GAME HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
● Chicago saw four separate players (guard Kahleah Copper, forward Candace Parker, center Azurá Stevens and guard Courtney Vandersloot) score at least 10 points, but the Sky dropped Game #2 of the semifinals to the Sun on Thursday night.
● The Sky outscored the Sun in fast break points, notching 6 compared to Connecticut’s 4.
● It was a game of runs on Thursday – a matchup that saw the score tied five times between the two teams and seven times that there was a lead change.
● The Sky finished the night with 8 blocked shots, the team’s most in a playoff game since August 28, 2018, when Chicago recorded 10 against the Atlanta Dream.
● Chicago outscored the Sun 23-21 in the first quarter and 20-13 in the third quarter.
● After leading the Sun in scoring (26) and rebounding (11) in Game #1 of this playoff series, Sun forward Jonquel Jones was held to just 4 points on 2 of 9 shooting.
NEXT UP: The 2021 WNBA Playoff Semifinals is now tied at 1-1 with the series shifting to Wintrust Arena going into Game #3. Tip-off for the next game between the Chicago Sky and the Connecticut Sun is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. CT. Sky fans can purchase tickets for Game #3 (and Game #4) on the team’s website or by tuning into ESPN2.
WATCH: Postgame Media Availability – Sky Drops Game 2
KEY RUNS
● Chicago opened Thursday’s game with a 11-0 run against Connecticut. Near the end of the first quarter, the Sun went on a 6-0 run, trimming the Sky’s lead.
● After Azura’ Stevens committed her third foul with 5:10 remaining in the second quarter, the Sun closed the first half on a 12-4 tun to take a 6-point halftime lead
● The Sky opened the 3rd quarter with a 5-0 run to cut the lead to 1 point. Later in the quarter, Chicago had a 9-4 run to take a 4-point lead.
● The Sun went on a 10-0 run to start the fourth quarter. Later in the same quarter, Connecticut had a 8-0 run to take a 79-65 lead with 1:42 remaining.
KEY STATS
● At the charity stripe, Chicago converted 11 of its 12 attempts on Thursday. In comparison, Connecticut converted 11 of their 18 free-throw attempts. The Sky shot 9 free throws in the first half but only 3 in the 2nd half
● The Sky were held to 33.3% shooting in the second half, totalling just 29 points across the final two quarters of action.
● Connecticut boasted a 40-28 advantage in the paint, an offensive effort led by Sun forward Alyssa Thomas, who scored 12 of her 15 points inside.
● After shooting 67% with 27 points in Game #1 of the 2021 WNBA Playoff Semifinals, the Sky bench shot 23.6% on Tuesday and scored 15 points while only grabbing 4 rebounds.
● After shooting 4 of 10 in the first half from three-point land, Chicago was held to 3 of 16 from deep in the second half.
CHICAGO NOTES
● The Sky’s 9 points in the fourth quarter was the team’s fewest in a playoff quarter since it was held to 8 points by the LA Sparks on Oct. 2, 2016.
● The Sky’s starting five shot 58.8% (10 for 17) in the first half, but were held to 37.9% (11 for 29) in the second half.
● The Sky opened the 4th quarter 1 of 12 from the field, which helped Connecticut turn a 1-point deficit into a 14-point lead.