The Sky hope they’re outgrowing Wintrust Arena, and a strong crowd Saturday at the United Center for their game against the Fever showed it’s possible.
The game initially was in demand in large part because of Fever star Caitlin Clark, but even with her being sidelined by a quad injury, the Sky set a franchise record with 19,496 in attendance. Their previous high was 16,444 for a 2016 game at Allstate Arena.
“It’s great and amazing for where women’s sports are today,” Sky forward Angel Reese said. “We continue to make milestones for women. This is going to be the first of many. We have two here this year, but we can continue to see this and have all our games at NBA arenas.”
Some WNBA teams play their home games in those stadiums already — the Sky will visit the Liberty at Barclays Arena on Tuesday — but this was the first ever at the United Center, which has the largest listed capacity in the NBA at 20,917.
The Sky will play their other home game against the Fever this season on July 27 at the United Center as well.
It was a striking change from their usual home venue with the gigantic videoboard overhead and the Bulls’ and Blackhawks’ championship banners hanging from the rafters.
“There’s a ton of history in this building,” guard Ariel Atkins said. “As a basketball junkie, it’s a great moment. It says a lot about how the game is growing. This won’t be the last time we play in an arena this size, so it’s only going to get better.”
Reese, who was born in 2002, said she was “a little too young” to have any memories of the Bulls’ success in this building.
The Sky played a game against the Mystics last season that was relocated to the Wizards’ Capital One Arena, and that game had an official attendance of 10,000.
The Fever, Valkyries, Sparks, Lynx and Mercury all play their home games in NBA arenas with capacities of 17,000 or more.
Allen ascends
Coming off back surgery at age 32, it was hard for anyone to know what to expect from wing player Rebecca Allen when she signed with the Sky this offseason. But as she has regained her footing following the injury, she has emerged as an essential piece off the bench in coach Tyler Marsh’s rotation.
She proved her value as a scorer when the offense struggled early by bringing a versatile combination of driving ability and three-point shooting. Marsh also has used her at power forward in a small-ball lineup that has looked good so far.
“It’s a learning thing, but I like that they aren’t putting me in there as a traditional [power forward],” Allen said. “They’re playing to my strengths as a wing player, but ultimately using me to space the floor and come off screens. I’ve enjoyed it.
“It gives the whole paint for Angel as well, and players can’t sink off me, so it creates space for driving lanes for others. Sometimes when you move someone to a different position, it’s not all about them. It can be about others.”
Cardoso plays hurt
Sky center Kamilla Cardoso had a challenging week and missed significant practice time leading up to the Fever game as she dealt with shoulder soreness.
While she was full-go for practice Friday and started Saturday, she wasn’t fully healthy and said the shoulder was “a little sore but close to normal.”
White absent
Fever coach Stephanie White was not at the game and has been away from the team for personal reasons. Austin Kelly stepped in as interim coach.
Chasing the Cup
This was the Sky’s first of five games in the WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup. The team in each conference with the best record from June 1 through 17 will face each other for the cup July 1 with a $500,000 prize pool at stake.