The Chicago Sky feel good when they step on their home court at Wintrust Arena. A place that has hosted some special moments, including the biggest one of them all last October when they pulled off an unconventional and memorable title run.
They are embraced by a vibrant and devoted fan base that is there for them every step of the way and were on hand to witness them close things out at home against the Seattle Storm before the official start of the WNBA Playoffs on August 17. It also happened to be fan appreciation night and Sue Bird’s last game in Chicago as she will officially retire at season’s end.
Coming into this game, the Sky had much to feel good about at exactly the right moment. They have the best record in the league, the most wins they have had in franchise history, their top players are healthy, and they have won five out of their last six games. In their last two victories against the Mystics and Sun, their vigorous offense scored over 90 points and in each contest multiple players such as Candace Parker, Emma Messeman, and Kahleah Copper, obtained double-digit points.
They have never looked better and at this point, it would be an utter shock if Chicago didn’t make it back to the Finals, let alone repeat given how stacked they are with talent from top to bottom.
The storied Storm are lined with veterans have already clinched a playoff spot but have been struggling as of late. Despite a 35-point onslaught by Breanna Stewart, they endured an 89-81 loss against the Western Conference leading Las Vegas Aces. They are also dealing with their head coach Noelle Quinn being absent due to COVID. Even with one of the best defenses in the league that has been able to keep the Sky at bay at times, holding them to 74.5 points per game compared to their 86.2, it was expected to be a struggle as they vie for home court advantage in the playoffs.
The anticipation of another Sky victory was palpable in the Windy City and as our beloved Dorothy once decreed, “There’s no place like home.”
From the start, Chicago tried to come out of the gates storming as normal, but they may not have anticipated that Seattle would halt them in their tracks so effectively. They made good plays on offense and found great openings in the paint off the screen for easy baskets, but their defense wasn’t always able to provide enough coverage at the other end.
With 4:02 left in the first quarter, the Storm led 20-16. The Sky were 64 percent from the…
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