Photo: Getty Images
Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury by a score of 80-74 on Sunday to win their first WNBA title in franchise history. The Chicago Sky were led by Courtney Vandersloot, who had 15 assists, and 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, who scored 10 points. Assisting in the Sky's victory, Chicago native Candace Parker pulled in 13 rebounds along with 16 points. Fellow Chicago native Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat Guard Victor Oladipo and several other members of the NBA community congratulated the basketball star on winning a ring in her hometown.
"Legend! Candace Parker went home and got that chip! Congrats to the Chicago Sky on winning y'all first [championship]," Wade tweeted.
"Congrats Candace Parker and the Chicago Sky. That was fun to watch," NBA star Steph Curry added.
Parker was not the only Illinois native to celebrate the Sky's first championship. Allie Quigley, a native of Joliet, also scored 26 points in the team's game four victory. Alongside her wife, Courtney Vandersloot, the two made WNBA history as the first couple to win a championship while playing on the same team.
"I mean, it's huge. It's what you dream of," Quigley told reporters after Sunday's win.
"We put ourselves in this position, so we've got to take advantage of this opportunity. Just do the little things, just go play by play, moment by moment, be detailed, work hard, just want it more than them. I mean, we've just got to do what we're supposed to do, nothing out of ourselves, just be our best."
The Chicago Sky will continue to celebrate its championship win on Tuesday. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has announced that the city will host a parade for the Sky on Tuesday at Millennium Park.
"It'll be tomorrow and we'll get the details out later today and I really encourage everyone to come," Lightfoot told ABC 7 in Chicago.
"My daughter's already lobbied, she's taken a day off school to be able to be there. I think it'll be a great crowd."
Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.