Chicago Sky can't handle Connecicut Sun
Most losses in sports leave only a temporary bad feeling in the pit of the stomach.
It's usually only a matter of days before the next game on the schedule, and a loss can be atoned for.
For the Chicago Sky, its 94-89 loss on Friday at Allstate Arena to the Connecticut Sun, the worst team in the WNBA's Eastern Conference, is going to linger for weeks.
The WNBA is now on a month-long break for the Summer Olympics in Rio. The Sky's next game is on Aug. 26 against the Atlanta Dream at Allstate Arena.
"The benefit comes in that this should leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth," Sky coach Pokey Chatman said. "This should help with the preparation for when we come back. It's a long break for the league, but not for teams. We still have a lot of work to do."
The Sky (11-13) was up by as many as 9 points, 7 points in the second half, but could not put away the Sun, which improves to 8-16. Connecticut was pesky on defense and forced the Sky into 18 turnovers, a season-high.
The Sky entered Friday's paly averaging just 12 turnovers a game, the lowest in the WNBA.
"I credit Connecticut and their length," Chatman said of the turnovers. "But that's uncharacteristic of us."
It's also uncharacteristic of the Sky, as of late, not to close out games. The Sky had been on a three-game winning streak, which included two victories on buzzer-beaters in Seattle and Phoenix.
"As a team, we had a goal to be 12-12 at the break," said Sky forward Jessica Breland, who scored in double-figures for the fourth time this season with 13 points off the bench. "We were focused on this game. We wanted to win this game."
Forward Elena Delle Donne, who will play for the U.S. national team in Rio, paced the Sky with 20 points while guard Cappie Pondexter had 16 points, forward Tamera Young had 14 points and reserve guard Allie Quigley chipped in with 11 points off the bench.
Connecticut was led by Alex Bentley and Jonquel Jones, who scored 21 and 20 points respectively. Three other players scored in double-figures for the Sun.