Jacy Sheldon delivered a late basket during WNBA Rivals Week on ABC, cutting Chicago’s deficit to 89-86 with 28.4 seconds remaining. The play kept Chicago within one possession and preserved a narrow opportunity to complete its comeback against Indiana.
What happened
Sheldon’s basket brought Chicago within three points as the game entered its final half-minute. With the margin reduced to 89-86, Chicago remained close enough for one more score to potentially change the outcome.
Indiana answered by adding a point before the closing seconds. That moved the score to 90-86 with 4.1 seconds remaining and restored a four-point advantage.
Why it matters
The timing of Sheldon’s basket was central to Chicago’s comeback chance. A three-point deficit left the game within one possession, giving Chicago a possible route to erase the margin without needing multiple scoring trips.
Indiana’s ensuing point changed that calculation. Chicago went from needing one score to draw level to needing another score with almost no time remaining, sharply increasing the pressure on the final possession.
The sequence also showed how quickly the late-game situation shifted. Sheldon’s basket kept the possibility of an extension alive, but Indiana’s point forced Chicago to respond again before time expired.
By the numbers
Chicago trailed by three at 89-86 with 28.4 seconds on the clock. At 4.1 seconds, the deficit stood at four points, 90-86.
The margin therefore widened by one point over a span of 24.3 seconds. More importantly, it moved from a one-possession deficit to a situation requiring Chicago to produce another score in the final seconds.
What to watch next
The final possession will determine whether Chicago can extend the game. With only 4.1 seconds remaining and a four-point gap, Chicago must act immediately.
Sheldon’s late basket ensured that the comeback remained possible deep into the closing sequence. Indiana’s added point, however, left Chicago facing one final and significantly more difficult test before the clock runs out.