In a rematch of the 2014 WNBA Finals between the Chicago Sky and the Phoenix Mercury, the Sky get there first ever WNBA Finals win after being swept in 2014 by the Mercury. Sky win game 91-77 in Phoenix on Sunday afternoon. The Sky started out slowly but finally got it going during the second and third quarters. The Sky went on a key 17-0 run in the second quarter and 21-2 run which went into the 3rd quarter where the Sky dominated the rest of the game getting a game 1 victory in this best of 5 series. Give HC James Wade and the Sky credit for making the key adjustments when they had to. Yeah I know the Mercury looked exhausted from there game 5 clinching game on the road against the Las Vegas Aces from last Friday and they had a short turnaround and all that plus they are missing 2 key bench players in Kia Nurse who is out with an ACL injury and Sophie Cunningham who is expected back for game 2 tonight in Phoenix. Mercury star Diana Taurasi was recently named the WNBA GOAT and recently she and her partner former WNBA player Penny Taylor gave birth to a baby girl a day before game 1 of the WNBA Finals. The Mercury still have a big 3 of Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Skylar Diggins-Smith but they got no help from anyone else during game 1 of the WNBA Finals.
Meanwhile the Sky got a balanced attack from there starting 5 as once again Kahleah Copper showed why she is playing at a high level during these WNBA Playoffs leading the Sky with 21 points and 10 rebounds which included 5 offensive rebounds. The great Courtney Vandersloot became the first player in WNBA Finals history with at least 10 points, 10 assists, 5 rebounds and 0 turnovers in a WNBA Finals game. Sloot finished with 12 points, 11 assists, 5 rebounds and 0 turnovers. Sloot continues to show why she is the games best point guard in the WNBA. Allie Quigley got 18 key points while the great Candace Parker had her presence shown with 16 points, 8 rebounds and great defense and that can be the same with Azura Stevens who had 10 points and 8 rebounds and played great defense as well while Steph Dolson chipped in 14 points off the bench. One down, two to go as game 2 is tonight in Phoenix before the series shifts to Chicago, let’s hope the Sky can keep it going.