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois
- TV (local): My9 (New York) | The U (Chicago)
- TV (national): WNBA League Pass
- Stream: Fubo
Courtney Vandersloot will face former team
Thursday’s matchup between the Liberty and Sky will mark Vandersloot’s first game against her former team. Vandersloot played for the Liberty for two seasons in 2023-24 after spending 12 seasons in Chicago. She helped New York win its first WNBA championship last season, which marked the second of Vandersloot’s career. She previously won a title with the Sky in 2021, which marked the franchise’s first and only championship.
New York Liberty starting lineup
Chicago Sky starting lineup
Liberty vs. Sky odds
Odds via BetMGM
- Spread: Liberty (-12.5)
- Moneyline: Liberty (-700); Sky (+500)
- Over/under: 164.5
Check out Liberty’s 2024 WNBA championship ring
The Liberty received their 2024 WNBA Championship rings during a banner-raising ceremony ahead of their 2025 season opening win over the Las Vegas Aces at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
The Liberty, one of the original WNBA franchises, won their first WNBA title last season, which marked the first professional basketball championship for New York City since 1973. The ring was designed by Jason of Beverly Hills, as well as by Brooklyn-based designers Dynasty and Soull Ogun of L’Enchanteur.
Full details on the Liberty’s championship rings here.
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