Chicago Sky Overcome Short-Handed Roster to Outlast Seattle Storm in Tight Contest

The Chicago Sky held off the Seattle Storm for a hard-fought 95-90 victory at Wintrust Arena on Wednesday during the 2026 WNBA Regular Season. Despite missing several key starters to injury, Chicago relied on strong contributions from Azura Stevens and Sydney Taylor to secure the five-point win over Seattle.

The Chicago Sky demonstrated remarkable depth and resilience on Wednesday at Wintrust Arena, outlasting the Seattle Storm for a thrilling 95-90 victory during the 2026 WNBA Regular Season. In a fast-paced battle that featured 185 combined points, Chicago managed to hold onto their narrow five-point margin against a persistent Seattle squad. Despite facing significant roster hurdles, the home team stepped up across the court to deliver a gritty win before their energetic home crowd.

The decisive moment

In a tightly contested matchup where every single possession mattered, Chicago took the lead for good early in the opening quarter with exactly 5:52 remaining on the clock. While Seattle kept making offensive pushes down the stretch, the Sky consistently found timely baskets to maintain their hard-earned cushion. That early surge set the tone for the entire afternoon, proving enough to withstand every comeback attempt Seattle threw their way.

By the numbers

Azura Stevens (Chicago Sky): Led the home team's interior presence with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Sydney Taylor (Chicago Sky): Provided critical perimeter scoring with 17 points and 5 rebounds.
Flau'jae Johnson (Seattle Storm): Delivered a game-high 25 points alongside 6 rebounds and 4 assists in a stellar individual effort.
Dominique Malonga (Seattle Storm): Anchored the paint with a strong double-double, tallying 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Chicago earned the victory while overcoming massive injury absences, including DiJonai Carrington with a foot injury, Skylar Diggins with a knee issue, and Rickea Jackson, who is out for the remainder of the year with a torn ACL. Seattle also competed short-handed without Ezi Magbegor due to a facial injury and Taina Mair via coach's decision. Even with key stars sidelined, both rosters produced efficient scoring across four competitive quarters.

What it means

For the Chicago Sky, securing a five-point victory under adverse circumstances highlights the impressive toughness and adaptability of their supporting rotation. Stepping up without key veterans shows that Chicago can execute winning basketball against formidable opponents during the gruelling stretch of the 2026 WNBA Regular Season. The result builds valuable confidence for the active roster as they navigate the upcoming schedule without three core contributors.

On the other side, the Seattle Storm can take positive takeaways from their offensive execution, particularly the dominant scoring of Flau'jae Johnson and the interior work of Dominique Malonga. However, falling short after trailing from the first quarter emphasizes the need for sharper defensive focus early in games. Seattle will look to tighten their perimeter rotations and rebound quickly in their upcoming regular-season fixtures.

What to watch next

Both franchises must rapidly regroup as mid-July action intensifies across the league. Chicago will focus on maintaining this high level of collective execution while managing the health of their remaining core players. Meanwhile, Seattle aims to turn their strong individual performances into complete team victories as they continue their summer slate.