Gabriela Jaquez posts career highs

Gabriela Jaquez gave the Chicago Sky an early-season lift on May 17, scoring career highs of 20 points and eight rebounds in an 86-79 road win over the Minnesota Lynx in Minneapolis. The rookie forward led all Chicago scorers as the Sky improved to 3-1, according to the WNBA game recap. Kamilla Cardoso added 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Natasha Cloud finished with 11 points and seven assists. The result came during the league's opening stretch, five weeks after Chicago selected Jaquez with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. ### How did Jaquez's night shape the game? Jaquez's 20 points and eight rebounds were both career highs, the WNBA recap said, and her late 3-pointer gave Chicago an 83-76 lead with 1:09 remaining after Minnesota had cut the margin to four. That shot came 35 seconds after Courtney Williams and Natasha Howard scored to make the game tight in the final two minutes. (wnba.com) Chicago took control in the third quarter. The Sky opened the second half on a 12-4 run, and Jaquez capped it with two free throws that pushed the lead to 10 points, according to the official recap. Sydney Taylor had already swung momentum before halftime with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that put Chicago ahead 40-38. (wnba.com) ### What else did Chicago get around her? Cardoso posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Rachel Banham scored 13 points and Jacy Sheldon added 10, the WNBA recap said. Cloud's seven assists helped steady a lineup that lost Rickea Jackson to a non-contact injury midway through the second quarter. Jackson did not return. (wnba.com) The Sky also played without Skylar Diggins, who missed the game with an eye injury, according to the official recap. Chicago still led the rest of the way after Taylor's halftime shot and matched Minnesota with 40 points in the paint. ### Who answered for Minnesota? Kayla McBride scored 20 points for the Lynx, while Natasha Howard had 17 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, the WNBA recap said. (wnba.com) Courtney Williams also scored 17 points, and rookie Olivia Miles added 13 points and four steals. Minnesota fell to 2-2 with the loss. (wnba.com) The official game summary listed attendance at 10,001 at Target Center. ### Why is Jaquez drawing attention this early? Chicago selected Jaquez on April 13 with the No. 5 overall pick after her four-year career at UCLA, the team said in its draft announcement. (wnba.com) General manager Jeff Pagliocca called her a "battle-tested three-level scorer" in that release. UCLA numbers cited by the Sky show Jaquez entered the league after averaging 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists during her final college season, when she started all 38 games and shot 39.0% from 3-point range. Chicago's release also said she had just helped UCLA win a national championship. (sky.wnba.com) ### What comes next for the Sky and Lynx? Chicago's next game is its home opener against Dallas on Wednesday, May 20, the WNBA recap said. Minnesota returns home again on Thursday, May 21, to face Toronto. The 2026 WNBA schedule lists both teams among the league's regular-season slate, which began on May 9. (sky.wnba.com) Chicago opened the year on the road at Portland, according to the Sky's draft release and season schedule listings. (wnba.com 1) (wnba.com 2)