The Chicago Sky were not the favorites to win the WNBA title. After all, they finished the regular season as the No. 6 seed, and they posted a mediocre 16-16 record.
Chicago Sky: Three takeaways from Game 4 win vs. Phoenix Mercury
Despite their unimpressive regular season, they found themselves just one win shy of the team’s first WNBA title, following a blowout 86-50 win in Game 3. After a lopsided loss in the previous contest between these two teams, the Mercury came out with a sense of urgency and led by as many as 14 points.
However, the Sky managed to overcome the double-digit deficit en route to a come-from-behind 80-74 victory.
This one is for you, Chicago. 🏆
The Chicago Sky are your 2021 WNBA Champions. pic.twitter.com/Pv4KiTzLIA
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) October 17, 2021
Here are the three biggest takeaways from Chicago’s memorable win.
3. The Sky turn it around in the fourth quarter.
The Mercury led by what could have been an insurmountable 14-point lead in the third quarter. And they appeared to be on their way to extending the series to a fifth and deciding game as they led by seven points with less than five minutes left in the final frame.
However, the Sky turned it up on the defensive end of the floor. In fact, the Sky finished the contest on a 15-2 run. And they outscored the Mercury by a 26-11 margin to claim their first championship. As they have done all season, the Chicago Sky remained resilient in the face of adversity.
2. Candace Parker helps deliver a title to her hometown team
Candace Parker raised a few eyebrows when she opted to sign with the Sky after spending her entire career with the Los Angeles Sparks. While a player coming back to play for the city they grew up in makes for a good story, the season was anything but easy for Parker.
She battled multiple ankle injuries during the season which limited her to 23 games. And because of her absence from the lineup, the Sky endured a painful seven-game skid that could have derailed the team’s playoff hopes.
But as she has done throughout her career, Parker rose to the challenge when it was needed. She went on a personal 7-0 run in the third quarter to help the Sky remain within striking distance.
And with the Sky trailing 72-69, Parker nailed an open three-pointer that sent the crowd at Wintrust Arena into a wild frenzy.
CANDACE CLUTCH PARKER 🥶
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/Dv6dqpI1nV
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 17, 2021
Early on, Parker wasn’t much of a factor as she scored just four points on 1-for-6 shooting in the first half. But when it was all said and done, the now two-time champion had her best all-around game of the postseason. Her final stat line included 16 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and four steals. The Sky signed Parker to be a leader for this team, and as she stated after Game 1 of these Finals, she was the calm before the storm and the storm when everyone is calm.
Mission accomplished.
1. Allie Quigley carries the scoring load for the Sky
Allie Quigley scored 18 and 19 points, respectively, in the first two games of this WNBA Final series. However, she was somewhat quiet in Game 3, as she scored nine points on 3-for-6 shooting in Chicago’s 86-50 victory in Game 3.
But in Game 4, she delivered big time, scoring a team-high 26 points to go along with five rebounds. She also shot an impressive 50 percent from the three-point line, knocking down five of her 10 attempts from beyond the arc. To put this stat into perspective, the Sky shot just 7-for-25 overall from long range.
Not only that, but Quigley scored 11 of her 26 points (including three three-pointers) in the fourth quarter to help the Sky overcome that 14-point deficit. So while Parker certainly played a part in the team’s closeout victory, Quigley was huge as well in helping the team win its first-ever WNBA title.
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