Sky drop sixth straight, lose another close game to Mercury

PHOENIX — Courtney Vandersloot missed a 3-pointer as time expired as the Sky lost 77-74 to the Phoenix Mercury in overtime on Thursday night.

It marked the sixth straight loss for the Sky.

Kahleah Copper led Chicago (2-6) with 14 points and Vandersloot had eight points and nine assists.

The Sky had two key contributors return on Thursday. Guard Allie Quigley returned after sitting out the previous six games with a hamstring injury. Center Stefanie Dolson played for the first time since the season opener after helping the U.S. qualify for the 3x3 at the Tokyo Olympics. Dolson, who battled foul trouble, finished with 12 points in 15 minutes and Quigley added eight points.

For the Mercury, Skylar Diggins-Smith scored 28 points, Brittney Griner had 16 points, including a dunk in the third quarter.

Phoenix pulled away in overtime, going on an 10-2 run with scoring from four different players. Diggins-Smith went 1 of 2 from the line with 8.1 seconds left for a three-point lead and

Kia Nurse, who hit a game-winning 3-pointer from midcourt against the Sky on Tuesday, added 14 points for Phoenix (5-3). Megan Walker had 11 points.

Diggins-Smith made three free throws, including one after a technical foul, with 37.6 seconds left in regulation to tie it at 65. Chicago’s Diamond DeShields missed a layup and Phoenix called a timeout at 23.7. Diggins-Smith dribbled down the clock and got into the lane but her shot rolled off with 2.3 left and Vandersloot didn’t hit the rim as time expired.