NFL
In Joseph Wheelan’s terrific book Midnight in the Pacific, detailing a brutal World War II battle, Wheelan describes a situation sports fans intuitively understand but have difficulty explaining.
A “meeting engagement”: a modest-stakes battle intensifies as both sides add resources.
Granted, 2026’s Dallas isn’t 1942’s Guadalcanal. Still, Sky and Wings fans likely feel Saturday’s game means more than a typical June matchup. Chicago must recover from a devastating last-second loss to New York. On that Wednesday night letdown, a late defensive lapse ensured defeat.
Dallas, on the other hand, is building positive momentum. With Azzi Fudd’s rapid improvement helping the Wings, Chicago’s struggles could continue. What went awry for the Sky on Wednesday? And why is timing especially unfortunate for Saturday’s clash?
Sky Imprisoned
Chicago’s 22 fouls (to New York’s 12) helped the Liberty erase a large deficit and claim a late lead at Wintrust Arena.
However (credit to USA Network’s announcers for the diplomatic observation), Chicago used the tight officiating to its intelligent advantage. The Sky fiercely attacked the basket in the final minutes, even forcing Liberty coach Chris DeMarco to squander a timeout with a failed challenge.
When new fan-favorite Sydney Taylor hit a three to give Chicago a 95-94 lead, Wintrust’s crowd erupted. Unfortunately, New York still had a stoppage left to advance the ball.
Another instance of ball-watching by Chicago let New York’s Sabrina Ionescu slip to the hoop for a layup. The Sky had one last shot, but Taylor’s contested jumper missed.
If WNBA yearbooks existed, a student writer might call the loss a “close call.” Reality is harder. Five years since their only championship, the Sky need more than ‘nice tries’ to stay relevant. With Team USA soccer off Saturday’s schedule, sports fans have no excuse to miss CBS’s enticing weekend hoops broadcast.
Enough Fudding Around
As if her college triumphs and impressive personal brand-building were not enough, Fudd is boosting women’s basketball through continued entrepreneurship.
As ESPN’s Chiney Ogwumike helpfully elaborates on Fudd’s podcast, Fudd joined the new world-barnstorming league Project B. The name sounds like a Fuddgetable movie, but the truth is far better! Azzi’s summer team provides another welcome opportunity for women in an already lucrative overseas market.
It’s understandable if the Sky lack enthusiasm for Project B, Paige Bueckers’ Unrivaled, or anything, after Ionescu’s layup. Team NBS Media also appreciates it if this site sounds like a looped playlist! It is still and always true, however, that the present is the best time to get up off the hardwood.
Chicago is playing respectably, but must keep fighting. Fudd, Bueckers, and Dallas must sustain the momentum of women’s basketball’s third century. There are no ties in basketball. Only one jump ball starts Saturday’s meeting engagement.
A franchise stuck in repeated failure. Another organization launching ahead of schedule. And only one world with increasingly unavailable resources, but enough hope for an entire gender to achieve inevitable triumph over an ocean of needless doubt.
