Sunday afternoon, the Chicago Sky took game one of the WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury after beating them 91-77.
The Sky stole game one on the road which is huge if you are a Chicago fan. Sunday’s victory is Chicago’s first WNBA Finals victory in franchise history.
Phoenix got off to a hot start in the first quarter as they closed it out leading Chicago 25-20.
Needless to say, the rest of the game swung in favor of Chicago who dominated the paint all night. The Sky finished the night with six players in double figures. All five starters finished the game in double-digits which will be needed as the series continues.
.@Candace_Parker was HYPED 🔥 during Game 1 of the #WNBAFinals presented by @YouTubeTV
— WNBA (@WNBA) October 11, 2021
She finished the night with 16 PTS (7-of-10 shooting), and 8 REB’s 🎯
..AND had to let @LisaLeslie know she takes charges now 🤣 pic.twitter.com/YMbf3hUUnD
Both teams tried to assert their will in the paint but Chicago won that battle. The Sky outscored the Mercury 48 to 32 in the paint.
Let’s take a look at some key takeaways from Sunday’s game one win:
WNBA Finals: Chicago Sky Stand Up
The Sky’s starting five scored double digits which set the tone for the game. Kahleah Copper finished the game with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists. Allie Quigley (18 points), Candace Parker (16 points), Courtney Vandersloot (12 points), and Azurá Stevens (10 points) all chipped in to the team’s high-powered offense.
In addition to their outstanding offense, Chicago outrebounded Phoenix 34 to 29 which speaks volumes. The Sky has a smaller frontcourt than the Mercury, which features Brittney Griner (BG) at the anchor.
Need some Monday morning highlights?#skytown came to PLAY in Phoenix for Game 1 yesterday. pic.twitter.com/RMQl228jMJ
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) October 11, 2021
Chicago’s small-ball lineup causes problems for Phoenix because BG has to play the pick-and-roll and defend outside the paint. The Sky have multiple players who can handle the ball and slash to the rim.
WNBA Finals: Phoenix Mercury Offensive Woes
At the end of game one, Mercury’s big three finished in double figures. Griner finished the game with 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists. Diana Taurasi finished the game with 17 points, while Skylar Diggins-Smith cashed in 15 points.
Outside of the big three no one else scored in double digits. For Phoenix to have a chance at the title, they need contributions from the bench.
On the other side, the Mercury are playing without Kia Nurse who is a lockdown defender and solid three-point shooter.
That transition 🤯#skytown pic.twitter.com/LuM3ymYak4
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) October 10, 2021
Another player that the team is missing is Sophie Cunningham who is day-to-day with a calf injury. The good news is that the team could have Cunningham back in the line-up for game two.
Diamond DeShields
Obviously, the Sky will take any win on the road, but it’s scary to think that Diamond DeShields has not had a break-out game yet.
DeShields is clearly a franchise talent but she has struggled in the postseason. The emergence of Copper causes DeShields to defer at times.
Not to mention the addition of CP3 is another adjustment for DeShields. But great scorers always find their ways out of a slump.
The last time DeShields scored double-digits in the postseason was in round two against the Dallas Wings. Despite a troubled post-season, Chicago fans should expect a breakout game soon.
Game three of the WNBA Finals will take place Wednesday at 9:00 pm on ESPN.
As the WNBA Finals continue to unfold, follow me on Twitter @ZackeryRogers13 for more WNBA content.
