Sky limit after maiden WNBA championship
CHICAGO: The Chicago Sky has secured its maiden WNBA championship by beating the Phoenix Mercury 8074 to take an unassailable 31 lead in the bestoffive finals series.
It was a fullcircle moment for Chicago native and league superstar Candace Parker but for Mercury’s Australian coach, Sandy Brondello, it was a case of what could have been as her charges came up short.
Brondello led the Phoenix to WNBA glory in 2014 but, despite making the playoffs in each year since, has been unable to add to the silverware she won in her debut season in charge.
Allie Quigley scored 26 points while Parker added 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists as the Sky celebrated a game four win in front of a soldout crowd.
Finals series MVP Kayleah Copper and Courtney Vandersloot added 10 points for the Sky, which rallied from a 7265 deficit with less than five minutes to play.
‘‘We were down nine, down 11 and we stayed with it,’’ Parker said. ‘‘So proud of this group. Sloot [Vandersloot] doing what she does all year. Allie — it’s amazing.’’
As the final buzzer sounded, Parker sprinted to the corner of the court and hugged her family with tears in her eyes.
Parker triumphantly returned home to Chicago this season after spending 13 years with Los Angeles where she won an MVP award and a WNBA title.
She was called the Sky’s missing piece throughout the playoffs, a label she proved accurate many times during Chicago’s stunning run — winning the title as the six seed.
‘‘It feels amazing. My high school coach is here . . . ’’ Parker said.
‘‘Got the whole city here. We got the whole city here. We are champions for life now.’’
Brittney Griner was a focal point of Phoenix’s offence early on and the seven time AllStar finished the game with 28 points, 18 of which came in the first half _as her side led 4437. —AP