Preview: Sky Look to Go Up 2-0 in Season Series Versus Sun

Emily Rutkowski

The Sky stay on the road in Uncasville, Connecticut, to face the Sun on Monday, June 22. Chicago is looking to take a 2-0 lead in the season series, which would ensure no worse than a tie on the season.

A W would help Chicago gain momentum after four straight insanely close matchups that saw the Sky on the losing end. The two teams first met on June 5 on the Sky’s home floor, giving the Sky their first Wintrust Arena win of the season, 85-80. 

As mentioned, the Sky are competing toe-to-toe with some of the league's top teams, with two games in a row decided by one point to teams with a combined 21 wins. Chicago appears to be on the verge of a breakthrough, and a win against Connecticut could turn the page.

The Sky are being led by a pair of All-Rookie team contenders in Gabriela Jaquez and Sydney Taylor, the latter of whom joined the starting lineup in the last two outings. Taylor is averaging 11.2 points on the season but is at 24 points per game in her last three. She leads the team in points per 36, at 26.

Jaquez, meanwhile, has started all but one of her 11 appearances. She is averaging 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting an impressive 45.2% from the field and 41.7% from three. Jaquez was unavailable the last time out against Connecticut, so she will help add a new element to the Sky’s offensive front in this outing.

Kamilla Cardoso is coming off one of her best performances of the season against the Dallas Wings on Saturday. The second-year center scored a season-high 26 points and added nine rebounds. Her 26 points were one shy of tying her career high. Cardoso is responding well to adversity and remains a threat to erupt at any time. In the first meeting against Connecticut, she recorded 10 points, eight rebounds and three assists.

Veterans Natasha Cloud and Skylar Diggins continue to provide steady leadership for the Sky. In Chicago's most recent game, the pair combined for 24 points, with Diggins scoring 14 and Cloud adding 10.

In the first game against the Suns, Diggins led the way with 24 points, four assists and three rebounds. Cloud also scored 13 for Chicago and dropped two three-pointers in clutch moments at the end of the third and fourth quarters to secure their lead. Both players will be crucial in Chicago going up 2-0 in the season series.

Tip-off for one of the Sky’s last two games ever in Mohegan Sun Arena is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT on Monday, June 22. The game will be broadcast on The U.