Photo credit: Sydney Taylor (X)
Sydney Taylor hit a three-pointer with less than a second remaining this afternoon, finishing with 29 points as the Chicago Sky beat the Las Vegas Aces 84-83 at Wintrust Arena. The win ended Chicago’s seven-game losing streak against the defending champions and gave first-year Sky coach Tyler Marsh his first victory over his former team.
How the final seconds played out
A’ja Wilson gave Las Vegas the lead with a layup and 3.2 seconds left. The Sky called timeout and advanced the ball. Taylor curled off a screen at the top of the key, caught a perfect inbound pass from Natasha Cloud and fired a deep three that found the bottom of the net as time expired.
For Taylor, the shot carried extra weight. She had come close to delivering in New York earlier in the season before the Sky collapsed in the final minutes. Today was her answer to that game.
Taylor’s fourth quarter took over
Taylor scored 13 of her 29 points in the fourth quarter. Early in the game she missed open looks, but she stayed aggressive and heated up as the Sky chipped away at a 10-point deficit with seven and a half minutes remaining. Elizabeth Williams gave Chicago its first lead since early in the first quarter with a basket at the 2:25 mark, putting the Sky up 79-78.
Kamilla Cardoso hit a mid-range jumper. DiJonai Carrington, returning from injury, tightened the defense in the closing stretch. Cloud added 11 points and converted a key three-point play. The Sky needed all of it to close out a game they had repeatedly let slip away this season.
View this post on Instagram
Wilson dominated but it was not enough
Wilson posted 36 points and 12 rebounds for the Aces, finishing the night with a double-double. She scored 13 points in the third quarter alone, turning a one-point Aces lead into a 65-55 advantage heading into the fourth. Jackie Young added 18 points and 11 rebounds. NaLyssa Smith contributed 17, though Las Vegas reserves managed just five points combined.
The win moves Chicago to 11-18. The Sky were previously 0-6 in overtime and one-score games this season.
What comes next
The Sky host Phoenix on Monday in the third game of their five-game homestand. The Aces, now 20-9, continue their five-game road trip with a stop in Atlanta on Monday.
About the Author
