CHICAGO — Candace Parker raced to the sidelines to embrace her family, tears already in her eyes. Within minutes, “We Are the Champions” was belted out by a packed Wintrust Arena. For the first time, the Chicago Sky have won the WNBA title, and two hometown heroes came through to get the Sky this precious hardware with an 80-74 Game 4 victory over Phoenix.
“It was amazing to just hug my dad and my mom and my family,” Parker said. “It was just an amazing feeling to be from here and see so many people in the stands that have been supporting you since you started.”
Parker, who grew up in suburban Naperville, Illinois, starred at Tennessee where she won two NCAA titles and then was the No. 1 draft pick, MVP and Rookie of the Year in 2008. It took until 2016 for her to win her first WNBA title, with the Sparks, but she decided earlier this year to leave the only WNBA team she had played for and come home as a free agent.
Sunday, Parker had 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists. Meanwhile DePaul grad Allie Quigley of nearby Joliet, Illinois, led the Sky with 26 points, making five 3-pointers.
“Everything that this team went through the entire year prepared us for this,” Parker said. “We were down nine, we were down 11. We just got to stay with it, and that’s what we’ve done all season. I am so proud of this group, with our fight, next man up mentality.
“My high school coach is here … I mean, we got the whole city here and this is amazing how Chicago supports. I mean, we’re champions for life now.”
The Sky had to do this the hard way Sunday, trailing much of the game with the worry of having to return to Phoenix for Game 5 if they lost. With 5:25 left and the Sky down 70-65, the theme from “Rocky” was played over the loudspeaker. That’s a…
Source : espn
