After having lost four out of their last five and nine out of their last ten games, Sky came to Uncasville to play against Connecticut for the second meeting of the season. And it turned out to be a replica of the Indiana Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game that saw multiple techs on the same day. But this one was even more interesting— it didn’t end on court today!

With 6:35 left in the second quarter, things took a fiery turn in the Sky-Sun matchup after Sun’s guard Bria Hartley delivered a hard foul on Chicago’s Rebecca Allen, who, as she hit the deck, grabbed onto Hartley’s jersey. Obviously, the gesture didn’t sit well with the veteran guard, and within seconds, words turned into heated shouting.

That’s when Ariel Atkins, having seen the whole thing unfold, rushed in to back up her Sky teammate. She charged straight at Hartley, sparking a tense moment that had players, coaches, and officials scrambling to pull everyone apart. No, it didn’t end here as refs went straight to the monitor, and the outcome was swift, technical fouls for all three and immediate ejections for Hartley, Allen, and Atkins.

But here’s the wrinkle—earlier in the game, Hartley’s elbow had made clear contact with Allen’s face, a missed call that likely added fuel to the fire. So, you know what exactly happened, but then? Allen and Atkins combined for just 15 minutes on the court before their early exit. Atkins, a starting guard for Chicago, had put up six points, while Allen contributed a pair of rebounds off the bench. Hartley, meanwhile, played 10 minutes for Connecticut, missing all three of her shots before being tossed.

And by halftime, the Sky were down 44-28, and the drama had left them short-handed, facing an uphill climb the rest of the way.

The fallout was immediate for Chicago as the team was already short-handed with Reese sidelined due to a back injury; meaning after the ejection, they were left with just eight active players.

So despite Kamilla Cardoso’s 24 points and Elizabeth Williams’ double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds, the Sky fell 62-71. That sealed their third straight loss, shattering any remaining hope of sneaking into the playoffs. But even after the final buzzer, the drama didn’t stop!

After the scuffle, the Sky-Sun rivalry got a bit personal!

While Ariel Atkins has only been with the Sky for the 2025 season, Wednesday wasn’t the first time she’s gone to bat for a teammate. It’s because last time, after a June 10 game, when Chi-town Barbie was asked about a flagrant foul on Liberty forward Leonie Fiebich, Atkins had jumped in before Reese could respond.

“This is a 23-year-old kid. And the amount of crap that she gets on a day-to-day, and she still shows up…So whatever questions y’all got about our team, basketball-wise, we appreciate it. But all the other nonsense it’s irrelevant. Her crown is heavy! So whatever else y’all want to come at her for… she has to build the wall,” the vet defended.

Reese had appreciated the gesture. But, now, it was her time to show up, and the Chi Town Barbie proudly did. “ARIEL A REAL ONE. BEEN,” she announced on X.

And honestly, the history between the Sky and Sun makes that appreciation feel even more personal. The last time these two teams met, things turned ugly in the third quarter when Hartley grabbed Reese’s hair while battling for a rebound. The 23-year-old Maryland native wasn’t having it. She immediately confronted Hartley, prompting Olivia Nelson-Ododa to step in. Words were exchanged, Reese pushed Nelson-Ododa, and teammates from both sides rushed in to break it up.

But, it didn’t end here. Sun vet Tina Charles got particularly animated, shouting across the court and needing to be physically restrained. After a lengthy review, Reese and Nelson-Ododa were hit with technicals for unsportsmanlike conduct, while Hartley received only a common foul—a decision that drew plenty of side-eyes from Sky bench, who believed the hair pull warranted a flagrant. So yes, when it comes to Chicago vs. Connecticut, it’s starting to feel a little too personal!