The Sky change their narrative, capping Parker's homecoming with a WNBA title

When the Chicago Sky beat the No. 1 seeded Connecticut Sun to get to the WNBA Finals, Candace Parker knew that the moment was bigger than herself. Inside of her shoe, she wrote “For Pat” to honour the late Pat Summitt, who coached Parker at the University of Tennessee.

“I wanna always bring honour to Pat. In these moments I always remember her,” said Parker.

Sumitt passed away in June of 2016, four months before Parker won her first WNBA championship and Finals MVP with Los Angeles. Summitt was alive to see Parker become Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year, win MVP again in 2013, get three All-Star nods and add copious other accolades to her trophy cabinet.

Five years later, Parker would find herself in her hometown of Chicago, playing with the lowest-ever seed to win a WNBA title, and giving the team their first franchise title. For Parker, the win was for Chicago, for her teammates, for her daughter Lailaa — and of course, for Pat.

In a sense, Parker wasn’t supposed to be there. She played her entire career with the Sparks, even winning Defensive Player of the Year with the team in 2020, but after their early playoff exit, Parker wanted to try her hand at a championship at home.

But the story of Chicago’s first-ever franchise title is not Parker’s alone, and she would be the first to tell you that. It’s the story of how Elena Delle Donne was traded to Washington in 2017 to bring her hometown their 2019 title, and Chicago was given Kahleah Copper and Stef Dolson in return who would prove to be invaluable pieces in this year’s title run.

Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot, the Sky’s married couple and veteran leaders, endured heartbreak at the hands of Phoenix before in 2014, getting swept 3-0 in the finals.

2021 was different though – these players were going to make sure it ended differently.

Chicago Sky head coach James Wade, center, celebrates with Candice Parker, right, and Kahleah Copper, left, after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals to become champions Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Chicago. (Paul Beaty/AP)

The Sky dominated the whole series, showing no mercy from Game 1, in which they built a 22-point lead at halftime and forced the Mercury to shoot just 23.5 per cent in the first half en route to a 91-77 win. Copper led all scorers in that game with 21 points but six different Sky players finished in double-digit scoring, their versatility making them so hard to beat.

Copper was tagged as an emotional leader by head coach James Wade coming into the series and, whether it was a 22-point lead or an overtime loss like Game 2, her poise and energy shone through every single night for Chicago.

“I have this edginess and this grittiness about me that’s going to keep me going,” Cooper said. “I think it was very important for me to be consistent, starting with last year, having a breakout season as you call it. It was about coming in this year and being consistent and actually being better than I was last year.”

On the boards, getting shots up, staying cool under Phoenix’s gritty defensive pressure – that energy rubbed off onto her Sky teammates. Even when they were down by double digits, they never went into panic mode with Copper on the floor.

To their credit, the Mercury refused to go down without a fight. This series wasn’t lost due to a lack of heart or passion and Game 2 was a testament to that.

Brittney Griner, whose overall Finals performance affirmed why she is one of the best centres in the league, dropped 29 points to help lead Phoenix to what would be its only win in the series. Diana Taurasi added 20, too, and Skylar Diggins-Smith put together a 13-point, 12-assist game as a leader from the point position to help keep the Mercury in the series.

However, in the end, Phoenix’s inability to deploy a bench as well-rounded as Chicago’s would be its downfall.

Brianna Turner’s defence was unmatched, and Sophie Cunningham’s ability to get under the skin of Chicago players helped the Mercury get their lone win. But shots didn’t fall, and having only three players finish with double-digit per-game scoring totals just was not enough.

Phoenix Mercury’s Sklar Diggins-Smith, left, Brittney Griner, centre, and Bria Hartley right, react on the bench during the final seconds of the second half of Game 3 of the WNBA Finals against the Chicago Sky, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021, in Chicago. (Paul Beaty/AP)

Going 1-1 in Phoenix, the Sky headed home to Wintrust Arena for the third and fourth game of the series. They were greeted by sold-out crowds each night, with celebrities like Chance the Rapper and Bears quarterback Justin Fields being among the many who came out to support their city.

Chicago knew they had to make a statement. The message they delivered in Game 3 was maybe the biggest of the whole series. They outplayed Phoenix the entire game, holding them to less than 14 points a quarter, and won Game 3 by 36 points — the largest margin of victory in WNBA Finals history.

The Sky’s usual suspects stepped up, with another 22-point game from Copper. Vandersloot notched another 10-assist night, adding to her point guard oeuvre. Parker provided from all areas of the floor and Diamond DeShields, coming off a less than ideal two-point performance in Game 2, got her confidence back, scoring 11 and hauling in five rebounds.

It was all coming together. The deciding game was being played on home court. Parker, who had an 0-2 career record in Game 4 closeouts heading into the series, could finally author a series-clinching Game 4 win. The storybook ending was right there, waiting.

For most of the game, though, it looked like it wouldn’t come to be. Chicago trailed by nine heading into the fourth quarter despite getting big performances from Quigley, who scored 26 points, and Vandersloot, who finished with another double-double to the tune of 10 points, 15 assists and nine rebounds, the Sky seemed destined for a Game 5 in Phoenix.

But if Parker is known for anything, it’s changing the narrative.

With just under two minutes to play, Parker hit a three-pointer to tie the score at 72-72, adding to a final stat line that would eventually be 16 points and 13 rebounds, and set up plays for Dolson to increase the Chicago lead as the clock wound down.

She made sure the looming buzzer would deliver the end she sought by coming home. With six seconds left to play, Parker grabbed the game’s final defensive rebound, securing the 80-74 win, and sprinted down the court to hug her family in the corner as Chicago won its first franchise title.

Chicago Sky’s Diamond DeShields right, and Chance the Rapper left, celebrate with the trophy after the Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals to become champions Sunday, Oct. 17, 2021, in Chicago. (Paul Beaty/AP)

To no surprise, Copper was named Finals MVP, with even her quietest night in Game 4 still seeing her add 10 points and defensive intensity to the game.

Chicago had been a team who played for each other all season, and it was apparent when they had finally won that title.

“It was a great moment because I never doubted for a minute that we were going to win that game. It was all a matter of when will we take the lead, and once we got the lead, I knew we would be fine,” said head coach Wade.

The defeat was painful for Phoenix, who were so close to forcing a final game at home, and it loss stung for all those involved. The entire team declined to do media, and it was later revealed that Taurasi had slammed a door at the arena so hard it broke after the loss.

It was a moment of uncontainable passion, and evidence that Phoenix wanted better for each other. There is a chance they can get back to the Finals mountaintop again but the Sky were a team who, on paper, looked like they should have been title favourites all along.

“I think the heartbreaks hurt, but this one is so sweet. Like to do it with this group, I love this group, I love this team,” said Parker. “To do it here at home, it’s just like, all of those heartbreaks, it was just supposed to be today.”