Chicago Sky overcomes Phoenix for first WNBA championship

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Finally, the first-ever WNBA championship for Windy City.

After a series of heartbreaks and disappointments, the Chicago Sky stayed together and went to live by their mantra “never say die, just keep on going” and outlasted the gritty Phoenix Mercury squad, 80-74, in Game 4 of the WNBA Finals.

Entering the WNBA playoffs as the sixth-seed, WNBA analysts and critics had low expectations for the Candace Parker-led team.

However, all the doubters and haters were quickly silenced after Chicago cruised through the WNBA playoffs, eliminating the no. 3 seed Minnesota Lynx and the no. 1 team in the league, the Connecticut Sun during the semifinals.

It wasn’t an easy task as well in the WNBA finals as Chicago set up a showdown against the veteran-studded Phoenix Mercury team.

Phoenix had all the tools to win the coveted title as their core of Brittney Grinner, Brianna Turner, Skylar Diggins-Smith, and Diana Taurasi was still intact but Chicago had other plans and completely outshone them in all facets of the game since Game 1.

Mercury managed to win a single game during an overtime victory in Game 2 but Chicago stormed back and won the next two games.

Allie Quigley played a great game after lifting Chicago with 26 huge points while Parker continued to be efficient after chipping in with 16 points and 13 rebounds.

This was already Chicago’s second trip to the WNBA Finals and made sure they will win it this time after a disappointing loss way back in the 2014 season.