Sky open WNBA Finals with win over Mercury
PHOENIX – Kahleah Copper scored 21 points, Allie Quigley added 18 and the hot-shooting Chicago Sky opened the WNBA Finals with a 91-77 win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday.
The Sky withstood Phoenix’s fast start and took control with a 21-2 run spanning halftime to go up 17. Courtney Vandersloot had 12 points and 11 assists, helping Chicago shoot 53% and snatch home-court advantage from the Mercury in the best-of-five series. Game 2 is Wednesday in Phoenix. The Mercury played without guards Kia Nurse (torn ACL) and Sophie Cunningham (left calf strain), and the lack of depth seemed to hurt them against one of the WNBA’s best offensive teams.
Brittney Griner had 20 points and Diana Taurasi 17 for the Mercury, who pulled within eight late before running out of steam and time.
The 2021 WNBA Finals is the first for both franchises since the Mercury swept the Sky in 2014.
It’s also a showdown between two of the sport’s all-time greats still at the top of their games.
Parker, a two-time league MVP, returned home to Chicago this season after playing her first 13 seasons in Los Angeles and has been a key reason the Sky reached the finals.
Taurasi kick started Phoenix’s hot start to the final with two early 3s, helping the Mercury build an early ninepoint lead. Parker led the Sky back, scoring 11 first-half points while keying a late second quarter 17-0 run that put Chicago up 46-35 at halftime. Chicago stretched the lead to 17 in the third quarter before Phoenix went on a 10-2 run to pull within 52-45.