The Chicago Sky lost another close game, falling 114-106 in overtime to the Indiana Fever in Indianapolis after erasing a 19-point deficit. Rookie guard Sydney Taylor delivered the best performance of her young career, scoring 30 points on 10-for-14 shooting and helping push the Sky all the way back before the team again came up short in a game that was there to be won.
Taylor’s breakout night came after a stretch of uncertainty over her role and minutes. She had already shown her scoring ability earlier this season with a 27-point outburst in just 23 minutes against the Tempo in May, but her playing time had recently dipped, including very limited action in the previous two games. After the loss, Taylor said she had been “in my head” and was trying too hard not to make mistakes. Against Indiana, she said she focused on trusting her preparation and simply playing her game.
The Sky entered the matchup at 4-9, and the latest defeat is likely to intensify pressure on coach Tyler Marsh to make adjustments. The team has now dropped consecutive winnable games, raising questions about both lineup decisions and execution down the stretch. Marsh said Taylor’s role remains a work in progress, noting that she has shown flashes of explosive offense throughout the season while also experiencing the normal growing pains of a rookie. He added that Taylor has improved defensively and that the staff will continue looking for ways to involve her more.
Chicago’s comeback was fueled by strong individual moments, including a clutch 3-pointer from point guard Skylar Diggins with 5.1 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. But the Sky struggled to control the glass once the game reached the extra period, and those rebounding issues proved costly. Indiana center Aliyah Boston took advantage of second-chance opportunities and finished with 34 points on 13-for-26 shooting, helping the Fever pull away in overtime.
The loss highlighted a familiar theme for Chicago: competitive stretches undone by missed chances, defensive lapses and failure to finish possessions. Taylor’s emergence offered a bright spot, but the Sky will need more than one standout performance to reverse their early-season slide. With the standings tightening and frustration growing, Marsh faces increasing urgency to settle on a rotation that can stabilize the team and turn close games into wins.
