Chicago City Wire

The Chicago Sky will face the Los Angeles Sparks at Wintrust Arena on Tuesday, June 24, at 7 p.m. CT. This marks their second encounter this season, following a previous loss to the Sparks with a score of 78-91. The two teams are set to meet again later in the week on Sunday.

In their last matchup on May 25, both teams were evenly matched in the first half until the Sparks took control with a decisive 16-4 run in the third quarter. Kelsey Plum was pivotal for Los Angeles, scoring 28 points and making six three-pointers along with eight assists. Her performance included a standout third quarter where she scored 17 points. Azura Stevens contributed significantly as well, adding a season-high of 24 points and eight rebounds.

Despite losing, the Sky had four players scoring in double figures and achieved a field goal percentage of 46.4%. Angel Reese recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Kamilla Cardoso added another solid performance with 12 points and six rebounds.

The Sky's previous offensive efforts were efficient; however, they struggled against Los Angeles' shooting from beyond the arc as the Sparks made 48.1% of their three-point attempts. To even out the series this time around, Chicago will need to maintain its offensive rhythm while tightening its perimeter defense.

For this game, Kelsey Plum returns to action after missing one game due to a lower leg injury for Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Odyssey Sims is unavailable for personal reasons.

Chicago aims to leverage its frontcourt strength by dominating rebounds and establishing physicality inside the paint. The guards are also expected to play a crucial role by managing pace, minimizing turnovers, and ensuring effective scoring opportunities.

Last season saw Chicago win only once out of three games against Los Angeles. Historically speaking, Chicago trails in their all-time series record with just 19 wins compared to Los Angeles' 36 victories.