Bouncing back from a tough loss on Thursday night, the Sky handed the Washington Mystics their first loss of the season two nights later, 88-86.
Chicago saw five players score in double figures, lead by 16 from reserve Gabby Williams. She shot 4-for-5 from the three-point line, after going 0-6 from the arc in the previous game.
Sky coach James Wade said it is something Williams has worked to improve, to enhance her already diverse skill set.
“The fact that she’s so multifaceted that she can play one through four positions, it kind of gives us a different look,” he said. “I think the most interesting thing is that we script the plays and we have to put her a little bit everywhere so she can understand. It’s really good her being able to stretch the floor and being another threat. That kind of threat from her, we were not having last year and having that is big.”
Williams said working on three’s was very deliberate.
“I feel like it was the biggest missing piece to my game,” she said. “When I was overseas, my biggest thing was I was always just afraid to miss so I never shot the ball. Overseas, James [Wade] put me in touch with (trainers). I’ve just found my confidence and I’ve been OK with missing. Last game I was 0-for-6 but I’ve just got to mentally [say] ‘keep shooting, keep shooting’.”
Allie Quigley added 15 points for Chicago, Kahleah Copper scored 14, and Diamond DeShields had 10.
Washington’s Aerial Powers made one of two free throws to tie the game at 84 with 43.2 seconds left before Cheyenne Parker made a layup and Ariel Atkins, who finished with 24 points for the Mystics, hit two free throws. Parker was fouled on a shot but missed the and-one, and the Sky led 88-86 with 5.9 seconds to play. Courtney Vandersloot then stole a pass from Emma Meesseman to seal the win against the defending champions.
“Gabby Williams I thought had a terrific game for them,” Washington coach Mike Thibault said. “She wasn’t a three-point shooter coming into the league, but she’s worked on her game and she made a big difference for them in that regard.”
Thibault said his team was uncharacteristic in their play.
“When we move the ball we’re pretty good,” he said.” I thought we got stagnant tonight.”
The Sky have two days off before facing the Dallas Wings on Tuesday.