Chennedy Carter scored a season-best 25 points off the bench to help the Chicago Sky overcome a 13-point deficit to beat the Mystics 79-71 on Thursday night at Capital One Arena in Washington.
The Sky (4-5) went on a 16-0 run during the third quarter to dig out of a hole before holding on down the stretch.
The game marked a homecoming of sorts for Chicago rookie Angel Reese as the No. 7 overall pick was playing close to her hometown of Baltimore. Even her college coach, LSU’s Kim Mulkey, showed up and sat courtside. The game was moved to the NBA venue before the season in anticipation of Reese’s homecoming.
Reese had 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Sky and also tallied five steals and three assists in a do-it-all effort.
Chicago was also boosted by 14 points from Isabelle Harrison and 10 from Marina Mabrey. Starter Elizabeth Williams exited the game with an apparent knee injury after scoring six points in 10 minutes.
Washington, which is now 0-10 for the first time in franchise history, was also powered by its first-round draft pick, as rookie Aaliyah Edwards piled up a season-high 23 points to go along with 14 rebounds and four blocks. Shatori Walker-Kimbrough added 11 points and Ariel Atkins finished with 10.
Shakira Austin (hip) remained sidelined for Washington.
The Mystics jumped out to a 21-15 lead in the first quarter, a stretch highlighted by three assists from Stefanie Dolson. Washington held a nine-point lead at halftime, and grew that advantage to 13 points early in the third quarter on back-to-back layups by Dolson and Atkins.
And then the Sky scored 16 straight points to take a three-point lead as the Mystics endured a scoring drought of close to five minutes.
The Mystics had 24 turnovers to just 13 by the Sky, and Washington allowed the Sky to outscore them 48-38 in the paint. Both teams struggled to connect on shots from behind the arc, as Chicago shot 1-of-14 from 3-point land while Washington made 4-of-17.
–Field Level Media
