The Chicago Sky got a career night from rookie guard Sydney Taylor on Wednesday. And they still couldn’t hold on.
Taylor dropped 31 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including four threes and nine free throws, in a 95-94 loss to the New York Liberty at Barclays Center. It was her second 30-point game of the season, which puts her in rare air. She now holds the WNBA record for most 30-point games by an undrafted rookie. She also broke the Sky’s rookie franchise mark for games with four-plus threes (five), passing Kristi Toliver.
But none of that mattered after the final buzzer.
How the Sky let this one slip away
Chicago led by 12 in the fourth quarter. They were up 91-85 with under a minute left. Then Sabrina Ionescu scored nine points in the final 60 seconds, Kamilla Cardoso missed a layup and fouled Jonquel Jones on the other end, and Jones hit the go-ahead free throw with 3.4 seconds left. The Sky couldn’t get a clean look on the final possession.
It was the second straight game Chicago lost on the final play. Brutal stretch for a team that’s now 9-18 heading into the All-Star break.
Taylor was the bright spot. She scored 12 in the first quarter alone, playing in front of about 30 family members who made the trip to see her play at Barclays Center for the first time as a pro. She’s started to look comfortable since earning a starting role, and it shows. She’s averaging 18.7 points per game since June 11 and has scored in double figures in 14 of her last 15 outings.
Veterans helped too. Courtney Vandersloot put up season highs with 14 points in 22 minutes. Natasha Cloud dished seven assists. Kamilla Cardoso had 10 points, five boards, and five dimes. Azura Stevens added eight points, six rebounds, and four blocks. It was a solid team effort, just not quite enough.
New York got its usual star power. Ionescu finished with 29, Breanna Stewart had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Jonquel Jones grabbed 10 boards to go with her 14 points. Rebecca Allen chipped in 12.
What comes next for the Sky
Chicago gets a week off before returning to action on July 30 against the Connecticut Sun. They’re sitting near the bottom of the standings, but Taylor’s emergence gives fans something to watch. She’s already joined Diamond DeShields and Elena Delle Donne as the only Sky rookies with four 25-point games. And she’s the only undrafted rookie in WNBA history with multiple 30-point nights.
That’s not nothing. Even if the wins aren’t coming yet.
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