The Chicago Sky were defeated by the Indiana Fever on Saturday afternoon. Despite the difficult 93-78 loss, one player performed especially well for Chicago. With Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins among the Sky players out for the game, Chicago needed someone to step up. Rachel Banham answered the call.
Banham scored 26 points while shooting 8-15 from the field and 6-11 from beyond the arc. She added five assists and one rebound in a strong effort. She would have obviously preferred to have led her team to a win, but Banham should still be proud of her performance. The Sky still have a lot of work to do overall, but Banham's emergence as an X-factor is undeniable. She is making a significant impact without question.
Banham, a 32-year-old veteran, has played at the WNBA level since the 2016 campaign. She has spent time with the Connecticut Sun, Minnesota Lynx and the Sky. Through 24 games played so far in 2025, the veteran point guard is averaging 8.3 points, 2.2 assists and 1.2 rebounds per outing. She is also shooting 38.4 percent from the field and 37.6 percent on her three-point attempts.
Banham is already respected around the WNBA. Yet, she does not always receive as much attention as she deserves. Banham is capable of having a big performance on any given night. She has been fairly consistent as well. The Sky are a better team with Rachel Banham on the roster.
Sky's challenging 2025 season
Chicago's chances of earning a postseason spot are slim at the moment. The Sky had high expectations for the 2025 campaign, but they have struggled for the most part. Chicago's 7-18 record has them currently sitting in 11th place overall in the WNBA. Barring a sudden bounce-back, the Sky are more likely to compete for a top pick than a playoff position.
Still, the team will not give up. Angel Reese is having a strong campaign and Rachel Banham's emergence has helped matters. The Sky's next game is scheduled for Tuesday night in Washington against the Mystics. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM EST in what should be a competitive game. Chicago will then return home for a four-game home stand. The first contest of the home stand will be played on Friday night against the Golden State Valkyries.