Parker moves into 10th on WNBA scoring list in loss
Candace Parker might be nearing the end of her WNBA career, but she’s playing like she still is in her prime.
Despite the Chicago Sky falling 98-91 in overtime to the Los Angeles Sparks in the season opener Friday night, Parker passed Lauren Jackson (6,007 points) and Seimone Augustus (6,005) for the 10th spot on the league’s all-time scoring list with 6,011. She finished with 21 points, six rebounds and six assists.
Parker wasn’t made available to media after the loss to her former team. The sting of letting the game slip lingered into the defending champions’ news conference.
“We were tired and it’s not an excuse, but it’s just where we are right now,” said Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot, who had 11 points, four rebounds and eight assists. “We are not in shape to play 35 minutes. It’s tough on us old people, but I think that played a factor along with poor execution and spacing.”
In a game that featured 16 lead changes, the Sparks outscored the Sky 10-3 in overtime after the fourth quarter ended in controversy.
With 1.5 seconds left in regulation and the Sky up 88-85, Dana Evans fouled Jordin Canada on a 3-point attempt that drew the ire of a packed crowd at Wintrust Arena. The Sky, who were without All-Stars Allie Quigley and Kahleah Copper, couldn’t recover.
Sky coach and general manager James Wade didn’t mince words when discussing the foul call.
“Everybody saw (it wasn’t a foul),” Wade said. “(Evans) didn’t even touch her, even though (Canada) threw her body forward. How could good people who do this for a living see that and call it? It’s ridiculous.”
When asked if she thought she fouled Canada, Evans said, “Not at all. No.”
Canada (21 points, eight assists) and Nneka Ogwumike (19 points, 7-of-10 shooting) led the way for the Sparks while Liz Cambage struggled against the Sky frontcourt. She scored 11 of her 12 points after halftime.
All five Sky starters scored in double digits, led by Evans’ 24 points. In her first career start in place of Quigley, she started off cold but went 7 for 8 from the field and scored 17 in the third quarter.
Evans said last week she wants to become “the best guard in the league,” and she built on the momentum she brought from training camp.
“I just told myself going into this season I wanted to play like Dana,” Evans said after the game. “I was just letting the game come to me and getting in the lanes and had some easy jumpers. Once those started going, the basket looked huge at that point.”
Parker, meanwhile, continues to build her legacy after signing with the Sky in 2021. Along with climbing the all-time scoring ladder, the two-time league MVP and 2016 Finals MVP passed Tanisha Wright and Shannon Johnson for eighth in career assists.