On Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury 80-74 to claim the 2021 WNBA Championship. The Sky overcame a 14-point deficit to secure their first ring in franchise history. Candace Parker put up 16 points, 13 rebounds, and 4 steals in the closeout game.
After thirteen years with the Los Angeles Sparks, Candace Parker opted to join her hometown Sky as a free-agent last offseason. She adds another championship to her already legendary résumé which includes six All-Star Games, two MVP’s, Rookie of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year awards. Dwayne Wade, Steph Curry, Gabrielle Union, and others took to Twitter to give Parker her flowers.
After a mediocre 16-16 record in the regular season, the Sky went on a miraculous playoff run. They defeated the Dallas Wings and Minnesota Lynx in back-to-back single-game eliminations, then beat the league-leading Connecticut Sun in four games. The Sky’s impressive playoff run reenergized a basketball-loving city celebrating their first championship since Jordan’s last dance in 1998.
Sky forward Kahleah Copper took home Finals MVP after averaging 17 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Her clutch performances in Games 1 and 3 helped put away the Mercury early, and a pivotal moment in Game 4 spawned one of the coldest photos of the year.
Diana Taurasi and other Mercury players declined to speak to the media following the loss. Widely considered the GOAT of women’s hoops, Taurasi struggled to overcome turnovers and poor shooting throughout the series. Media protocol dictates that players who opted not to take questions could face fines from the league.
Lastly, for more sports news from WavyPack, check out 10 Winners and Losers from the NBA Offseason.
