Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Chicago Sky Star Sends Message After Paige Bueckers News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi M. Dombro | Last updated Jun 2, 2025 7:24 PM ET

The Chicago Sky now have a 2-4 record after enduring a four-game losing streak to begin the 2025 WNBA season.

New head coach Tyler Marsh and his team recently earned back-to-back wins against the 1-6 Dallas Wings. While the first came at home in Chicago by a score of 97-92, the Sky were able to run away with a 94-83 victory on Saturday evening in Dallas.

Veteran Sky guard Ariel Atkins led the way for Chicago, scoring a season-high 26 points, while Courtney Vandersloot chipped in 15 and Angel Reese added 14. NaLyssa Smith was the biggest contributor for the Wings, scoring 20 points in the absence of rookie guard Paige Bueckers who was in concussion protocol.

In the first matchup between the two teams, Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale recorded 37 points, which is tied for the most for a WNBA player in a single game in 2025. In the second contest, however, Ogunbowale was held to just 15 points on 5-for-16 shooting.

Sky center Elizabeth Williams, who was a 2023 WNBA All-Defensive selection and a 2017 All-Star, spoke to the media after the contest. She emphasized after the news of Bueckers' absence, the Sky made Ogunbowale a primary focus.

"One of the main focuses was Arike, obviously, she had a great game in Chicago and we wanted to limit her,” Williams said. “She’s also really important to the team’s offense, and I thought Ariel did a good job, Kia (Nurse) as well. … We knew that they were gonna try to make extra effort plays and rebound because Paige was out.”

Williams played 15 minutes against Dallas on Saturday, logging eight points and three rebounds. Her plus/minus of +11 was the third-highest on the team and 18 points higher than Kamilla Cardoso, whom Williams filled in for due to foul trouble.

Chicago will not play again until June 7 against the Indiana Fever. This will mark the first game of the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup for the Sky, and tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday evening at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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