Lynx vs Sky Game Photos 5-17-26

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Minneapolis:

By Troy Geary

Geary Sports & Entertainment Network

The Minnesota Lynx returned home Sunday evening after going 2-0 on the road with wins over the Phoenix Mercury and Dallas Wings. This team is learning to play together and has been fun to watch. Rookie Olivia Miles leads the team in points and assists and already looks like a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.

The Chicago Sky, now 2-1 on the season, look like a completely different team than in years past. Led by Rickea Jackson, who came over in a trade with Los Angeles, Chicago looks poised to get back into the playoffs this season.

The Lynx, who lost their home opener to the Atlanta Dream 91-90 after leading by as many as 17 points, were looking for their first home win of the young season.

The game stayed close in the first quarter. Lynx forward Natasha Howard, back for her second stint with Minnesota, led the way with six points in the quarter, while Miles added four. Chicago was led by Jackson with six points and rookie Gabriela Jaquez with four points and two rebounds. Jaquez, fresh off a National Championship at UCLA in April, made an early impact. At the end of the first quarter, the Lynx led 22-16.

Chicago opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run to take a 25-22 lead with 8:12 left in the half. After a timeout from Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, Minnesota regrouped. Courtney Williams tied the game at 25 with her first three-pointer of the night, and after a defensive stop, Kayla McBride knocked down a corner three to put the Lynx back ahead 28-25.

With 5:24 left in the quarter, Jackson suffered an apparent knee injury and had to be helped off the floor. It would be a major loss for Chicago if she misses significant time. Natasha Cloud was assessed a technical foul while arguing for a foul call on the play, though replay showed Jackson appeared to slip.

Chicago tied the game at 35 with 2:14 remaining in the half. Minnesota briefly regained the lead on a driving layup with 12 seconds left, but with 1.2 seconds remaining, Sky guard Sydney Taylor buried a three-pointer to give Chicago a 40-38 halftime lead.

At halftime, McBride led Minnesota with 12 points, while Howard added 10 points and five rebounds. Jacy Sheldon led Chicago with seven points.

Chicago opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run to build a 46-38 lead with eight minutes remaining. Minnesota struggled to knock down open shots, something that also plagued them in their home opener. The Sky pushed the lead to 57-46 with just over three minutes left in the quarter, but five straight points from Williams cut it to 57-51.

Jaquez, whose brother Jaime Jaquez Jr. plays for the Miami Heat, continued her strong night. She had 13 points through three quarters as Chicago carried a 63-56 lead into the fourth.

With another sold-out crowd behind them, the Lynx came out with energy in the fourth quarter. McBride hit her second three-pointer of the game and followed it with a driving layup to trim the deficit to 65-61. But Cloud answered with a three of her own, helping Chicago stretch the lead back to 76-66 with 5:41 remaining.

Miles then connected on her first three-pointer of the night to make it 78-71. Chicago answered again, this time with a layup from Kamilla Cardoso to push the lead to 80-71 with 2:24 left.

Minnesota responded with five straight points — a Williams three-pointer followed by a Miles layup — to cut it to 80-76. But Jaquez hit her first three-pointer of the game with 1:12 remaining to push Chicago’s lead back to seven.

A driving layup by Miles cut the deficit to 83-78 with 44 seconds left, but Minnesota native Rachel Banham sealed the game at the free throw line, hitting one of two attempts to secure the Sky’s 86-79 win.

McBride led Minnesota with 20 points, while Jaquez paced Chicago with 20 points of her own.

Up Next for the Lynx:

May 21 vs. Toronto Tempo at the Target Center.

Minneapolis:

By Troy Geary

Geary Sports & Entertainment Network

With the new history-making CBA, which included record-breaking salaries in the WNBA, Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve knew her team would look different this season. Gone are Bridget Carlton, Jessica Shepard, and Alanna Smith, all of whom started games last year. The Lynx re-signed fan favorites Napheesa Collier, Courtney Williams, and Kayla McBride. They also brought in free agents Natasha Howard and Nia Coffey.

The Lynx also held the second overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft and selected point guard Olivia Miles out of TCU. Reeve said she believes Miles is a generational talent, and Lynx fans are hoping she’s right.

Atlanta, meanwhile, acquired Angel Reese from Chicago and is looking to build on last season’s playoff appearance.

Minnesota came out firing in the first quarter, feeding off a loud home crowd. McBride and Coffey each scored five points in the quarter, while Atlanta shot just 23% from the field. The Lynx closed the opening quarter with a commanding 24-12 lead. Reese, known for her on-court intensity, picked up a technical foul for arguing a call as the Lynx defense frustrated her throughout the quarter.

The Lynx continued to apply pressure in the second quarter. Recent waiver pickup Maya Caldwell led Minnesota in the quarter with six points, while Williams added six of her own to bring her first-half total to 10. Atlanta continued to struggle offensively and committed 14 turnovers through two quarters. Dream forward Rhyne Howard was the lone bright spot for Atlanta, leading the team with nine points at halftime.

Minnesota closed the half on a 7-0 run to take a 52-37 lead into the break. McBride led all scorers with 13 first-half points. Reese struggled offensively, shooting 1-for-5 from the field, though she did grab nine rebounds before halftime.

Atlanta came out with more energy in the third quarter, opening on a 10-4 run to cut the Lynx lead to 56-47 with seven minutes remaining in the quarter. Minnesota, which had just four turnovers in the first half, committed five in the third quarter alone. Dream guard Alisha Gray sparked the comeback by scoring 16 points in the quarter to pull Atlanta back into the game. Despite the surge, the Lynx still led 71-63 heading into the fourth.

Williams, who re-signed to a max contract this offseason, took control early in the fourth quarter with back-to-back baskets to extend the Lynx lead to 79-65. But Atlanta responded with a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 79-75 with six minutes remaining.

Miles answered by scoring on two straight layups to push the lead back to 85-78 with four minutes left. Atlanta responded again, this time with a 7-0 run to tie the game at 85 with just over two minutes remaining. McBride then converted a layup to give Minnesota an 87-85 lead.

Gray was fouled moments later by rookie Emma Cechova and knocked down both free throws to tie the game at 87. McBride answered with her second three-pointer of the night to put Minnesota back in front 90-87 with 50 seconds left.

Jordan Canada responded with a layup to cut the lead to one before Dream guard Te-Hina Paopao hit a floater with 11.3 seconds remaining to give Atlanta a 91-90 lead. On the final possession, Miles found Emma Hof driving to the basket, but the layup attempt was blocked by Angel Reese as time expired, sealing a 91-90 Dream victory.

Miles led the Lynx with 21 points, while Gray paced Atlanta with 24.

Next up: May 17 at home against the Chicago Sky. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

G – #5 Olivia Miles 

G - #10 Courtney Williams  

G - #21 Kayla McBride  

F - #12 Nia Coffey 

F - #1 Natasha Howard  

Game Status Report:  

Napheesa Collier – OUT (left ankle)  

Dorka Juhász – OUT (right foot)  

Emese Hof - AVAILABLE