A Tale of Two Teams: Chicago Sky’s Downward Spiral vs. Valkyries’ Gradual Rise
As the 2025 WNBA season enters its final stages, two teams are on diverging trajectories. The Chicago Sky, once poised as a strong playoff contender earlier this summer, are now dealing with a significant collapse. After a six-game losing streak, they find themselves drifting further from postseason relevance. Injuries, inconsistency, and an apparent lack of chemistry have all combined to derail what once looked like a promising campaign.
Meanwhile, across the country, the Golden State Valkyries are showing signs of revival. Following a rough stretch of their own marked by close losses and injuries, the Valkyries have managed to secure back-to-back wins. The victories may not have been dominant, but they’ve been enough to instill hope within the locker room and among their loyal fan base. With the Sky up next on the schedule, the Valkyries are aiming to capitalize on their newfound momentum.
Let’s dive into the full scope of each team’s situation, starting with the Sky’s implosion and then transitioning into the Valkyries’ slow but encouraging turnaround.
Chicago Sky: From Hopeful Contenders to a Tumbling Freefall
Early Promise Turns into Midseason Despair
The Chicago Sky began the season with high expectations. With a mixture of young talent and experienced veterans, many analysts believed they could be a sleeper playoff team, especially with the emergence of Angel Reese and the addition of seasoned names like Courtney Vandersloot and Hailey Van Lith. At one point, they hovered around the .500 mark, playing scrappy, competitive basketball.
However, what followed has been a catastrophic six-game losing streak that has knocked the wind out of their sails. Their recent loss—a 103-86 defeat to the Washington Mystics—was a particularly stark reminder of how far they’ve fallen. Chicago allowed Washington to control the game from start to finish, with little resistance on the defensive end and minimal production from their key contributors.
The Mystics’ rookies, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen, lit up the scoreboard. Citron tallied 28 points in an electrifying performance, while Iriafen dropped 22. Despite Chicago’s best efforts, the Sky were simply outmatched, outpaced, and outclassed by a team that, on paper, should have been an even matchup.
Mounting Injuries and Lineup Instability
Chicago’s decline isn’t solely due to poor play. They’ve been hit hard by injuries, losing several key players over the past few weeks. Angel Reese, the team’s standout rookie and emotional leader, has been sidelined with a nagging back injury. Her absence has significantly impacted the Sky’s rebounding and interior presence, and her scoring and leadership are sorely missed.
Courtney Vandersloot, one of the most experienced point guards in the league, has also been ruled out. Her ability to control the tempo, distribute the ball, and manage the offense is unmatched, and without her, the Sky have struggled with ball security and shot creation.
Hailey Van Lith and Michaela Onyenwere are both listed as day-to-day with ankle injuries, and Sevgi Uzun is also nursing a minor issue. These injuries have not only affected the rotation but have also placed immense pressure on the remaining healthy players, who are now being asked to play extended minutes in unfamiliar roles.
Desperation Sets In
With the playoffs just around the corner, time is running out for the Sky. They are now on the outside looking in, with only a few weeks left to salvage their season. The coaching staff has tried various lineup adjustments and tactical tweaks, but the losses continue to pile up. With each defeat, the mood grows more despondent in Chicago’s locker room.
The upcoming matchup against the Golden State Valkyries is now a must-win game. Not just for playoff hopes, but for morale. A loss here could essentially seal their fate, pushing them into the bottom tier of the league standings.
Golden State Valkyries: A Team Slowly Regaining Its Balance
From Inconsistency to Gritty Wins
Unlike the Sky, the Golden State Valkyries have been able to turn things around, albeit in a measured fashion. The team, which struggled with cohesion and depth issues earlier in the season, has recently strung together two consecutive wins. The second of these victories—a tight 68-67 win over the same Washington Mystics team that steamrolled the Sky—showcased their growing resilience.
In that game, the Valkyries overcame offensive lulls and defensive lapses to come out on top in a dramatic fashion. Iliana Rupert, one of their emerging frontcourt players, delivered a solid performance with 11 points and seven rebounds. Her presence in the paint and ability to crash the boards proved crucial in keeping the team in the contest.
