Candace Parker made the difficult decision to leave the Los Angeles Sparks and join the Chicago Sky back in January. Her main goal was to bring a championship to her hometown. This past Sunday, she was able to check that accomplishment off her list.
When she decided to sign with the Sky, Parker was excited at the opportunity to come home and play in front of many of the people who helped her get to where she is today, not too far from where she grew up in Naperville, Illinois.
“Chicago is where my family raised me; where I first learned the game of basketball; and where I first fell in love with this orange ball. I am excited to continue the next chapter of my career where it all began. To my new teammates, my new organization, and my new fans: I’m home,” Parker said in an interview after first signing with the Sky.
The signing of Parker immediately made the Sky one of the favorites to contend for a WNBA title this season. However, the title run did not come without facing adversity. The Sky finished the regular season just 16-16 (partly due to Parker missing time with injury). They were the sixth seed in the playoffs and had to win two single-elimination games to stay alive.
The Sky knocked off the seventh-seeded Dallas Wings, third-seeded Minnesota Lynx, and top-seeded Connecticut Sun en route to facing the Phoenix Mercury in the Finals.
In Game 4, the Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury 80-74 behind a true team effort, including a 16 point, 13 rebound, and five assist outing from Parker to help clinch the Sky’s first ever WNBA championship. The Naperville native adds to her long list of accolades that includes two-time league MVP, six-time All-Star, Defensive Player of the Year, and now, two-time champion.
The Sky found themselves trailing by nine points at the end of the third quarter. A pair of three-pointers from Allie Quigley gave the Sky momentum to open the fourth quarter. Quigley, who similar to Parker is from nearby Joliet, finished the game with 26 points and five three-pointers.
Parker drained a three-pointer to tie the game 72-72 with 1:57 left. The Sky then took the lead on a layup from Stefanie Dolson and never trailed for the remainder of the game.
Courtney Vandersloot tallied 10 points, 15 assists, nine rebounds, and the game-sealing basket to secure the win for the Sky late in the fourth quarter.
Kahleah Copper was named Finals MVP after averaging 17 points and nearly six rebounds per game in the series. Copper was held to just 10 points in the final game, but came up big in the final period, capitalizing on a tough finish in transition to keep the Sky’s momentum rolling.
As the game clock began to wind down and it was evident that the Sky would be crowned champions, one could see Parker tearing up near half court. She says that she began to have flashbacks from highschool to when she realized that she was going to win her first State Championship at Naperville Central.
Nearly 20 years later, everything was able to come full-circle.
Bringing home a trophy in front of all her family and friends in only her first season with the Sky solidified Parker even more as a hometown hero.
About Post Author
