NEW YORK, NY – In a much-anticipated matchup, the Chicago Sky defeated the New York Liberty 90-81 on Thursday night at Barclays Center. The game marked the return of Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon to New York, where she is a Liberty legend. Both teams honored Weatherspoon with video tributes before the game.

The Sky were led by a 21-point performance from guard Marina Mabrey, who also added 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Rookie Angel Reese, despite early struggles, finished with 13 points and 9 rebounds for Chicago.

The Liberty were without star center Jonquel Jones for much of the game due to foul trouble, and they struggled offensively overall. Sabrina Ionescu led New York with 19 points, but the team shot just 34.3% from the field.

The win was a big upset for the Sky, who are without three key players: Diamond DeShields, Isabelle Harrison, and Kamilla Cardoso. However, they got a confidence boost from the victory and will look to build on it when they host the Connecticut Sun in their home opener on Saturday.

Key Takeaways:

Weatherspoon’s Return: It was a special night for Weatherspoon, who was honored by her former team and led her current team to victory.
Mabrey Shines: Mabrey was the star of the game for the Sky, scoring 21 points and making all five of her 2-point attempts.
Reese Responds: Reese responded to recent comments by Charles Barkley suggesting the WNBA should thank Caitlin Clark for increased visibility. Reese emphasized the contributions of many players.
Liberty Struggles: The Liberty were without Jones and struggled offensively overall.
Sky Get Confidence Boost: The Sky are without key players but got a confidence boost with this win. They play their home opener next.