Since 2006 the Sky have fought to gain a foothold in Chicago’s basketball space to no avail. Tuesday, Chicago celebrated its first professional basketball championship since 1998 marking a turning point in the Sky’s pursuit.
Silver anniversaries deserve sterling silver hardware and the Sky understood that assignment. In the WNBA’s 25th anniversary season, the Sky made a playoff push that had them knocking on their first WNBA Finals door since 2014. They busted that door down, winning the franchise’s first-ever title on Sunday. The celebration Tuesday fit the historic moment. When the team met the thousands of fans who awaited them at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion after a championship parade up Michigan Avenue, Sky coach/general manager James Wade had a message. “Remember the seat you’re sitting in,” Wade said standing at center stage. “We’re gonna make sure you’re sitting in the same one next year.” Courtney Vandersloot walked into Wintrust Arena Tuesday morning wearing black sunglasses and a boot on her left foot. The sunglasses were maybe a style choice or maybe part of a hangover cure. The boot she wore as a precaution for her plantar fascia. She looked tired but joyful from celebrating and the Sky’s first-ever WNBA Championship clinching win over the Phoenix Mercury on Sunday evening. Candace Parker walked in side by side with her daughter, Lailaa, and WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper was right behind them. Two short days ago, Wintrust Arena was getting prepped to welcome 10,378 fans who would bear witness to the Sky’s 80-74, come-from-behind win over the Mercury.
