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The Chicago Sky ran away from the LA Sparks in the final period of Sunday’s game, 92-85, to win the season series.
Angel Reese scored 24 points, grabbed 16 boards and dished 7 assists in the win, entering Chicago’s top 10 franchise leaders for rebounds. The WNBA’s double-doubles leader also became the first in league history to secure 15 or more rebounds in 4 straight games.
Four other Sky players scored in double figures, including Ariel Atkins, with 20, and Kia Nurse, who came off the bench for 14.
The Sparks went on a 26-9 run in the third quarter, after which Chicago put up 31 points in the fourth period – 11 of them from Reese, who also had 4 assists. Elizabeth Williams, filling in for Kamilla Cardoso, who is competing in Eurobasket, also had a great two-way performance, with 12 points and 9 rebounds.
Chicago coach Tyler Marsh credited Reese for her overall impact.
“Her ability to be in every area of the floor, tonight and in the last few games, has had such an impact on us,” he said. “You can get caught up in the number, and rightfully so, because they’re amazing, but it’s also the little things she does that don’t always get noticed. Her ability to relieve pressure while handling the ball, push in transition, initiate offense… obviously her rebounding—she does everything, and she’s capable of doing everything.”
The Sparks were lead by Kelsey Plum’s 22 points, Dearica Hamby’s 20 points and 10 rebounds, and Emma Cannon, who scored 15 points.
Cannon said her team needs to play from buzzer to buzzer.
“I just feel like we have to learn how to finish games, and it’s not necessarily what the other team does, it’s just about us actually digging in and buying in and finishing it,” she said. “That’s something that we’re working on. We’ve been playing a great 30 minutes, but we have to put it all together.”
The Sky get a full week off before their next game on Sunday, when they travel to Minnesota to take on the league-leading Lynx. The Sparks play Thursday in New York.
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