Fresh off a dramatic buzzer-beating win against the Las Vegas Aces on Aug. 1 that saw several Sky players make history, Chicago faces the Phoenix Mercury in the third matchup of their five-game homestand.

The Sky are 19-33 all-time against the Mercury and can break the 2026 regular-season series tie (1-1) with a win in the final game of the season between the two teams on Monday. While the Sky lost on the road to Phoenix 91-83 in the first game of the series, they secured a road win in their last matchup, 77-66, on July 7 in Phoenix.

Sky rookie standout Sydney Taylor led the Sky in their last meeting with 16 points on an efficient 6-of-11 clip. Taylor is on a tear, averaging nearly 19 points per game over her last eight outings while shooting a stellar 49.8% from the field. Most recently is Taylor’s 24-foot buzzer-beating three-pointer that secured an 84-83 win against the Las Vegas Aces last game.

Accompanying Taylor is the backcourt duo of Courtney Vandersloot and Natasha Cloud. Vandersloot had a tremendous stat sheet against the Aces with seven points, eight rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block, while Cloud put up 11 points, four assists and a steal.

A win by committee could be on the horizon for Chicago. The Sky saw all active players in scoring figures in their win against the Connecticut Sun on July 30, and all but two players in their most recent win against the Aces.

Though Phoenix is coming off a 94-92 loss to the New York Liberty, they are powered by an experienced core that has only grown more dangerous. The Mercury acquired two-time WNBA champion and five-time All-Star Kelsey Plum on Aug. 2 from the Los Angeles Sparks in a blockbuster trade, though she is questionable for Monday’s clash. 

Former Sky star Kahleah Copper paces the Mercury with 20.7 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. Playmaker Alyssa Thomas anchors the offense, averaging 15.8 points and 1.5 steals while leading the league with 8.9 total assists per game on 51.9% shooting. Veteran forward DeWanna Bonner rounds out their primary threats, contributing 12.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.5 steals. Plum adds to the stat line with 23.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per game in her time with the Sparks this season. 

Chicago will need strong defense through all four quarters against the Mercury’s offense to continue their win streak. If Kamilla Cardoso can anchor the paint defensively as she did against A’ja Wilson, while DiJonai Carrington takes on tough perimeter matchups like Kahleah Copper, the Sky will be tough to beat.

Tip-off is Monday, Aug. 3, at 8 p.m. CST inside Wintrust Arena.