By Sarah Disbro

In the WNBA’s second-ever game at the United Center, the Sky hosted a sellout crowd against the Fever on Sunday. Chicago ultimately came up short, falling 79-93, despite Rachel Banham scoring a season-high 26 points. 

The record-breaking crowd of 19,601 witnessed a back-and-forth game that saw both teams light it up from beyond the arc. In total there were a combined 21 made three-pointers by the Sky and Fever. Chicago put up a strong effort for the home crowd, keeping the pressure on Indiana throughout the game. 

After the Sky scored the first five points of the game, Indiana dominated the first quarter. The Fever’s defense forced Chicago into nine turnovers, while offensively they shot 50.0% from the field. 

“That first quarter was tough for us, and that was probably one of the main reasons we lost that game,” Banham said. “But, I’m really proud of our bounce back, and we talked a lot, and we figured it out going forward in the game.

The Sky did their best to disrupt the Fever’s shots, as they had three blocks in the first quarter. As a team they finished with five blocks, led by Elizabeth Williams who had two, along with nine points and eight rebounds. 

Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell came ready to play, scoring 26 of her season-high 35 points in the first half. Mitchell became the first player in the Fever’s history to score 35 points in under 35 minutes. She finished with 35 points and six assists. 

Banham and Mitchell traded three-pointers throughout the night. Banham tied her season-high made threes with six, while shooting 54.5% from beyond the arc, and added five assists. Mitchell went 7 of 10 from deep, on her way to becoming the first player in WNBA history to have a game with 35 or more points, seven or more three-pointers, six or more assists and three or more steals. 

“I definitely came into this game, knowing I had to be aggressive, kind of being the only point guard out there,” Banham said. “Our posts were setting good screens. The second I feel them hit my person, I’m likely shooting it. 

The Fever had its largest lead of the game in the first half, leading by 16. Coming out of halftime down 39-51, the Sky went on an 11-3 run in the third. Spurred on by chants of “Let’s go, Sky” from the home crowd, Chicago pulled within one after a Kia Nurse corner three found the bottom of the net. However, the Fever responded with a 19-6 run to stifle the comeback. 

The Sky’s performance marked a competitive edge that head coach Tyler Marsh said the team needed to find after their recent losses. Nurse was one of four starters to finish in double digits, as she had 14 points and six rebounds. Rebecca Allen got in on the action from three-point, going 3 for 7 from deep to finish with 13 points, four assists and four steals. 

Down low, Kamilla Cardoso and Aliyah Boston battled it out, both recording a double-double. Boston finished with 14 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Cardoso had 12 points, 10 rebounds and three assists. For Cardoso, it was her fifth double-double of the season and third in a row. 

For Indiana, Makayla Timpson came off the bench to add 14 points, and Aari McDonald had 10 points and four assists. 

The game marked the last time the Sky will play in the United Center this season, but it’s a testament to how much women’s basketball has grown in Chicago. Sunday’s attendance broke the previous franchise record of 19,496 set the last time the teams played at the venue on June 7. 

Quote of the game from Kia Nurse: 

“The kids have these great experiences coming to a WNBA game,” Nurse said. “And hopefully, that encourages them to pick up a basketball to either try and make it to the WNBA, or just learn all the stuff that you can learn from playing a sport. So, it’s exciting to be in this atmosphere. I thought the crowd was a good energy boost for us today, I know I felt them out there, so it’s always appreciative.”