NBA W· Season 2026
Kamilla Cardoso's 22-point, 12-rebound double-double led the Chicago Sky to an 82-80 road win over the Seattle Storm after nearly blowing a 17-point halftime lead.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Chicago built a commanding 17-point lead through a blistering first half, closing the second quarter ahead 46-29. The Sky shot 48.6% from the field before the break while the Storm managed just 31.4%.
Seattle flipped the script in the third quarter. Dominique Malonga scored nine of her 19 points in the period, and the Storm outscored Chicago 26-14 to cut the deficit to 60-55 entering the fourth. Ezi Magbegor's five blocks — including two in a 90-second third-quarter stretch — disrupted Chicago's interior offence.
The Storm finally tied the game at 73-73 with 4:11 remaining after a Malonga putback. But Natasha Cloud answered with a driving layup and Cardoso converted a three-point play with 1:43 left to restore a five-point cushion. Seattle closed within two on a late bucket but could not force overtime.
The Turning Point
Chicago's response after Seattle tied the game at 73-73 defined the result. Cloud's aggressive drive drew a foul and she finished through contact, sparking a 7-2 run. Cardoso then posted up on the left block, drew Malonga's fourth foul, and completed the and-one — her only field goal of the fourth quarter but the most consequential one.
Key Performers
- Kamilla Cardoso (CHI): 22 points (8-11 FT), 12 rebounds, 2 blocks. The second-year centre was a perfect 6-for-6 from the line in the fourth quarter alone and grabbed four offensive boards. She was named Player of the Match.
- Natasha Cloud (CHI): 20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals. Cloud's two-way energy in the fourth quarter — including a critical steal with 1:09 left — sealed the result.
- Dominique Malonga (SEA): 19 points (5-14 FG), 13 rebounds, 3 blocks. The rookie first-round pick produced her fourth double-double of the season but shot 1-for-5 in the fourth.
- Ezi Magbegor (SEA): 17 points, 4 rebounds, 5 blocks. The Australian centre anchored Seattle's third-quarter revival with rim protection but fouled out with 2:31 left.
By The Numbers — Interpreted
Chicago shot a poor 36.0% from the field (27-for-75) but compensated by dominating the offensive glass (12 offensive rebounds) and converting 22 of 27 free throws (81.5%). The Storm shot 40.3% but attempted seven fewer free throws and committed 18 turnovers that led to 24 Chicago points. Magbegor's five blocks gave Seattle a 9-4 advantage in that column, but the Storm were out-rebounded 47-34 overall.
Chicago's first-half field-goal percentage (48.6%) dropped to 23.1% in the third quarter, while Seattle's 41.2% third-quarter shooting erased the halftime margin.
What It Means
The Sky sit 12th in the WNBA standings at 13-22, three games back of the final playoff spot with seven games remaining. Seattle (7-30) remains rooted at the bottom of the Western Conference. Chicago next hosts the New York Liberty on August 19, while the Storm travel to face the Minnesota Lynx on August 18.
Verdict
A game of two halves: Chicago's first-half execution was sharp, but the Sky nearly let it slip before rediscovering their composure late. Seattle's third-quarter fight showed growth, but the Storm's inability to close — and Magbegor's late foul trouble — cost them a winnable home game.
Rivalry since 2008
Seattle Storm W vs Chicago Sky W Head to Head Results· 48
Seattle Storm W and Chicago Sky W have met 48 times — Seattle Storm W won 26, Chicago Sky W won 22, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2008. Seattle Storm W leads the head-to-head with 26 victories from 48 meetings. A combined 7709 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 160.60 per match (3900 for the home side, 3809 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 48 matches (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 48 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 100–111 in 2022.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 17 Aug 2026