NFL
By: Zachary Draves
Chicago’s favorite daughter has returned and she and her team didn’t disappoint.
Even in the presence of a tiny crowd due to COVID that included current WNBA commissioner Cathy Englebert, Candace Parker, who’s returning from an injured hamstring. and the Chicago Sky rekindled with that spirit, drive, and energy that makes them a team to be reckoned with long term.
Before the game against the Indiana Fever, Commissioner Englebert spoke briefly about the current state of the league on everything from expansion to social justice to the league’s 25th anniversary.
On the anniversary side, she spoke about how far the league has come and what it represents.
“When you’re in business you don’t really have time to reflect” she said.
“We have so much to celebrate but we want to accomplish more and capitalize on women’s sports.”
As for the game itself, the Sky got on a roll and never relented, winning 92-76.
The highlights included:
- For the second time this season, the Sky did not trail at any point during the game. Its biggest lead of the night was 17. The other game in which the Sky did not trail this season was against the Atlanta Dream on May 19.
- The 92 points scored by the Sky was a new season-high. Its previous season-high came on May 23 when Chicago scored 85 in a loss to New York.
- Candace Parker made her return to the starting lineup tonight. In her first game at Wintrust in a Sky uniform, the forward notched two assists, moving her level with Dawn Staley on the league’s all-time assist list (1,377 assists, 13th overall).
- Chicago had five players (Courtney Vandersloot, Stefanie Dolson, Kahleah Copper, Allie Quigley, and Azura Stevens) score in double-figures in tonight’s win.
- Tonight was the first Sky win at Wintrust Arena since its playoff victory against Phoenix on Sept. 11, 2019.
The Sky ended a seven-game losing streak in the process.
CP3 returning gave the team a much-needed boost and that was felt all around.
“We are excited to have her back and it is gonna take some time” said Courtney Vandersloot.
She also spoke of some crucial takeaways from this game going forward.
“Scoring in the ’90s was huge. That is something we can build from” she said.
“We scored the basketball well and there are some things we are going to clean up defensively.”
Even with talent feeling the brunt of injury as well as Olympic commitments, the Sky gave the Windy City a much-needed cool breeze.
The Sky (4-7) concluded their series against the Fever with a 83-79 victory in Indiana on June 12.
They face the Minnesota Lynx (3-5) on Tuesday, June 15 at 8:00p CT from the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn
