“No, I think that we struggled as a team. I don’t think Angel struggled tonight, I think we struggled as a team.” Blaming the entire locker room after the post-game interview, Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh was dissatisfied with the team’s overall performance. After another crushing defeat against the Indiana Fever, where they lost by 27 points, the second-last standing team in the Eastern Conference division is headed to try their luck against the No.1 team, the New York Liberty, in Barclays Center.

While Marsh praised Angel Reese for delivering a decent performance against the so-called rivals, it looked like the Chi-Barbie has finally inched closer to finding her momentum. Needless to say, she has been averaging 10.0 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists so far. But are these consistent efforts enough to keep the team afloat? Or does Reese need to challenge herself to gain more points and fewer turnovers this season?

As Kia Nurse, Rebecca Allen, and Ariel Atkins provide much-needed support to the younger players, HC Marsh aspires for more. “We’ve got to be better across the board, and that’s kind of the bottom line.” With a public ultimatum for Sky after the poor gameplay, can the team grab another win or keep sinking? Guess we’ll have to take a closer look at the injury report, starting-5 lineups, and match predictions to understand which team has better chances at winning.

Injury Report: NY Liberty vs Chicago Sky

Unfortunately, key contributor to the Sky’s roster, Courtney Vandersloot has been declared out for the remainder of the season. The veteran fell to the floor within minutes of appearing on the court against Indiana Fever on Saturday. She had to be dragged to the locker room after a sharp pain in the knee.

While the injury was confirmed as an ACL tear after the game, it also meant Vandersloot’s rapid exit from the Sky. For at least one season. The guard had successfully dished 10.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 5.3 assists for her team so far. If all goes well, Vandersloot is expected to return to Chicago Sky by May 1, 2026. But another player’s looming absence has become a barrier for the team’s victory.

According to ESPN website, another Sky veteran in Moriah Jefferson is also declared out. “Jefferson (leg) will not play Tuesday against the Liberty, Karli Bell of Marquee Sports Network reports,” the website announced. Jefferson has been recuperating from an arthroscopic surgery that was performed on her right ankle. The five-feet-six guard had been suffering from joint issues in the ankle since last season and this was the sole season she sat out the preseason games too.

With the absence of two profound veterans in the roster, can Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso change the fate of the Sky? As they lock horns with a healthy roster of New York Liberty, one of their opponents might still miss the hardwood. While details regarding her injuries are unknown, ESPN revealed Jonquel Jones’s playing status as questionable ahead of the tipoff.

Predicted Starters: NY Liberty vs Chicago Sky

The Starting-5 lineup predictions for both teams are as follows:

NY Liberty

• Natasha Cloud
• Sabrina Ionescu
• Breanna Jones
• Leonie Fiebich
• Marine Johannes

Chicago Sky

• Ariel Atkins
• Kia Nurse
• Hailey Van Lith
• Angel Reese
• Kamilla Cardoso

Match Prediction: NY Liberty vs Chicago Sky

Standing at the topmost position in the Eastern Conference division rankings so far, the New York Liberty has earned 8 wins so far. Led by Breanna Stewart and Sabrina Ionescu, the reigning champions have been leading with flawless offences so far. Not to mention, Natasha Cloud’s formidable defenses. Having said that, Liberty has the highest net rating in the W.

The team has taken off from where they left off last season. A threat to other teams in the league, the Liberty boasts an average of 91.1 points, 36.5 rebounds, 23.1 assists, 5.4 blocks, and 9.3 steals so far. No wonder ESPN match predictor also finds them fit for an 87.9% win percentage against just 12.1% from Chicago Sky.

On the other hand, chances look bleak for Chicago Sky as they head to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn without Courtney Vandersloot. While Cardoso and Reese provide ample front court depth with predominant rebounds, they are no match for Liberty. Reese has been the rebounding queen with an average of 12.3 rebounds per game, as Ariel Atkins averaged 13.5 points per game. However, this is in stark contrast to Stewart’s 19.1 points per game.

It will be exciting to watch Chicago Sky try their luck against the New York Liberty. With a home court advantage and high basketball IQ veterans in Sandy Brondello’s roster, can the young athletes shake things up on the hardwood or suffer another hard-hitting loss? While Sky does not look promising anymore, it will be important to see if they give a tough fight to the opponents or crack under pressure.