Rickea Jackson Scored 5 Points in the Final 90 Seconds and the Sky Are Already 2-0

The Chicago Sky just knocked off the Golden State Valkyries 69-63 on Wednesday night in San Francisco, and it was not pretty. But in this new-look Sky team that went 10-34 last year, ugly wins on the road are exactly what you need to build momentum.

Rickea Jackson saved her best moments for when it mattered most. She finished with a team-high 18 points, but the real damage came in the final 1:41 of the game. With Golden State creeping back into it, Jackson drained a crucial 3-pointer after being 1-for-5 from deep, then added two free throws with 46.7 seconds left to put the game away at 65-58. That is the kind of clutch shot-making that turns a close game into a win.

Defense Wins When Your Offense Is Struggling

Here is what tells you everything about how the Sky fought their way through this one: they shot just 36.2% from the field and went 6-for-20 from 3-point range. That is not a recipe for winning basketball. But Chicago's defense was suffocating. The Sky held Golden State to 29.3% field goal shooting and forced the Valkyries into a brutal 7-for-26 night from beyond the arc.

Kamilla Cardoso was a monster on the glass and in the paint, grabbing seven rebounds and swatting two blocks. Skylar Diggins orchestrated the offense with 15 points and a game-high seven assists, while Jacy Sheldon chipped in 12 points and three steals. Jackson and Diggins each added two blocks for good measure. The Sky were down as much as 12 points early and trailed at halftime after scoring just 24 points, but they clamped down and built an eight-point lead before holding on down the stretch.

Golden State's Star Had a Night to Forget

This loss stings for the Valkyries because they came in hot. Golden State had won their first two games and averaged 93 points in those victories. But 2025 All-Star Kayla Thornton went completely scoreless, missing all 11 of her shots and all three of her 3-point attempts. That kind of off night from a star player makes it nearly impossible to win on the road.

Gabby Williams tied Jackson for game-high scoring with 18 points and Veronica Burton added 16, but it was not enough. Kiah Stokes grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds to go with seven points and five blocks for Golden State.

The Sky are now 2-0 to start the season with back-to-back road wins at Portland and Golden State. That is the kind of start that could change the entire trajectory of this franchise.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.