The Chicago Sky lost a close one to the Phoenix Mercury on Monday, putting an end to their two-game winning streak.
After trailing by as many as 15 points during the game, Chicago found itself ahead by seven points with 6:08 left to play. However, the Mercury proved too much to handle, especially with Kahleah Copper, Kelsey Plum and Alyssa Thomas leading the way.
Copper finished with 31 points for Phoenix, while Thomas posted a triple-double of 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists. Plum, who made her debut for the Mercury after the Los Angeles Sparks traded her before the Aug. 2 deadline, impressed off the bench with 20 points and four assists.
No player from the Sky made more than 20 points. Kamilla Cardoso, Courtney Vandersloot and DiJonai Carrington all scored 16 points apiece.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Making matters worse for Chicago, one player received a flagrant foul call during the game and is now subject to a punishment from the WNBA.
With 3:36 remaining in the second quarter, Mercury star DeWanna Bonner attempted a 3-pointer and made it. Sky guard Aicha Coulibaly tried to block the shot, but she was called for a foul instead.
Moreover, her closeout on Bonner during the play was deemed dangerous, prompting the referees to review the play and eventually upgrade the foul to a Flagrant 1.
According to the WNBA's rules, each flagrant point carries a $500 fine. A Flagrant 1 foul accounts for one flagrant point, while a Flagrant 2 accounts for two flagrant points.
It's Coulibaly's first flagrant foul of the season. However, the flagrant-point limit before a one-game suspension is four, so she will certainly need to be careful if she wants to avoid racking up fines and potentially getting suspended. The Sky have 14 games left this season.
