MINNEAPOLIS — Rookie Gabriela Jaquez set career highs with 20 points and eight rebounds, Kamilla Cardoso had 11 points and 12 rebounds and the Chicago Sky beat the Minnesota Lynx 86-79 on Sunday.
Rachel Banham scored 13 points, Natasha Cloud added 11 points and seven assists and Jacy Sheldon scored 10 points for the Sky (3-1).
Courtney Williams made a 3-pointer and Natasha Howard followed with a layup that made it a four-point game with 1:44 remaining, but Jaquez answered 35 seconds later with a 3 that made it 83-76.
Kayla McBride led the Lynx (2-2) with 20 points and Howard had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Williams also had 17 points and rookie Olivia Miles, the No. 2 pick in the draft, added 13 points and four steals.
The Sky’s Rickea Jackson went down with a noncontact injury midway through the second quarter and did not return.
Sydney Taylor made a 3 at the halftime buzzer that gave the Sky a 40-38 lead, and they led the rest of the way. Jaquez made two free throws that capped a 12-4 run to open the third quarter and gave the Sky a 10-point lead.
Skylar Diggins (eye) did not play for the Sky.
Minnesota’s Emma Cechova (right knee) missed her first game after a season-ending ACL injury Thursday in the third quarter of a 90-86 win over Dallas.
Up next
- The Sky play their home opener Wednesday against the Dallas Wings
- The Lynx host the expansion Toronto Tempo on Thursday
