In a thrilling defensive showdown, rookie sensation Rickea Jackson delivered when it mattered most, draining a clutch 3-pointer with just 1:41 left on the clock to seal a hard-fought 69-63 victory for the Chicago Sky over the Golden State Valkyries on Wednesday night. Jackson finished with a game-high 18 points, proving she's a rising star to watch this season.
Veteran guard Skylar Diggins-Smith was the perfect floor general, stuffing the stat sheet with 15 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Her leadership was crucial as the Sky weathered an early storm and found their rhythm just in time.
The Valkyries came out firing, jumping to a commanding 19-7 lead in the first quarter and holding a 28-24 advantage at halftime. But their offense went ice cold when it counted most. Golden State shot just 29.3% from the field (22-for-75) and a frigid 26.9% from beyond the arc (7-for-26).
Gabby Williams matched Jackson's scoring output with 18 points and grabbed five rebounds for Golden State, but it wasn't enough to overcome a brutal shooting night. The Valkyries' Kayla Thornton, who exploded for 19 points in their home opener just three days earlier, endured a nightmare performance, missing all 11 of her field goal attempts.
The game was a defensive chess match, with both teams struggling to find clean looks. The tension boiled over in the fourth quarter when Veronica Burton's 3-pointer tied the game at 54 with just over six minutes remaining. But Chicago's Jacy Sheldon answered immediately with a deep ball of her own, swinging momentum back to the Sky. Sheldon finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, including a clutch layup with 23 seconds left to ice the game.
Burton led the Valkyries' comeback effort with 16 points on 5-of-15 shooting, but it was too little too late as Golden State suffered its first loss of the season (2-1).
Off the court, the game featured a heartwarming reunion between Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase and Sky head coach Tyler Marsh. The two longtime friends previously served as assistant coaches together under Becky Hammon with the Las Vegas Aces before taking their respective head coaching roles.
The Valkyries continue to draw massive crowds at the state-of-the-art Chase Center, selling out all 22 home games in their inaugural season last year and keeping that streak alive with two more packed houses in 2026. They'll have an extended break before hitting the road to face New York next Thursday.