Chicago Sky Hot Streak Iced Out by Vegas Aces, Come Up Short 107 – 99

CHICAGO – The Chicago Sky raised the stakes inside the United Center this past Sunday afternoon, fiercely battling the defending champion Las Vegas Aces. Both teams traded runs and momentum throughout the game, but ultimately succumbed late as Las Vegas closed strong to secure a 107–99 win.

The game featured 15 lead changes, constant momentum shifts, and neither team able to fully pull away until the final stretch. The Sky had seemed to hold their own and carried the winning momentum from their string of wins against the Portand Fire, but the Aces’ experience and late-game execution proved to be the separator. See the post game press conference here.

The game began as a track meet, with the teams deadlocked at 31-31 after the first quarter. Veteran Elizabeth Williams helped ignite the early spark, scoring eight of her 10 points in the opening frame. However, the momentum shifted decisively in the second quarter. The Aces utilized a massive 26-9 run to outscore Chicago 30-19 in the period, a stretch defined by the downhill aggression of Jackie Young and Chelsea Gray.

“Kamilla’s a beast,” teammate Diamond DeShields said following the game. “It makes all of our jobs easier when she’s being aggressive because it opens up the lane and opens up wide-open shots for us around the perimeter.”

The Sky continued to fight, outscoring the Aces 26-21 in the fourth quarter, winning the battle in the paint (54-38) and on the glass (36-32.) The team found trouble at the free-throw line, ultimately costing them the game. Las Vegas converted 31 of 37 attempts, while Chicago only reached the line 25 times.

Chicago Sky forward-center Azura Stevens captured by Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Azurá Stevens provided a steadying force for the Chicago Sky, anchoring both ends of the floor with a season-high 24 points while also adding three assists in a well-rounded, high-impact performance. Her ability to generate offense while maintaining composure against sustained pressure gave the Sky a consistent scoring presence throughout the game. Her 3 point shooting average is also increasing.

Rookie Sydney Taylor continued to build momentum in her debut campaign, adding 14 points while reaching the 200-career point milestone. With that mark, she now stands as one of only four rookies in the league this season to hit 200 points, further underscoring her growing role and production within the Sky’s rotation. Her position as a starter for the Sky isn’t changing anytime soon.

Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso captured by Matt Marton-Imagn Images

Despite the loss, Kamilla Cardoso delivered a performance that firmly placed her in the WNBA record books and underscored her rising impact inside the paint. Fresh off a career-best 30-point outing in her previous game, she carried that momentum straight into the matchup against the Aces, finishing with 24 points and eight rebounds while continuing to dominate efficiently around the rim.

Over the two-game stretch, Cardoso reached a historic milestone, becoming the first center in WNBA history to total 50+ points while shooting at least 80% from the field across consecutive games. It was a rare blend of volume and efficiency that highlighted her growing offensive versatility and established her as a major interior force for the Chicago Sky moving forward.

“When she’s playing at the level she’s been playing the last several games, she’s one of the best bigs in this league. She does things that a lot of other post players in this league can’t do, and she’s doing it more consistently now.”

Jun 28, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) moves the ball against the Las Vegas Aces during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The second unit found its rhythm under the steady orchestration of Courtney Vandersloot, who continues to show flashes of her vintage form in her return from injury. Operating with her usual pace and precision, she controlled the flow of the offense and immediately stabilized the game whenever she checked in.

In just 16 minutes of action, Vandersloot delivered eight assists, carving up the defense with her signature vision and timing. In doing so, she became only the sixth player in league history to record that many assists in such limited minutes, an efficient, high-impact burst that reinforced her value as a connective engine for the Chicago Sky second unit.

“She didn’t want to come out late, I didn’t want to take her out late, but we were right up on the minutes restriction for her. It’s just kind of the nature of where we’re at right now… you see the type of impact she has when she’s out there on the floor.

For Las Vegas, A’ja Wilson lived up to her MVP stature, finishing with game highs of 30 points and 15 rebounds, while Jackie Young added 28.

Coach Weatherspoon admitted she still longs for the team’s usual home.

“Me personally? No, I don’t like it,” she said of the United Center. “I don’t mind having it because it’s more fans and it’s great for the players… but I like Wintrust. I like the intimate feel.”

The Sky (6-13) won’t have to wait long for a shot at redemption. The team heads to Las Vegas to kick off a four-game, 10-day road trip this Friday, July 3. The rematch tips off at 9 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ION.

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