After seven years of average play and reaching the playoffs only to be knocked out on the first round, the Chicago Sky changed direction in 2021 and are now headed to the WNBA Finals. As someone who covered this team back in 2014 with our then superstar Elena Delle Donne, everyone had high hopes back then that they could go all the way. The Phoenix Mercury had other ideas and swept the Sky in three games. So near and yet so far.

Enter our new superstar and Illinois native Candace Parker who spent most of her pro career with the Los Angeles Sparks only to return home to her native state and voila – Finals here we come! Not many would have felt this possible this year with the team finishing at .500 with 16 wins and 16 losses but this 6th ranked group of hoopsters just toppled the #`1 team – Connecticut Sun – pretty handily. Sun’s record 26 wins, 6 losses until the playoffs when the Sky showed up and played their best games of the year.

In every playoff game, every player for the Sky showed up – multiple double digit scorers, stifling defense, high percentage scoring averages and great team chemistry. Courtney Vandersloot broke the single game assists record with 18; four of the five starters for the Sky scored double figures against Connecticut on Wednesday; Candace Parker logged 17 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks against the Sun in the Sky’s Game #4 victory. Kahleah Copper and Azura Stevens have been spectacular on both ends of the court and Allie Quigley continues to score and pour in those long range 3 pointers. From the starters to the bench, this team is fun to watch and as they wait to see who they will face in the Finals (either Las Vegas Aces or Phoenix Mercury where Friday’s game will decide) let’s just enjoy this team and savor how far they have come. Welcome home Candace Parker indeed!

This is NOW!