Angel Reese Records Triple-Double as Sky Defeat Sun
The Chicago Sky secured a decisive 78-66 victory over the Connecticut Sun on Sunday, highlighted by a historic performance from Angel Reese and a career-high scoring effort from Hailey Van Lith. Reese achieved her first triple-double, while Van Lith led a dominant showing by the Sky's bench, which ultimately propelled Chicago to pull away from the Sun in this Commissioner's Cup game.
Angel Reese, at 23 years old, became the second-youngest WNBA player to record a triple-double, with only Caitlin Clark achieving the feat at a younger age (twice at 22). Reese's remarkable stat line included 11 points, 13 rebounds, and a career-high 11 assists, more than double her previous best. Her play was instrumental in Chicago having five players score in double figures, underlining a strong team offensive effort. The Sky's bench was a significant factor, outscoring the Sun reserves by an overwhelming 36-2 margin.
Beyond Reese's standout game and Van Lith's 16 points leading the bench, other key contributors for the Sky included Kia Nurse, who delivered 11 points on perfect 4-of-4 shooting, including three three-pointers. Kamilla Cardoso and Ariel Atkins each added 10 points to the winning effort. Additionally, reserve Rachel Banham marked a career milestone by making her 300th career three-pointer during the game.
For the Connecticut Sun, Marina Mabrey led the scoring with 22 points, featuring five three-pointers. Tina Charles contributed 19 points, and Jacy Sheldon added 12 points. Despite these individual efforts, the Sun struggled to match Chicago's depth and consistent scoring.
The first half saw both teams shooting 40% from the field and making six three-pointers. However, the Sky's perfect eight-for-eight performance from the free-throw line gave them a slight 38-36 lead at halftime, with Mabrey being the only player in double figures with 16 points. Early in the second half, a three-pointer from Mabrey and two free throws from Charles gave Connecticut a brief 47-44 lead. However, the Sky quickly responded with three-point plays from Michaela Onyenwere and Reese, reclaiming the lead at 51-48 and ultimately heading into the fourth quarter with a 59-54 advantage.
Following this game, the Chicago Sky are set to play at home against Washington, while the Connecticut Sun will travel to Indiana, with both games scheduled for Tuesday.
