The Minnesota Lynx capped a grueling 5 game home stand with a match against the Chicago Sky on Sunday. Chicago was coming off a win in Los Angeles against the Sparks. The Lynx were looking to extend their winning streak after a very hard fought game against the Golden State Valkyries. The biggest difference?
Chicago hadn’t played in a week and the Lynx had played 24 hours earlier. The Sky were without Kamilla Cardoso in this matchup. For the Lynx ,no Karlie Samuelson, who was ruled out for the remainder of the season.
The Sky opened the game like a house on fire. Charged by the three point shooting of Rachel Banham, the Sky took control of the first quarter. Chicago held Minnesota to only 10 points while scoring 24. The Lynx were missing easy shots, and the Sky defense was limiting ball movement. The Sky had definitely come to ply and to win, and they looked like they were on their way.
But hold on, Minnesota wasn’t out of the game. The troops rallied, and even though Banham hit three more threes. The Lynx countered with better shooting, and at 4:24 came within one point after Courtney Williams hir three free throws. Michaela Onyenwere made a two point shot followed by a jumper from Williams, and then Maria Kliundikova hit a jump shot to give Minnesota their first lead.
A layup from Napheesa Collier gave the Lynx a 3 point lead, but a two point shot from Angel Reese brought it back, and the Lynx went into the half lead 38 – 37.
Takeaways From Sky Vs. Lynx Matchup
The third quarter was a back and forth affair, with Minnesota holding a 56 – 52 lead after a buzzer beater three- point shot from Ariel Atkins. It was more of the same in the fourth quarter, although Chicago never was able to regain the lead, and there Lynx held on for an 80 – 75 victory.
BACK TO BACK DUBS. pic.twitter.com/5BSI9JgP3A
— Minnesota Lynx (@minnesotalynx) July 7, 2025
Watching Chicago play made it a little baffling why they’ve only won five games. They can shoot; every starter was in double digits as opposed to Minnesota who had three starters in doubles. But their five wins have come against teams below .500, and many of their losses have been by double digits. Banham, who went 6 – 10 from three and led the Sky with 20 points, doesn’t consistently shoot the many threes, the same problem she had when playing for Minnesota.
They really don’t have that one player who can anchor the scoring, much like Chennedy Carter did last season. Neither Maddy Westbeld nor Hailey Van Lith, the Sky’s rookies, make a significant impact.
Reese With Another Double-Double For Chicago
Reese, in her second year, still strikes me as a player who, and this is purely an observation, hasn’t fully figured out what the priority is for basketball. Scoring double-doubles regularly isn’t necessarily a sign of commitment. It simply means she can do it. I like Angel Reese as a player. I’d just like to see something else, maybe an intangible, that brings a little more.
Minnesota has had a number of slow start games, having to play catch up, and overcoming really inconsistent shooting. Even their touted defense shows weaknesses on occasion. As the season progresses, they have to tighten that up and also have to be able to take a lead early and keep it if they want to consistently win.
Up next for Chicago they travel to Washington to play the Mystics. The Lynx head out to play Phoenix on Wednesday on the start of a four game road trip, the last two both at Chicago.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben.
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