Marquesha Davis showed one thing the Sky are short on, even without the injuries
Marquesha Davis only played a brief stint in the Sky’s uncompetitive loss Thursday to the Storm — but it spoke volumes about what the team is missing.
Signed to a seven-day hardship deal Tuesday, the second-year guard made her Sky debut in the 95-57 loss. And while she didn’t score in her first run, her burst and bounce were a reminder: The Sky don’t have many guards like her.
Davis checked in midway through the second quarter and wasted no time attacking. On her first offensive possession, she beat her defender and missed a layup that Kamilla Cardoso cleaned up for a put-back. The next time down, she grabbed a rebound, pushed in transition and pulled up for a confident jumper — that rimmed out.
She finished the quarter 0-for-4, but it was an active, productive 0-for-4 — not bad for someone who just met the team two days earlier.
“She’s got a great level of athleticism that we can use,” coach Tyler Marsh said before the game. “Her strength is her ability to get into the paint and to play off of closeouts.”
Davis was waived by the Liberty earlier this month after being drafted No. 11 overall in 2024. But when she arrived at her first Sky practice, the whole team shouted “Marquesha!” — even if they got the pronunciation slightly wrong. (It’s Mar-kwee-sha, not Mar-key-sha.) They’ve been helping her get settled ever since.
Davis is only on a seven-day contract, but her debut offered a glimpse of what the Sky might want to target in free agency: an explosive guard. Most of their backcourt leans on spot-up shooting, and they rarely generate easy points in transition. That has contributed to a stagnant offense. Marsh said the team is frustrated with the lack of movement, though injuries to key playmakers are a big part of it, too.
Reese sits, putting roster at nine
Angel Reese was ruled out before tipoff after being listed as questionable with back tightness. Marsh said the issue flared up during the game Tuesday against the Lynx. Reese had already been managing leg discomfort since late June and logging heavy minutes in that stretch.
“She wants to be at 100%,” Marsh said. “It’s tough going through the ups and downs of the season — whether it’s injury or wins and losses — but she’s a fighter. She’ll continue to work through and battle back.”
Guards Ariel Atkins (leg) and Michaela Onyenwere (knee) also sat out. Both dressed for shootaround, and Marsh said they’re progressing, though Atkins is expected to miss at least one more game. That left the Sky with just nine available players.
Next up — ready or not
Injuries have fast-tracked minutes for rookies Hailey Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld, who were expected to spend the season developing behind veterans. Van Lith, in particular, has seen her role expand.
She barely touched the floor in the five-game stretch before the break. But she has played 20-plus minutes in each of the last two and averaged 7.5 points.
Westbeld has been easing into the rotation since late June. Drafted for her shooting, she has hit a three-pointer in back-to-back games. She also has drawn praise from teammates and coaches for her rebounding, a key need with Reese out.