Liberty's Impressive Victory Over the Sky Highlights Their Strength

The Chicago Sky might find some comfort in knowing that this year’s New York Liberty will likely outshine many opponents. On Thursday night, Natasha Cloud spearheaded a group of five Liberty players scoring in double digits as the defending champions dismantled the Sky, finishing with a 99-74 victory. Cloud topped the scoresheet with 18 points, followed by Sabrina Ionescu with 16, Breanna Stewart contributing 12, and Jonquel Jones adding 11. However, it was Kennedy Burke’s impressive 17 points off the bench that truly captured attention.

The Liberty roster is extraordinarily talented, underscored by their record-breaking performance when they hit a stunning 19 three-pointers during the game.

It was during the second quarter that New York asserted dominance, outpacing Chicago 25-9. Still, credit must be given to the youthful Sky team for their resilience; they continued to fight, leading to a tight 46-42 scoreline in New York’s favor in the second half. Notably, many of the Liberty’s key players sat out much of the fourth quarter.

Offensive struggles haunt Chicago from the previous season, resurfacing as a significant issue. Angel Reese failed to score, going 0-for-8, and Kamilla Cardoso landed only 3 of her 8 attempts. Rachel Banham was a standout on the bench, shooting 5-for-7 from beyond the arc. Yet, the Sky must quickly rediscover their scoring touch if they hope to compete.”