Sky Notebook: Turnovers Continue to Plague the Team

The Sky’s struggles with turnovers have been a recurring problem so far this season, and it was no different in their latest game against the Sparks.

Introduction to the Problem

The Sky had just come out of a second-quarter timeout on Sunday when Courtney Vandersloot, a 14-year veteran known for her deft ball-handling skills, dribbled a ball off her foot and into the hands of Sparks guard Odyssey Sims, who drove the length of the court before being fouled by Vandersloot. Sims made one of two free throws for a 38-25 lead, one of the 17 points the Sparks scored off the Sky’s 17 turnovers in a 91-78 victory in Crypto.com Arena, continuing a troubling trend that has been a primary factor in the Sky’s 0-3 start.

Analyzing the Turnover Issue

Chicago committed a combined 40 turnovers in its first two games, lopsided losses to the Indiana Fever and defending WNBA-champion New York Liberty, and they had seven more turnovers than the Sparks on Sunday. “Turnovers have been our Achilles heel–they continue to be something we struggle with and have to work on moving forward,” Sky coach Tyler Marsh said. “It’s [the third straight] game where we had more possessions than our opponent and we’ve come out on the wrong side of it. Those possessions are valuable. … We have to be able to handle the pressure and manage the ball.”

Key Players’ Contributions and Mistakes

Forward Kia Nurse had a team-high five turnovers Sunday, and forward Angel Reese had four, perhaps the only blemish of a solid all-around effort for Reese, who scored a team-high 13 points to go with 12 rebounds, four assists and two steals. “I thought we were a little more disruptive today than we were in the first two games, but we did allow their runs to last too long,” Sky forward Elizabeth Williams said. “I think that’s what ultimately hurt us, along with the turnovers.”

Paint Performance

There was at least one positive statistic for the Sky on Sunday: they outscored the Sparks 50-28 in the paint, with Reese and Kamilla Cardoso (12 points) scoring in double figures and Williams adding nine points off the bench. On the flip side, the Sky made only four of 20 three-point shots.! “Our guards made it a point to attack downhill and get to the paint–that was an area we thought we could use to our advantage,” Marsh said. “I think 50 points in the paint is something we want to continue to see. It was a point of emphasis coming into the game, and we did a decent job of it, but we have to combine that with knocking down some shots from the outside.”

Additional Notes

Marsh said the Sky has not heard back from the league regarding its investigation into the May 17 incident at Indiana in which a fan allegedly made racist and hateful comments toward Reese. “It’s kind of in their hands,” Marsh said, “and we’ve been as cooperative as possible from that standpoint.” Sky guards Hailey Van Lith and Moriah Jefferson were both sidelined on Sunday, Van Lith by an ankle injury she was able to play through in the first two games and Jefferson by a leg injury that has sidelined her for the first three games.

Conclusion

The Sky’s inability to limit turnovers has been a significant factor in their 0-3 start to the season. While they have shown promise in certain areas, such as their paint performance, they must address the turnover issue to start winning games. Coach Tyler Marsh and the team are aware of the problem and are working to improve, but it remains to be seen how quickly they can turn things around.

FAQs

• Q: What has been the main issue for the Sky in their first three games?
  • A: The main issue has been turnovers, with the team committing 17 turnovers in their latest game against the Sparks.
• Q: How did the Sky perform in the paint against the Sparks?
  • A: The Sky outscored the Sparks 50-28 in the paint, with several players contributing double-figure scores.
• Q: Are there any players currently injured?
  • A: Yes, Sky guards Hailey Van Lith and Moriah Jefferson were both sidelined in the latest game due to injuries.
• Q: Is the league investigating any incidents involving the Sky?
  • A: Yes, the league is investigating an incident from May 17 where a fan allegedly made racist and hateful comments toward Angel Reese.