Angel Reese, Sky Disappoint WNBA Fans in Loss to Mystics, Extend Losing Streak to 4

CHICAGO, IL- AUGUST 28: Angel Reese #5 of the Chicago Sky goes to the basket during the game on August 28, 2024 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)

Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images

Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky are trending in the wrong direction.

Chicago dropped its fourth consecutive game with a 74-70 loss to the Washington Mystics on Wednesday at Wintrust Arena. The Sky fell to 11-19 and are fighting for positioning at the bottom of the WNBA playoff picture.

As for Washington, it is just 9-22 overall but has now won three in a row.

Reese fell short of her usual double-double with just seven points, 14 rebounds and six turnovers. Fellow rookie Kamilla Cardoso did finish with a double-double of 10 points, 11 rebounds and six assists, but it wasn’t enough to counter the Mystics and Stefanie Dolson (17 points and six boards).

Chicago was without leading scorer Chennedy Carter because of health and safety protocols, which shifted even more of the focus to Reese. All eyes were on the rookie regardless, as she entered play one double-double away from the WNBA rookie record of 22 double-doubles in a season.

Reese already broke Candace Parker’s record for consecutive double-doubles across multiple seasons and was looking to add to her list of accomplishments with an impressive performance against the Mystics.

Yet she and the Sky struggled in the early going and found themselves trailing by double digits in the first half before trimming the deficit to five at intermission.

That momentum carried over into the second half, as Chicago took the lead in the third quarter with Reese crashing the boards. The rookie reached double-digit rebounds in the third and needed three points in the fourth to break the double-double record.

With the game and record hanging in the balance, Diamond DeShields provided a scoring spark off the bench in the fourth quarter for the Sky. It was much needed with Michaela Onyenwere doing much of the heavy lifting in the scoring department through the opening three quarters.

Still, it wasn’t enough.

Reese didn’t score a single point in the fourth, and Washington closed on a 13-2 run to escape with a win and send the Sky tumbling into their high-profile showdown with Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever on Friday.