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PHOENIX — The Chicago Sky had the talent to make deep runs into the WNBA playoffs the past few years, yet lacked the missing piece to reach the WNBA Finals
Candace Parker’s decision to return home to Chicago filled the hole in the Sky, giving them the calming veteran presence they had needed.
Parker calmed Chicago after a shaky start and scored 16 points, lifting the Sky to a 91-77 win over the tired Phoenix Mercury in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals on Sunday.
“Everybody had first-game jitters except Candace,” Kahleah Copper said. “She was that calmness for us.”
Those jitters put the Sky into an early hole as they clanged shots and were slow on defensive rotations. Calmed by the words of Parker and coach James Wade, Chicago took control with a 21-2 run spanning halftime to go up 17.
Chicago kept up the pace from there, shooting 53% from the floor and making all 11 of its free throws.
Copper led the Sky with 21 points and Allie Quigley added 18. Courtney Vandersloot was the offensive orchestrator, finishing with 12 points, 11 assists and no turnovers.
Parker held it all together while hitting 7 of 10 shots and grabbing eight rebounds to give Chicago home-court advantage in the best-of-five series.
Game 2 is Wednesday in Phoenix.
“I don’t think I understood when I was younger is that you have to be the calm for the storm and you have to be the storm when everyone’s calm,” Parker said.
The Mercury played without guards Kia Nurse (torn ACL) and Sophie Cunningham (left calf strain). They also had a short turnaround after clinching the semifinals Friday in Las Vegas while the Sky had three days off after taking down Connecticut.
The lack of depth and rest hurt the Mercury against one of the WNBA’s best offensive teams, leaving them a step behind most of the game after a good start.
Brittney Griner had 20 points and Diana Taurasi 17 for the Mercury, who pulled within eight late before running out of steam and time.
“I don’t want to make excuses, but we were fatigued,” Mercury coach…
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Source : espn
