After the season-ending ACL injury to Rickea Jackson and five consecutive losses, the Chicago Sky entered Friday night still searching for answers, and for a win. After falling behind by as many as 15 points and managing just 11 points in the first quarter, the Sky flipped the script and battled back for an 85-80 win over the Connecticut Sun. The victory snapped Chicago’s losing streak and delivered a much-needed reset built on resilience and response. See Skylar Diggins’s highlights from the game linked here.

Diggins Answers the Call

Skylar Diggins led the charge with a season-high 24 points, delivering the urgency Chicago had been missing during its recent download slide. From the opening tip, she played with a level of aggression and purpose that immediately set the tone for the Sky. Whether she was attacking the basket, creating space for her mid-range game, or knocking down timely shots when momentum began to shift, Diggins consistently provided a spark. More importantly, she controlled the tempo, making sure Chicago stayed composed during key stretches and never allowed the game to get away from them.

“Extremely proud of the way that they continued to fight back,” head coach Tyler Marsh said. “We got great contributions across the board. We could have easily folded after that first quarter.”

Diggins’ impact went far beyond the score board. She played with a visible sense of accountability and determination, bringing the competitive edge that had been absent during the team’s struggles. Every possession felt personal, and her leadership was evident in the way she rallied her teammates and demanded a higher level of execution on both ends of the floor. In a game where Chicago desperately needed to land new footing, Diggins embraced the responsibility, delivering not only her most productive scoring performance of the season but also the emotional lift that helped fuel the Sky’s resurgence.

“My game was for me to f***ing play better for this team, really,” Diggins said postgame. “We’ve been trying to figure it out. Obviously, it’s a lot of adversity that we face that’s out of our control, and it is things that are in our control.”

Stevens Anchors in the Paint

Azurá Stevens matched that energy with a commanding presence in the paint, finishing with 13 points and 10 rebounds while providing the interior stability Chicago desperately needed. As Connecticut came out aggressively and threatened to build an early cushion, Stevens was the steadying force that kept the Sky within striking distance. She accounted for seven of Chicago’s first 11 points, establishing herself early as a reliable option offensively while battling on the glass and protecting possessions. Her physicality set the tone inside, helping Chicago withstand the Sun’s opening surge and preventing the game from spiraling before the Sky could find their footing.

After a sluggish and disjointed first quarter, Chicago responded with its most complete stretch of basketball in weeks. The Sky exploded for 32 second-quarter points, erasing the deficit and completely shifting the momentum of the contest. The ball movement improved, the defensive intensity increased, and Chicago began playing with the confidence and urgency that had been missing during its recent losing streak. What started as another frustrating opening quickly transformed into a statement response, with the Sky matching Connecticut’s physicality and finally dictating the pace of the game.

The Sky also received a significant boost from Natasha Cloud, who added 13 points off the bench and injected valuable energy whenever Chicago needed a spark. Her aggressiveness on both ends complemented the efforts of Diggins and Stevens, helping maintain pressure throughout the night. Diggins controlled the game from the perimeter, Stevens anchored the interior, and together they refused to let another opportunity slip away. In a season searching for consistency, Chicago’s veterans delivered the kind of poised, winning performance that could serve as a turning point moving forward.

“She definitely set the tone for us to continue to hang in there,” Marsh said of Diggins. “Her aggressiveness offensively, Natasha Cloud off the bench—it was contributions from everywhere.”

The win moves Chicago to 4-6 on the season, but more importantly, it gave the Sky something they have been searching for during a challenging stretch: confidence. After enduring a frustrating stretch marked by missed opportunities and growing questions, the Sky finally delivered the type of complete performance that can help reshape a season.

“Extremely proud of the way that they continued to fight back,” Head Coach Tyler Marsh said. “We got great contributions across the board… we could have easily folded after that first quarter.”

The challenge now becomes sustaining that momentum. Chicago will have little time to celebrate as it heads north for a Commissioner’s Cup showdown against the Toronto Tempo at Coca-Cola Coliseum. The matchup presents an immediate opportunity for redemption after the Sky suffered a 111-104 loss to the expansion franchise on May 27 in a game that featured standout performances from both Sydney Taylor and Diggins.

To split the season series, Chicago will need a much stronger defensive effort against a Toronto offense that shot an impressive 56 percent from the field in the previous meeting while also containing former Sky guard Marina Mabrey. With tip-off set for 2 p.m. CT, the Sky will look to build on Friday’s breakthrough and prove that the grit, confidence, and veteran leadership that fueled their win over Connecticut can travel with them on the road.

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