In Phoenix's Footprint Center, the Chicago Sky (26-10) defeated the Mercury (15-21) 82-67 on Aug. 14 in WNBA action to end the regular season on a high note.
By winning, the Sky—the defending champions—secured the number-two seed in the WNBA playoffs, after the Las Vegas Aces.
The Sky's 26 wins this season is a new franchise record for victories in a single season.
Chicago has clinched playoff berths for four consecutive seasons under head coach James Wade's leadership. The 2022 WNBA playoffs will mark the franchise's eighth trip to the postseason in the past decade. Prior to 2013, the Sky had not reached the playoffs since the team's inaugural season of 2006.
The Chicago Sky will compete in a first-round match-up in the WNBA playoffs against the seventh-seeded New York Liberty on Wed., Aug. 17, to start a best-of-three series. The tipoff at Wintrust Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be air on ESPN 2.
—The Chicago Red Stars fell to the host Angel City FC 1-0 on Aug. 14 in NWSL action.
With the win, Angel City—which play home games in L.A.'s Banc of California Stadium—is back in the hunt for a playoff spot.
The club continues its road trip next week when the Red Stars take on North Carolina Courage on Saturday, Aug. 20, at Wakemed Soccer Park.
—Jose Barrero hit a tie-breaking RBI single in Cincinnati's three-run fifth inning, and the Reds (45-68) stopped a five-game slide with an 8-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs (47-66) on Aug. 14 in Cincinnati, ESPN reported.
Chicago right-hander Keegan Thompson lasted just short of two innings. He was charged with four runs and two hits.
The Cubs now take on the Washington Nationals (38-78) in the country's capital starting Monday, Aug. 15 for a three-game series.
—At Guaranteed Rate Field, the Chicago White Sox (59-56) defeated the Detroit Tigers (43-73) 5-3 on Aug. 14 to conclude (and sweep) their series.
The White Sox (59-56) stayed two-and-a-half games behind the Cleveland Guardians (61-53), who maintained their American League Central lead with a victory in Toronto.
However, the competition steps up starting Monday, Aug. 15, as the South Siders host the Houston Astros (75-41)—who have a four-game win streak—for a series.
