SKY HIGH — The Weekly Opine

The sky cleared over Chicago as the city’s WNBA team won a championship. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Amazing grace

Last Sunday, the Chicago Sky concluded a most improbable season by winning the franchise’s first WNBA championship. Improbable because the Sky’s regular season record was a pedestrian 16 wins and 16 losses, mediocre by any standard. But then, defining what it means to peak when money is on the table, the Sky proved to be the league’s best team and, likely, most graceful, too.

After winning two single elimination playoff games, the Sky managed to make it look relatively easy as they defeated the #1 seed Connecticut Sun by three games to one. Last week, culminating with Sunday’s game, the Sky took out the 3-time champion Phoenix Mercury by the same count, three games to one.

This was just the second appearance in the finals for the Sky. During their first trip to the title round, back in 2014, the Sky lost to the Phoenix Mercury. Only two current Sky players were on the team in 2014; point guard Courtney Vandersloot and shooting guard Allie Quigley. (Btw, Vandersloot and Quigley are married, adding another cool dimension to the Sky.)

After years of trying to reassemble a championship caliber team, Sky ownership hired James Wade for the dual roles of general manager and head coach prior to the 2019 season. It was a great decision. Wade led the Sky to the 2019 playoffs and was named WNBA Coach-of-the-Year.

(L-R) Candace Parker dunking as a high school senior, huddling with legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summit, and shooting a scoop shot with the Chicago Sky. (Photo credit L-R Pinterest, The Tennessean, the New York Times)

Winning time

Wade, a man who checks his ego at the door, connected during an off-season dinner with perennial all-star Candace Parker, convincing her to leave Los Angeles and return to her hometown. Parker, who led the Los Angeles Sparks to the WNBA championship in 2016, and Chicago-area fans did a full embrace, further proving you can come home.

Without question, Parker is the foundation that elevated the Sky to their perch as WNBA champions. Her pedigree is impeccable. And now we witness Parker’s career come full circle, returning to the state where she became famous. Merriam-Webster could add a photo of Parker next to the word “winner.”

As a high schooler at Naperville Central, Parker led her team to two state championships, was named Illinois Player-of-the-Year three times and Illinois’ Ms. Basketball her senior year. Selected to participate in the prestigious McDonald’s All American Girls Game, Parker won the slam dunk contest, beating the McDonald’s All American boys in the process.

At Tennessee, playing for Hall-of-Fame coach Pat Summit, Parker led the Vols to two NCAA championships. In 2008, she was the #1 draft pick in the WNBA and earned Rookie-of-the-Year and Most Valuable Player honors in her first season with the L.A. Sparks. She is a 2-time Olympic gold medal winner who, unbelievably, was left off the 2016 team, after which Parker said she would never play for Team USA again (and she hasn’t).

During the final game last Sunday, Phoenix took a commanding 59-45 lead late in the 3rd quarter. Like the great ones do, Parker willed her team back into the game, scoring 9 consecutive points when it appeared the teams would be heading back to Phoenix to play a decisive Game 5.

(L-R) Chicago Sky coach James Wade and backcourt mates Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley. (Photo credit Chicago Sun-Times)

On point

Also without question is the fact that Courtney Vandersloot is as good at her craft as any point guard anywhere – male or female. People who know their sports know the offensive line is the most important unit in football. In basketball, the most important position on the team is point guard. If I were teaching young players – male or female – to play the point guard position I would have them watch film of Vandersloot.

Offering a lethal combination of toughness and intelligence, Vandersloot plays with grit, determination, and fearlessness. Time and again she delivers key steals, deft assists, or backbreaking (for her opponent) baskets – like her nifty spin move and score in the lane near the end of Sunday’s championship game. Along with Parker, Vandersloot is the “glue” on the Sky, a gifted competitor who does whatever it takes to win.

For basketball purists, the Sky (and the top women’s hoops teams at the professional and collegiate level) are fun to watch because they play fundamental ball better than the guys do. For example, women make free throws, and they pass the ball to wide-open teammates on 2-on-1 fast breaks, rather than selfishly trying to bulldoze their way to the basket the way too many guys do.

As we learned during the WNBA playoffs, the women have earned better treatment when it comes to travel accommodations, game scheduling and so on. League officials at the NBA, who deserve credit for launching the WNBA 25 years ago, deserve a scolding for not treating the women equally. Forcing Phoenix to play Game 1 of the championship series without time in their travel schedule to hold a real practice was shameful.

Wintrust Arena will be the latest Chicago pro sports venue to raise a championship banner, thanks to the Chicago Sky. (Photo credit The Weekly Opine)

Hoist another banner

During my time in Chicago, the Bears won the Super Bowl, the Bulls won six NBA titles, the Blackhawks won three Stanley Cups and the White Sox and Cubs each won a World Series crown. None of those titles was more riveting or more fun to watch than the 2021 WNBA champion Chicago Sky. During the past few weeks, yelling at the TV was in vogue just like during the glory days of the Bulls.

Chicago, in the news too often for gun violence, crooked politicians, and now the mayor versus the head of the Fraternal Order of Police, needs fun headlines and the Sky delivered a heady shot of civic pride.

Masks in the house

The fans at Wintrust Arena for Sunday’s game, and the other playoff games played at Wintrust Arena this year, were mostly wearing masks – at least compared to other sporting events. A stark contrast to the crowds at NFL games, baseball playoff games, and college football games featuring fans who seem happy to tempt fate. Give Chicago Sky fans a championship trophy for having sense enough to do the right thing.

Also give Sky fans credit for celebrating without the need to tear up the neighborhood. Sky fans understand that your team winning a championship is not a passport to turn over cars, loot, and burn stuff. The team was feted with a parade and rally that brought more joy to the city and continued a lovefest showing no signs of slowing down.

So, raise a glass to the Chicago Sky and their fans.