Sun shut down Candace Parker, Sky to take tight Game 1 win
Candace Parker did nearly every thing in her energy to steer the Sky to a win on Sunday night time.
It simply wasn’t fairly sufficient.
The Connecticut Solar fended off an enormous fourth-quarter push, and a historic outing for Parker, to beat the Sky 68-63 in Sport 1 of their semifinals sequence at Wintrust Enviornment.
After a dominant third quarter that restricted Chicago to simply 12 factors as a staff, the Solar held an eight-point lead — the biggest of the sport — and appeared poised to roll to the end.
The Sky, nevertheless, had different plans. Parker, who performed in each second of the ultimate two quarters, pushed Chicago to an 11-2 run and tied issues proper again up halfway by the fourth quarter. Issues even bought a bit chippy throughout that run, too, and followers noticed what needs to be the longest soar ball seen all 12 months.
That run, nevertheless, didn’t final for much longer. The Solar lastly discovered a solution for Parker and held Chicago scoreless for the ultimate 2:11 of the sport. That allowed them to push to the five-point win and the early 1-0 sequence lead.
The Solar had began the night time in an early gap, too however responded with an enormous 11-0 run that spanned nearly 4 minutes to take a short lead after the primary quarter. The 2 groups then entered halftime tied up at 34 after an enormous 20 minutes from Parker, who had 9 factors and eight rebounds on the break. Although the Sky had loads of moments the place they appeared poised to interrupt away, they’d seven first-half turnovers that resulted in 11 factors for the Solar and stored issues shut.
Chicago star Courtney Vandersloot lastly bought on the board a couple of minutes into the third quarter after sinking a 3 pointer from the highest of the important thing, which gave the Sky a short lead. That, nevertheless, disappeared in a matter of minutes after a 12-0 Solar run powered by deep buckets from each Natisha Hiedeman and DeWanna Bonner.
That run gave them an eight-point lead, which was the biggest of the sport to date. The Solar ended the third on a 14-2 run in whole and held Chicago to simply 12 factors within the interval.
Bonner led the Solar with 15 factors and 9 rebounds, and he or she was considered one of 4 gamers to attain in double figures within the win. Alyssa Thomas dropped 12 factors and 10 rebounds, and each Jonquel Jones and Brionna Jones added 12 factors, too. Regardless of capturing nearly 23% from the 3-point line, the Solar pressured 11 turnovers and out-rebounded Chicago by 11.
Parker led the Sky with 19 factors and 18 rebounds in a historic outing for the 36-year-old — who grew to become the primary participant in league historical past to have 15 factors, 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 blocks in a playoff sport.
Kahleah Copper, who turned 28 on Sunday, added 13 factors for Chicago and Meesseman completed with 10 factors. They had been the one three to attain in double figures for the Sky.
WNBA semifinal schedule
Sport 1: Sun 68, Sky 63
Sport 2, Wednesday: Connecticut at Chicago, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Sport 3, Sunday, Sept. 4: Chicago at Connecticut, 1 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Sport 4*, Tuesday Sept. 6: Chicago at Connecticut, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Sport 5*, Thursday Sept. 8: Connecticut at Chicago, 8 p.m ET, ESPN2
*If Needed
