The Sky had a few storylines brewing long before the season even began. Like, did Courtney Vandersloot still have it in her 15th year? Well, we didn’t really get to find out as her season-ending injury cut that short. Then there was Tyler Marsh. Could he actually be the tactician Jeff Pagliocca hyped him up to be? The record hasn’t said a lot so far. But the real question? Could their sophomore class actually step up? And well, that answer is turning into a big, fat yes, even with all the ups and downs. Chicago went 0-5 without Angel Reese, and that stat told us everything. 

And just to add to that notion…finally, and we mean finally, Sky broke their longest losing streak of the decade without Reese but Kamilla Cardoso as the offense’s centre piece.

The team’s last win came on July 12 when they bested the top team in the league. After that, the Sky just started to fall apart. Reese’s injury didn’t help the case. And obviously, made it worse. She has been out for a bit now with a back issue. She’s missed four of their last five games, and Tuesday night’s matchup against the Mystics marked her third straight absence.

It had been 21 days since the Sky’s losing streak without Chi-town’s star began. The first loss in that stretch without her came back on July 16, when they went a disastrous 86-49. Reese actually did return briefly against the Mystics on July 29, but re-aggravated that back injury, which ended in yet another loss. Since then, she sat out the Valkyries, the Mercury, and was out again for this one too.

But despite that six-game home skid (and eight consecutive losses in total) dragging them down, Chicago came in hungry and clinched the win. While Ariel Atkins’ return might be a factor, Cardoso’s double-double and the starters’ key contributions could not be overlooked in the 78–64 win. The Sky came out with way more pace and fight this time around. Offensively, they were flowing, 22 assists on 54% shooting from the field.

From the jump, Elizabeth Williams came out swinging as she went a perfect 4-for-4 in the first quarter and wrapped up her night with 18 points and 10 boards. Kamilla Cardoso was right there with her, locking in a double-double by halftime. While she cooled off a bit in the second half, she stayed aggressive and ended with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 dimes. Ariel Atkins’ return from calf injury gave Sky some much-needed speed on the perimeter. She chipped in 15 points and 5 assists.

Mystics, meanwhile, definitely felt the absence of Brittney Sykes. That gap showed, especially when the Sky ramped things up. Not to forget, though, Sky’s season-long issue turnovers was still a problem (18 times). And speaking of bigger problems, they might have another one.

Angel Reese battles another setback? 

Angel Reese is still listed as day-to-day, but when it comes to clarity, well, we didn’t get much. Before Tuesday’s game, Sky head coach Tyler Marsh gave an update that left things more confusing. “There isn’t a concrete timetable. As to the extent that I know, it’s the back injury and she continues to be day-to-day… I think she’s progressing but still kind of wait and see,” he shared.

But there’s more. Just to add to the concern, the coach shared Reese also missed shootaround on Tuesday. Not because of the back issue this time, but due to an unrelated illness. “Today was less about injury and more, she woke up not feeling well, she’s a little under the weather,” Marsh said. He even told her to stay home and rest.

At this moment, whether it’s the back injury or any illness, no one’s blaming them for being cautious. Chicago’s been struggling no matter who suits up, but they’ve been especially off without Reese. She’s been the brightest spot on a dim season, leading the team in scoring with 14.2 points and dominating the league in rebounding with a wild 12.6 boards a night. 

Even when she wasn’t at her best in her last outing, she said, “It was ugly, ugly for me, but I tried to push through as much as I could for my teammates because I know they need me out there.” But with just 11 games left and the Sky sitting near the bottom of the standings and seven games out of a playoff spot, there’s zero reason to rush Reese back. 

She’s the cornerstone of the franchise and long-term health over short-term hustle should always be the priority.