Inconsistent play dooms Sky against San Antonio

A cancer survivor who ran in a half-marathon just four days after her last chemotherapy treatment was honored at halftime of Thursday's Chicago Sky game as part of the team's "Women of Inspiration" program.

Apparently, very little of her inspiring story rubbed off on the home team.

Just five days after suffering a humbling loss to the previously winless expansion Atlanta Dream, the Sky had every reason to play inspired basketball.

Instead, the Sky looked lost at times and fell behind by as many as 23 points to the San Antonio Silver Stars before finally succumbing for a 75-67 loss in front of an announced 3,040 at the UIC Pavilion.

The loss drops the Sky, which had a team-high 17 points from guard Jia Perkins, to 5-12 and extends its losing streak to three games. San Antonio, the best team in the WNBA, improved to 14-6 with its sixth win in a row. The Silver Stars have won 11 of their last 13.

"We were playing them tight (in the first half), then all of a sudden we have two mental lapses and (the lead) balloons to 10," Sky coach Steve Key said. "Then, the 10-point lead goes to 15 and the next thing you know, it's at 20. It can happen that quick with a good team. We have to have more mental discipline not to make so many mistakes."

Mistakes and long scoring lapses that lead to big runs by the opposition have been problems for the Sky all season. But no one seems to be able to explain why.

"Man, I have no idea," said guard Dominique Canty, who scored 12 points. "If I knew (what was going on) I would tell you."

"I ask myself that every day," said forward Candice Dupree, who had 13 points. "I honestly don't know. I think it's just a matter of holding ourselves accountable now.

"We're professional athletes, and I think people need to go out and give 100 percent every night, and I don't necessarily think that everyone does that. Until we all do that as a team and work together, we're going to keep losing. We're not one of those teams that can turn it on and off. We've got to play hard the entire game."

The Sky showed sparks of life throughout the second half, cutting San Antonio's lead to single digits a few times. But the Silver Stars always had a counter.

"San Antonio is a very good team," Dupree said. "They have someone good at every position."

San Antonio was led by center Ann Wauters, who scored 17 of her game-high 23 points by halftime. Guard Becky Hammon added 12 points, and reserve Edwige Lawson-Wade added 11.