The Chicago Sky are going to the WNBA Finals for the second time in franchise history for the first time since 2014. Remember when the Sky finished the regular season at an even 16-16 and many people thought they weren’t going to go on a far run in the WNBA Playoffs as the 6 seed? Remember when the Sky had a 7 game losing streak without Candace Parker who suffered an early season ankle injury? Remember when the Sky were still trying to gel together as a team as the season went on? I am so glad the Sky signed future Hall of Famer the hometown phenom Candace Parker during the off season and boy has she made a huge difference with this Sky team.
The Sky entered the playoffs as the 6 seed in a home game against the Dallas Wings in a single elimination game and they won there first game 81-64 at Wintrust Arena. Sky win there next playoff game on the road in another single game elimination game against the Minnesota Lynx 89-76. This now setup a semi-finals matchup with the top seeded Connecticut Sun who came in on roll with a 14 game winning streak who were lead by the 2021 WNBA MVP Jonquel Jones while the Sun also had most improved player Brionna Jones and coach of the year Curt Miller. This Sun team was known for having a really good defense and an efficient offense. The Sky won game 1 101-95 in double overtime on the road where it was important getting at least one win on the road before heading back to Chicago for games 3 and 4. In that game 1 victory Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot became the second player in WNBA History to finish with a triple double in a playoff game scoring 12 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out a WNBA Playoff record 18 assists. Sky lost game 2 but they were able to regroup for the next 2 games in front of there home fans at Wintrust Arena in this best of 5 series. Sky won a thrilling game 3 on Sunday 86-83 putting them one win from there first WNBA Finals since 2014.
The Chicago Sky were one win away from going back to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2014 where they had to beat the Connecticut Sun one more time. The Sky had a really productive first quarter against a very good Sun defense scoring 32 points. Sloot came out hitting two key three pointers as the Sky built a 13-2 lead against the Sun which set the tone for in the clinching game for the Chicago Sky. The Sky lead this game wire to wire. What I love about this Chicago Sky team as I have learned throughout the Playoffs is they are so well balanced and they don’t have to rely on one player, they all do there parts to make them a tough team to beat. Sloot lead the Sky with 19 points with only 4 assists while Kahleah Copper who has been on a run in these WNBA Playoffs scored 18 points with 6 assists. Candace Parker who has been the missing piece for this Chicago Sky team has been filling up the stat sheet throughout these playoffs recorded a near triple double scoring 17 points grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing out 7 assists. DePaul’s own Allie Quigley may of only scored 6 points but her presence was felt big time along with the size of Azura Stevens who played very well on defense. Sky won 79-69 in front of there home fans as Bulls Legend Scottie Pippen, Chicago native Chance the Rapper among many other fans celebrated the Sky going punching there ticket to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2014, only Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley are the only holdovers from that 2014 team that got swept by the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA Finals that year. The Sky in this series got great offense and played great defense. The Sky will now wait on the winner between the LA Aces and Phoenix Mercury who play each other in the deciding game 5 to determine who will play the Chicago Sky in the 2021 WNBA Finals. What a job HC/GM James Wade has done getting the right players onto this team to make a run for the Championship, 3 more wins to for that elusive WNBA Championship. Sky may start these WNBA Finals on the road but I know they are up for the challenge.