The Chicago Sky improved to 2-0 to start the 2026 season with a 69-63 road win over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday at Chase Center.
The Chicago Sky improved to 2-0 to start the 2026 season with a 69-63 road win over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday at Chase Center. Rickea Jackson scored 18 points to lead the Sky.
Skylar Diggins added 15 points and a game-high 7 assists on 5-of-16 shooting. Jacy Sheldon posted 12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Kamilla Cardoso had 8 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
Jackson shot 6-of-18 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line. She added 5 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 blocks in 38 minutes.
The Sky shot 36.2% from the field and 13-of-21 (61.9%) from the free-throw line. Natasha Cloud scored 7 points off the bench. Chicago committed just 9 turnovers and blocked 8 Valkyries shots as a team. The Sky scored 10 points off Golden State's 11 turnovers.
Gabby Williams led the Valkyries with 18 points on 3-of-6 three-point shooting and 5 rebounds. Veronica Burton added 16 points and 4 assists on 4-of-4 free-throw shooting. Kiah Stokes posted 7 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks for a double-double in 29 minutes. Kaila Charles scored 9 points with 9 rebounds, including 5 on the offensive glass.
Golden State shot 29.3% from the field and 26.9% from three-point range. Burton committed 5 of the Valkyries' 11 turnovers and picked up 5 personal fouls. The Valkyries got 13 points off the bench. Golden State fell to 2-1 on the season.
The Valkyries led 19-10 after the first quarter and 28-24 at halftime. The Sky outscored Golden State 25-16 in the third quarter to take a 49-44 lead and held on with a 20-19 fourth quarter. The teams traded just one lead change and were tied seven times. Golden State's biggest lead was 12 points; the Sky led by as many as 8.
Golden State outrebounded the Sky 42-39, including 14 offensive rebounds to Chicago's 8. The two teams combined for 17 blocked shots, with Stokes' 5 leading all players. Stokes accounted for more than half of the Valkyries' 9 team blocks. The Sky outscored Golden State 10-8 in fast-break points.
Kayla Thornton attempted 11 field goals but did not score. The Valkyries forward grabbed 6 rebounds and recorded 1 block.
The Sky were without Carrington (foot), Stevens (knee), and Vandersloot (knee). Westbeld was listed for return-to-competition reconditioning.
The Valkyries were without Hayes (left pinky) and Zandalasini (concussion protocol).
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