The Chicago Sky's Unrivaled Season is Off to a Rocky Start!
It's been a tough start for the Lunar Owls, the Unrivaled team featuring Chicago Sky guards Rachel Banham and Rebecca Allen. They've stumbled out of the gate, currently sitting at 0-3 for the season and tied for last place with the Hive in the Unrivaled standings.
The Owls are struggling, to say the least. They have the worst point differential in the league at a concerning -64. To put that in perspective, they're 14 points behind their rivals. Their recent 94-60 loss to the Phantom only amplified their woes. Up next, the Lunar Owls face the Mist and the Vinyl, both of whom managed a single victory in the second week of Unrivaled play.
Their latest regular-season game ended in an 84-72 defeat against the Laces, who are currently at 2-1 and boast the league's highest-ranked offense. Marina Mabrey and Aaliyah Edwards put in a valiant effort, scoring all but eight of the team's points, but it wasn't enough.
So, how did the Sky duo, Banham and Allen, perform this week? And what can they do to turn things around?
Rachel Banham's Performance:
- Last Two Games: Averaged 4 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game.
Banham showed her aggressive style early on, even attempting a near-half-court shot shortly after being subbed in. She finished the game with 3 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists, setting up Edwards and Allen for some solid shots. Banham, who recently launched a podcast with WNBA veteran Aari McDonald, needs to step up her game to take some pressure off the team's leaders and ignite the offense.
Rebecca Allen's Performance:
- Last Two Games: Averaged 2.5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game.
Allen managed to make only 2 out of 9 shots this week, including 1 of 5 in the loss to the Laces. She did have her moments, with 6 rebounds and 3 assists on January 12th. She also played solid defense, blocking 2 shots and intercepting a pass, but there's still room for improvement as the Owls seek a winning strategy without Napheesa Collier.
The Bottom Line:
It's clear that the Lunar Owls have a lot of work to do. But here's where it gets controversial... Can Banham and Allen elevate their game to the level needed to lead this team to victory? What adjustments should they make? What about the coaching? And this is the part most people miss... How will the absence of Collier impact the team's performance long-term?
What do you think? Are you optimistic about the Lunar Owls' chances? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Don't forget to bookmark the Chicago Sky on SI for all the latest news and insights!
