Chicago Sky 97, Toronto Tempo 85 — the Chicago Sky closed out a hard-fought 97-85 win over the Toronto Tempo at Wintrust Arena, riding a dominant third quarter and a decisive rebounding edge to a victory that keeps them climbing in the WNBA standings.

The Sky led by only three at the break before turning the game into a comfortable finish, outscoring Toronto 26-19 in the third period and never allowing the Tempo back within single digits over the final six minutes. It was the kind of professional, playoff-style performance Chicago has been searching for as the regular season moves into its closing stretch.

Match Overview

Played on September 23, 2026, the matchup pitted an established Sky core against one of the league's newest franchises, and for two and a half quarters the expansion Tempo looked entirely at home. Toronto moved the ball sharply, attacked early in the shot clock and hit enough perimeter shots to keep the game level through the opening 20 minutes.

• First quarter: Chicago 24, Toronto 20
• Second quarter: Toronto 23, Chicago 22
• Halftime: Chicago 46, Toronto 43
• Third quarter: Chicago 26, Toronto 19
• Fourth quarter: Chicago 25, Toronto 23
• Final: Chicago Sky 97, Toronto Tempo 85

Key Moments

The turning point arrived midway through the third quarter. With the score tied at 55, Chicago ripped off a 13-2 run built almost entirely in the paint. Kamilla Cardoso finished back-to-back interior looks off high-low entries, Angel Reese cleaned up a miss on the offensive glass, and Ariel Atkins capped the surge with a catch-and-shoot three from the left wing that forced a Toronto timeout.

Toronto responded with a small run of its own early in the fourth, cutting the deficit to seven on a transition layup, but the Sky answered immediately with a Courtney Vandersloot pull-up jumper and a pair of free throws to push the lead back to double figures. From there, Chicago's defense tightened, forcing three empty Toronto possessions in a row and effectively ending the contest.

Standout Performers

• Angel Reese (Chicago): A double-double anchor on the block, dominating the offensive glass and generating second-chance points throughout the second half.
• Kamilla Cardoso (Chicago): Efficient interior scoring and a game-altering presence at the rim, altering shots and protecting the paint during the decisive third-quarter run.
• Ariel Atkins (Chicago): Timely perimeter shooting, including the three-pointer that broke the game open.
• Courtney Vandersloot (Chicago): Controlled tempo and distribution, finishing with a healthy assist total while keeping turnovers low.
• Toronto's backcourt: Aggressive and creative in the first half, generating pace and open looks before Chicago's adjustments slowed the attack.

Tactical Story

The game turned on two adjustments. Defensively, Chicago switched more aggressively on Toronto's ball screens after halftime, taking away the pull-up jumper that had punished them early and forcing Tempo ball handlers toward help. Offensively, the Sky committed to feeding the post, attacking the offensive boards and turning a modest shooting night into a high-percentage one through sheer volume near the rim.

Toronto's coaching staff, led by Sandy Brondello, kept the Tempo organized and competitive, and the expansion side's spacing and cutting were genuinely impressive for a first-year roster. But the physicality gap on the glass — particularly on the offensive end — proved too large to overcome. Second-chance points and free-throw attempts told the story of the final margin.

Standings and Season Impact

For Chicago, the win is a valuable one on multiple fronts. It protects home court, strengthens the Sky's position in the WNBA playoff race and adds another quality result to a late-season résumé that is beginning to look dangerous. With Reese and Cardoso controlling the interior, Chicago profiles as a team no higher seed will want to see in a postseason series.

For the Toronto Tempo, the loss is a learning experience rather than a setback. In their inaugural WNBA season, the Tempo have already shown they can compete with established contenders, and a 12-point road defeat against a playoff-caliber opponent at Wintrust Arena is hardly a discouraging result. Their head-to-head with Chicago now stands as a useful measuring stick heading into future meetings.

Final score: Chicago Sky 97, Toronto Tempo 85. The Sky move on with momentum, the Tempo move on with proof that the gap between them and the league's best is closing quickly.