It’s been tale of two cities so far this season in New York and Chicago. The Liberty are 8-0 and rolling while Chicago is only 2-5 … and their star is flickering.
At this point of the season, the New York Liberty have proved that they are clearly the best team in all of the WNBA.
Their reputation, at 8-0, is without question. Their average winning margin is 19 points. With that being the case, it will now be a test on how long they can keep their dominance without the injured Jonquel Jones in the middle. Who will make those key bounce passes to cutting players to the basket? Who will take advantage of switches in the pick and roll? These questions will be answered as they continue on in the season.
Now, to be fair, this contest should not raise any of those concerns as the Liberty will take on the struggling Chicago Sky tonight at Barclays Center. The Sky, who currently reside at 2-5, are arguably the W’s most disappointing team. The face of the franchise and arguably the second most famous star in the WNBA, Angel Reese, is not having the best season thus far. The Sky also have to go the rest of the way without their floor general in Courtney Vandersloot, who of course played a pivotal role in the Liberty’s championship year last summer. On Saturday, she became the latest women’s basketball player to tear her ACL and is out for the season.
Where to Watch
Catch the action at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Injuries
Jonquel Jones is questionable due to her ankle injury. Nyara Sabally has been cleared to play after missing two and a half weeks with a balky knee.
For the Sky, Sloot will be out due to her torn ACL, as well as backcourt mate Moriah Jefferson with a leg injury.
The Game
The battle of the backcourt, even with the Sky’s injuries, should be the most interesting part of the game tonight. Obviously the combination of Sabrina Ionescu and Natasha Cloud is going to give Liberty fans a treat, not to mention as the sharp shooting of Marine Johannes. But for the Sky, the story will be how former college star Hailey Van Lith rises to the occasion. As one of the best known players in the NCAA, HVL was known as somebody who can give you a bucket due to her ability to get to that left hand. With her veteran teammates out for tonight, there is a chance that she can have the game of a lifetime.
With Jones out, I expect Breanna Stewart to give an extra amount of effort to help out Nyara Sybally in the rebounding department, depending on how much time she’ll be able to play after her layoff. Rebounding along with defense will be key.
Player to Watch
Angel Reese is ALWAYS the player to watch, even if she’s having a hard time. Dynamic, charismatic, controversial, etc., the 23-year-old is a big part of the W’s recent success, her rivalry with Caitlin Clark making for a Magic Johnson-Larry Bird vibe.
But all that aside, this has not been her best time. Her numbers are down and Saturday’s game vs. Indiana — without Clark — may have been the low point. The Sky, having lost Courtney Vandersloot could only muster 52 points and Reese was uncharacteristically unspectacular, finishing with four points — on 2-of-7 shooting, to go along with 12 rebounds and two assists.
Post-game, Sky coach Tyler Marsh said the issue is less Reese than it is the Sky as a whole…
Tyler Marsh on Angel Reese:
“I don’t think Angel struggled tonight, I think we struggled as a team…It’s not about Angel being better for us, it’s us being better for Angel.”
— CHGO Sky (@CHGO_Sky) June 8, 2025
Still, most of her numbers are down. She’s currently averaging only 9.1 points a game, down from last season’s 13.6. Her shooting? Down from 39.1% to 30.9. Her rebounding remains steady and there’s been an uptick in 3-point shooting, but if the Sky can salvage the season, she’ll have to do better.
From the Vault
Tonight’s game could very well be the first big professional opportunity for Angel Reese and Hailey Van Lith to shine together. HVL is going to get big minutes with Courtney Vandersloot down. The two starred together at LSU two years ago. It wasn’t a perfect match for the two and HVL left for TCU. Still, the two are close … and a lot of that was Reese reaching out…
Last month, Van Lith described their relationship this way.
“We share a lot of values & align in a lot of things off the court. It really is more than basketball.” HVL told reporters. “She’s been a huge encourager for me. She holds me accountable and reminds me of who I am.”
More reading: Bullets Forever, Swish Appeal, Chicago Sun Times, Women’s Basketball Roundup, No Cap Space, The Strickland, The Local W, New York Daily News, New York Post, The Athletic. Fansided, Just Women’s Sports, SI All Knicks, Winsidr, Her Hoop Stats, CBS Sports, and The Next