Latest news with #RachelBanham
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chicago Sky Coach Turns Heads With Move Before Liberty Game
Chicago Sky Coach Turns Heads With Move Before Liberty Game originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky lost to the Indiana Fever on Saturday, dropping them to a 2-5 record during the 2025 WNBA season. This also gave them an 0-1 start in the Commissioner's Cup. Advertisement Veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot had been pacing the Sky offense with 12.0 points and 6.2 assists per game through six contests. Unfortunately, she suffered a torn ACL in Saturday's contest and will be out for the remainder of the season. Head coach Tyler Marsh needed to insert another player into the starting lineup, and many felt that it would be rookie guard Hailey Van Lith after she logged 26 minutes and scored a career-best seven points against the Fever. However, Marsh opted instead for 10-year veteran guard Rachel Banham. But he also turned heads when he swapped out Kia Nurse for Rebecca Allen. Allen has played in all seven contests for the Sky and averaged 8.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game this season. Fans reacted strongly to this news after Chicago made the announcement. Advertisement "About time," one fan wrote. "BEC IN MY STARTING LINE UP 😍😍😍," another replied. "Oh Bec in the starting lineup now!!!!!" a fan added. "Bec Allen start 🔥🔥," another responded. Chicago Sky guard Rachel Banham (24).Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images "Becs starting is a good move," a fan commented. "Finally thank you," another responded. "Let's go 🩵💛💪🏾." "It took until game 8 of the season for Tyler to start Rebecca Allen," one fan replied. "About time." "FINALLY he starts Bec!!!!!" another added. Nurse had been averaging just 7.4 points and 1.7 rebounds per game as a starter for Chicago this season. Her 34.6% shooting percentage this season has been her lowest since 2023. Advertisement Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Chicago will look to give the 8-0 Liberty their first loss of the year while also earning its first win of the Commissioner's Cup. Related: Chicago Sky Coach Making Potential Angel Reese Change After Loss to Fever Related: WNBA Makes Major Announcement After Chicago Sky's Loss to Indiana Fever This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Angel Reese Issues Statement After Chicago Sky's Troubling News
Angel Reese Issues Statement After Chicago Sky's Troubling News originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky played their first game on Tuesday without their floor general, Courtney Vandersloot. The five-time All-Star was diagnosed with an ACL tear after suffering a non-contact injury in Chicago's 79-52 blowout loss to the Indiana Fever on Saturday and has since been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Advertisement It was a tough game for the Sky on Tuesday as they took on the defending champions, the New York Liberty, in a road game at Barclays Center. It was an even more daunting task for Chicago without Vandersloot on the floor. At this point, the Sky have no other choice but to take a committee approach in trying to fill the Vandersloot void. Simply put, they don't have anyone on the roster who can serve as a 1-for-1 replacement for the five-time All-WNBA guard. Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) dribbles during a Gorski-Imagn Images Angel Reese addressed the issue during Tuesday's game, and the All-Star forward has made it clear that the team remains confident in being able to get through this major hurdle. Advertisement "Yeah, obviously [Vandersloot] is a big down for us, but we knew that was gonna happen," Reese said. "Hailey (Van Lith) and Rachel (Banham) they've worked hard in training camp and throughout the year, so I know we've prepared for this moment. And also, I can help out, too." Reese pointed to rookie Hailey Van Lith and veteran Rachel Banham as the players who will be taking over point guard duties with Vandersloot out. They will have some big shoes to fill, but as Reese indicated, both players have been putting in the work and are prepared to step up to the plate. Unfortunately for the Sky, things did not work out at all for them on Tuesday night. They ended up suffering a blowout loss to a powerhouse Liberty side, 85-66. Advertisement Reese did all she could for Chicago, posting a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double, with three assists, two steals and one triple. It was far from enough. The Sky's two Vandersloot replacements, however, struggled mightily in this one. Banham, who got the start, and Van Lith combined for just eight points on 2-of-11 shooting. To be fair, virtually the entire Chicago squad played poorly in this one, and this was a tough matchup against the champs. Banham, Van Lith and the rest of the team will be looking to bounce back on Friday when they return to action against the Atlanta Dream. Related: Aliyah Boston Makes Blunt Admission About Controversial Caitlin Clark-Angel Reese Incident Related: WNBA Makes Official Statement on Caitlin Clark in Fever-Sky Game Related: Hailey Van Lith Draws Negative Attention After Chicago Sky's Concerning News Against Fever This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBS News
02-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Bulls host "Girls' Day of Play" basketball clinic
To mark the official first day of Women's History Month, the Chicago Bulls hosted a "Girls' Day of Play" on Saturday, as 150 girls attended a basketball clinic at the Advocate Center, the Bulls' practice facility. Instructors included former professional and college athletes – including Chicago Sky guard Rachel Banham and former WNBA player and NBA assistant coach Edniesha Curry, the current head coach of the Virgin Islands Men's National Team. Girls' Day of Play looks to promote increased access to sports for girls, addressing the gap of participation rates between girls and boys, particularly in Black and Latino communities. It was the second year the Bulls have hosted the clinic. The Bulls also will host a Women's History Month game on Tuesday against the Cleveland Cavaliers and will host other community programming throughout the month to promote increased access to sports for girls.
