Heated Moment: Three Athletes Disqualified During Sky vs. Sun Match Following Altercation Near the Basket
In a tense turn of events during the Connecticut Sun vs Chicago Sky game on August 13, 2025, an on-court altercation took place that resulted in the ejection of three players: Bria Hartley (Sun), Rebecca Allen (Sky), and Ariel Atkins (Sky).
The incident unfolded at 6:35 in the second quarter, during a rebound pursuit. Hartley aggressively shoved Allen to the ground, following an apparent grab of her arm. Allen retaliated by grabbing Hartley's jersey, attempting to pull her down. The situation escalated further when Atkins entered the fray, pushing Hartley and making contact with a referee.
The referees, after a 10-minute game delay and review, ejected Hartley and Allen for fighting, and Atkins for escalating the altercation. Chicago coach Tyler Marsh expressed regret over the incident, attributing it to a lack of control in the game earlier, possibly due to an uncalled foul where Hartley allegedly elbowed Allen in the face.
The altercation occurred at a crucial point in the game, with Chicago trailing Connecticut 44-28. The Sky ended the game with only eight players in the second half, ultimately losing 71-62.
The incident has intensified an already heated rivalry between the Eastern Conference teams, both struggling in the standings. Chicago has lost 11 of their last 12 games, dropping them to 8-24, while the Sun remain in last place at 6-26 and are on pace for the worst season in franchise history.
Video footage and commentary confirm the physicality and escalation, with Chicago’s security and coaching staff intervening to separate players. Replays showed Hartley shoving Allen to the ground after a box out sequence.
Post-game, there was controversy over Atkins' ejection, with Rachel Banham, a Sky guard, questioning whether Atkins should have been expelled from the game. However, Ariel Atkins was reportedly furious with Bria Hartley and argued with her during the altercation.
Angel Reese, previously sidelined with a back injury, praised Ariel Atkins on social media for standing up for Rebecca Allen during the altercation.
As the dust settles, both teams will need to regroup and refocus on their remaining games, aiming to turn their seasons around.
The altercation between Bria Hartley and Rebecca Allen, further complicated by Ariel Atkins' involvement, has intensified the rivalry between the struggling Connecticut Sun and Chicago Sky. The incident happened during a crucial point in the game, resulting in the ejection of three players and Chicago's loss. Post-game, questions arose over Atkins' ejection, but support for her actions came from teammate Angel Reese on social media. With their seasons teetering, both teams must regroup and refocus to turn their fortunes around in the NBA (for Sun) and WNBA (for Sky) seasons.