Temi Fagbenle and Veronica Burton also chipped in with 10 points apiece, adding the kind of balanced scoring that the Valkyries have sorely lacked for much of the season. The narrow victory may not have been flashy, but it reflected a team that is learning how to win close games—something that separates playoff contenders from pretenders.
Injury Setbacks Still a Concern
Despite the recent wins, Golden State has also been bitten by the injury bug. Cecilia Zandalasini, a key wing scorer, is currently sidelined with a foot injury. Monique Billings and Kayla Thornton are also out, the latter of whom has been ruled out for the remainder of the season due to a significant injury.
Thornton’s absence is especially troubling, as she brought toughness, rebounding, and veteran leadership to the Valkyries’ frontcourt. With her gone, Golden State has had to rely more heavily on younger or less-experienced players to fill the void. It’s a risky proposition, but so far, head coach Lindsey Harding has managed to keep the team competitive.
The Valkyries’ ability to compensate for these losses with a team-first mentality and balanced scoring speaks volumes about their progress. What was once a disjointed roster is beginning to resemble a cohesive unit, capable of fighting through adversity.
Game Preview: Chicago Sky vs. Golden State Valkyries
The upcoming contest between the Sky and Valkyries promises to be a fascinating clash—not necessarily because of top-tier talent or championship implications, but due to the contrasting narratives of the two franchises.
Game Details
Date: Friday, August 1, 2025
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Wintrust Arena, Chicago
Broadcast: ION (TV), WNBA League Pass & Fubo (Streaming)
Predicted Starting Lineups
Chicago Sky
Rachel Banham (Guard)
Kia Nurse (Guard)
Elizabeth Williams (Forward/Center)
Maddy Westbeld (Forward)
Kamilla Cardoso (Center)
Golden State Valkyries
Iliana Rupert (Forward/Center)
Janelle Salaun (Forward)
Temi Fagbenle (Forward)
Tiffany Hayes (Guard)
Veronica Burton (Guard)
These lineups reflect both necessity and experimentation. For Chicago, the lack of continuity due to injuries has forced coach Teresa Weatherspoon to tinker constantly with her rotation. Meanwhile, the Valkyries are developing trust in their bench and testing out combinations that can withstand pressure late in games.
Key Players to Watch
Kamilla Cardoso (Chicago Sky)
The towering center is now a central figure in the Sky’s plans, especially with Reese and Vandersloot out. Her shot-blocking, rebounding, and ability to finish at the rim will be key in slowing down the Valkyries’ interior attack.
Iliana Rupert (Golden State Valkyries)
Rupert’s emergence over the past few games has given Golden State a reliable option in the post. Her ability to stretch the floor while providing interior defense makes her a matchup problem for opposing teams.
Veronica Burton (Golden State Valkyries)
Burton’s development as a combo guard has been essential to the Valkyries’ resurgence. Her scoring, ball handling, and on-ball defense have added versatility to the Valkyries’ backcourt.
Injuries and Depth: A Tale of Two Benches
Depth will likely play a significant role in the game’s outcome. Both teams are shorthanded, but the Valkyries appear better equipped to manage their injuries. The Sky, already thin on the bench, are struggling to get consistent production from their role players. Meanwhile, Golden State has found pleasant surprises in players like Janelle Salaun and Temi Fagbenle, who’ve stepped up when needed.
What’s at Stake
For the Chicago Sky, this game is about survival. Another loss would deepen the crisis and possibly doom their playoff hopes. It’s also about pride and redemption—a chance to stop the bleeding in front of their home fans.
For the Golden State Valkyries, the game represents an opportunity to continue building momentum. A win here could vault them into a more secure playoff position and validate the team’s belief in their current approach.
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Final Thoughts
While it might not feature the league’s biggest stars or championship front-runners, the matchup between the Chicago Sky and Golden State Valkyries is packed with drama and urgency. The Sky are desperate to end their slump, while the Valkyries are quietly trying to mount a push toward playoff security.
It’s a classic example of two teams on opposite paths—one trying to stop a freefall, the other trying to build something sustainable. As the WNBA regular season inches closer to its final stretch, every game counts, and for these two teams, this Friday night clash could very well be a turning point.
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