Rickea Jackson hits late 3-pointer, scores 18 points to lead Sky past Valkyries 69-63 – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
San Francisco – The Chicago Sky extended their strong start to the season with a 69-63 victory over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night at Chase Center. Rickea Jackson delivered the decisive blow with a three-pointer in the final two minutes, finishing with a team-high 18 points in a game defined by missed shots and physical defense. The win came on the second stop of a four-game road trip for Chicago, which improved to 2-0 after opening with a victory in Portland.
Jackson and Sheldon Deliver Late
Rickea Jackson’s three-pointer with 1:41 remaining gave the Sky a lead they would not relinquish. She finished with 18 points while helping Chicago overcome an early deficit. Jacy Sheldon added 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists, including a clutch layup in the final minute that helped seal the outcome.
Skylar Diggins contributed 15 points and seven assists, providing steady leadership on a night when scoring opportunities were scarce. The Sky shot just enough to prevail in a contest that featured long stretches of missed shots from both sides.
Valkyries Struggle Despite Early Lead
Golden State built a 12-point advantage in the first quarter but could not maintain momentum. The Valkyries finished 22 of 75 from the field for 29.3 percent, including only 7 of 26 from three-point range. Kayla Thornton had a rare off night, missing all 11 of her shots after scoring 19 points in the team’s previous game.
Gabby Williams led Golden State with 18 points and five rebounds, while Veronica Burton added 16 points. The home team fell to 2-1 after tying the score at 54 on Burton’s three-pointer with just over six minutes left, only to watch Chicago respond immediately on the other end.
Coaches Renew Old Rivalry
The matchup carried extra meaning for the coaching staffs. Golden State’s Natalie Nakase faced longtime friend Tyler Marsh of the Sky. The two worked together as assistants under Becky Hammon with the Las Vegas Aces before taking their current head-coaching positions. Their reunion added a personal layer to an otherwise low-scoring defensive struggle.
Chicago trailed 28-24 at halftime after starting just 3 of 13 from the field and missing its first 10 three-point attempts. The Sky improved in the second half by focusing on better shot selection and capitalizing on Golden State’s continued offensive struggles.
Looking Ahead for Both Teams
The Sky will visit Phoenix on Friday to continue their road trip. Golden State, meanwhile, will have several days off before traveling to New York next Thursday. The Valkyries have sold out every home game in their young franchise history, including the first two contests at the 18,064-seat Chase Center this season.
Both teams showed the physical, defense-first style expected in the early weeks of the WNBA schedule. Chicago’s ability to close out tight games on the road will be tested again soon, while Golden State looks to bounce back after its first loss of the year.
