When LeBron James returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers, after winning two championships with the Miami Heat, the pressure was on. James needed to bring the Cavs their first title in his initial year back after his departure. We can say the same for Candace Parker.
Parker, a Naperville, Illinois native, made her return to Chicago after 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks. Now, the pressure is on for Parker to lead the Chicago Sky to their first WNBA championship.
“I think I’m at my best when I’m rebounding.” –@Candace_Parker
— The Sky Show CHI (@TheSkyShowCHI) September 23, 2021
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Thursday, the Chicago Sky start their quest for their franchise’s first-ever WNBA championship. To do that, they must beat a young Dallas Wings team who took the season series from Chicago. In three games, the Wings won the final two; most recently a close 80-76 victory on August 17. Parker injured her ankle in that loss, scoring only two points.
Head Coach James Wade said Parker would be the best player on the floor for Chicago, come playoff time. Chicago will need her to do just that if they want to stay in the title hunt.
It’s clear that with Parker, the Sky is a better unit on the floor. However, having her hasn’t stopped the Sky from having an inconsistent season.
Chicago needs Parker to play like the Candace Parker of old. To do that, Wade needs to get her going early against Arike Ogunbowale and Dallas.
To move onto the next elimination round, Chicago needs to cut down on their turnovers and mental mistakes during the game.
Outside of two coaches on the bench, Wade and assistant Tonya Edwards, Parker is the only player on the roster with WNBA Finals experience.
Parker’s said on many occasions that she plays her best under pressure. Well, the pressure of the playoffs is here. For the Chicago Sky to make a deep playoff run, Parker has to be their ace.
Chicago starts their playoffs tonight, against the Dallas Wings. The single-elimination playoff game will air live on ESPN2. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET.
Follow Beyond Women’s Sports for coverage throughout the WNBA Playoffs. Also, follow Nov on Twitter at @WNBAUncut.
