Heat in the Heartland: Van Lith’s Perfect Night Not Enough as Sky Drop Preseason Opener
Heat in the Heartland: Van Lith’s Perfect Night Not Enough as Sky Drop Preseason Opener
The WNBA made history on Saturday night, bringing the league to South Dakota for the first time. While the scoreboard at the Sanford Pentagon showed a 108-104 win for the Phoenix Mercury, the real story for the Chicago Sky was a mix of "new face" flashes and some glaring "old habit" red flags.
It’s preseason, sure, but if you’re looking for the raw truth, here’s how the first look at Tyler Marsh’s squad went down.
The Hailey Van Lith Show
If there were any lingering questions about Hailey Van Lith’s ankle or her ability to thrive in this system, she answered them with a sledgehammer. HVL was the definition of "Zero Filter" efficiency, dropping 20 points on a perfect 8-for-8 shooting night.
After a rookie season hampered by injury, she looked lethal in the mid-range, citing veteran Skylar Diggins as the blueprint she watched from the sidelines in the first half. If this version of Van Lith shows up in the regular season, the league has a massive problem on its hands.
New Arrivals, Big Impacts
The Sky’s future was on full display with Rickea Jackson making her highly anticipated debut. Jackson flashed elite isolation scoring, finishing with 15 points. Meanwhile, Kamilla Cardoso (10 points) showed exactly why she’s a force, living off slips and high-low action early.
We also saw the professional debut of Gabriela Jaquez, who proved she isn't afraid of the bright lights, scoring 10 of her 12 points in a frantic fourth-quarter comeback attempt.
The Three-Point Problem
Now, for the real talk. Coach Tyler Marsh wanted movement, but movement only works if the defense is scared of the perimeter. The Sky shot a measly 16 three-pointers compared to the Mercury’s 34. You aren't going to win many games in 2026 by getting doubled up on volume from deep.
While Rachel Banham (12 points, 3 triples) is a walking bucket from the outside, the rest of the roster—oriented toward attacking the rim—struggled to stretch the floor. Phoenix, led by former Sky star Kahleah Copper (19 points), simply rained down 15 threes and dared Chicago to keep up.
Defense: A Work in Progress
To be blunt, the defense looked like it was still on vacation. Giving up 54 points in the first half is a recipe for disaster. The Sky are still "figuring out how to move together," and it showed as they allowed 18 points off turnovers and struggled to contain Phoenix's ball movement.
The Bottom Line
It’s 0-1 in the preseason, but there’s plenty to be motivated about. The Sky showed grit, fighting back from 12 down to make it a one-possession game in the final seconds. They dominated the paint (30-24) and lived at the free-throw line, but the lack of outside shooting and defensive cohesion is something Marsh needs to address—and fast.
Sanchez’s Take: Hailey Van Lith was flawless, and the rookies look like they belong, but you can’t bring a knife to a gunfight. If the Sky don't increase their volume from deep, teams are just going to pack the paint and wait for the drive. Let’s see if they adjust the math on Wednesday against Atlanta.
