Sabrina Ionescu Leads Liberty to Game 1 Comeback Win vs. Candace Parker, Sky
Aug 18, 2022
CHICAGO, IL - AUGUST 17: New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) in action during the first half of a WNBA first round game between the New York Liberty and the Chicago Sky on August 17, 2022, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The defending champions are officially on the ropes.
The New York Liberty stunned the Chicago Sky with a 98-91 victory on the road in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series at Wintrust Arena on Wednesday. Since the first round is a best-of-three affair, Chicago will need to win two straightโincluding a decisive Game 3 on the roadโto preserve its title defense.
It seemed as if the Sky would cruise to a victory with a 91-85 lead with less than four minutes remaining, but New York closed the game on a 13-0 run.
Sabrina Ionescu led the way with a three-pointer and pull-up during that sequence and finished with 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and two steals behind 8-of-12 shooting from the field.
Her performance drew plenty of reaction:
All year, Sandy Brondello has compared Sabrina Ionescu to Diana Taurasi. On the road, in the playoffs, you can see why. #WNBAPlayoffs@TheNextHoops
Ionescu used her speed to push the pace and was a willing passer whenever Chicago trapped and doubled her. Yet it was far from a solo effort, as Natasha Howard poured in 22 points while playing strong, physical defense throughout the contest.
Stefanie Dolson was also a matchup problem with her ability to stretch the floor from the frontcourt and added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Betnijah Laney did a little bit of everything on her way to 17 points, six rebounds and five assists.
It was a rather shocking finish considering almost all of Chicago's star-studded roster seemed to be playing well for most of the game. Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper and Azurรก Stevens all impressed at times, and the veteran group looked well on the way to another clutch playoff performance.
And then the Sky collapsed down the stretch.
The Liberty will look to close the series out in Chicago in Game 2 on Saturday.
Kelsey Plum Dominant as Aces Beat Sky to Win 2022 Commissioner's Cup
Jul 27, 2022
CHICAGO, IL - JULY 26: Jackie Young #0 hi-fives Kelsey Plum #10 of the Las Vegas Aces during the WNBA Commissioner's Cup Game on July 26, 2022 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Las Vegas Aces used a dominant first quarter to take a 93-83 victory over the Chicago Sky in the 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup on Tuesday. Kelsey Plum led the way with 24 points, six assists and two steals.
With the win, the Aces take home the $500,000 prize pool with each player on the team set to receive around $30,000. Chelsea Gray scored 19 points and was named Commissioner's Cup MVP, which earned her an additional $5,000.
The Sky were led by Candace Parker, who had a team-high 20 points and 14 rebounds. Emma Meesseman and Kahleah Copper each added 18 points. Chicago players were awarded around $10,000 each.
Plum started the game with three triples to spark a 13-0 run for Las Vegas. The Aces put the game out of reach in the opening period, taking a 33-14 lead after the first quarter. The Sky never held a lead in the entire game.
In addition to Plum's scorching play Tuesday, Jackie Young added 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting. A'ja Wilson was an absolute force with 17 points, 17 rebounds and six blocks.
Chicago eventually cut the deficit to under 10 points late in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.
The Commissioner's Cup was implemented in 2021 as an in-season tournament for the first half of the year. The Aces and Sky both went 9-1 in the 10 designated Cup games in order to reach Tuesday's final.
The second half of the 2022 WNBA season is set to begin Thursday night. The Aces and Sky will both be back in action Friday.
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Allie Quigley #14 of the Chicago Sky is presented with the MTN Dew 3-Point Contest Trophy during the AT&T WNBA All-Star Game 2021 on July 14, 2021 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by David Becker/NBAE via Getty Images)
The WNBA's three-point queen will be back to defend her crown.
Three-time champion Allie Quigley headlines the field for the 2022 Three-Point Contest in Chicago on Saturday. The Chicago Sky guard might only shooting 34.2 percent from beyond the arc this year, but her reputation speaks for itself.
Five others will look to outshine Quigley in the Windy City:
2022 WNBA Three-Point Contest Field
Ariel Atkins, Washington Mystics
Rhyne Howard, Atlanta Dream
Jewell Loyd, Seattle Storm
Arike Ogunbowale, Dallas Wings
Kelsey Plum, Las Vegas Aces
Allie Quigley, Chicago Sky
Based on current form, the Las Vegas Aces' Kelsey Plum is the strongest contender in the field. She's averaging a league-high 3.2 made threes per game and knocking down 42.0 percent of her long-range jumpers.
The 2017 No. 1 overall has steadily improved over her WNBA career, and the arrival of head coach Becky Hammon has allowed her to finally hit her offensive game to reach new heights.
The Seattle Storm's Jewell Loyd and Dallas Wings' Arike Ogunbowale will be formidable challengers as well.
Neither is a dead-eye shooter from the perimeter. Loyd is a 38.7 percent three-point shooter this year while Ogunbowale is slightly worse at 37.2 percent. But both are capable of catching fire on the right night.
Loyd was 6-of-8 from deep in an 85-71 win over the Washington Mystics on June 23. On the same night, Ogunbowale went 6-of-9 as the Wings hammered the Indiana Fever 94-68.
Marine Johannes of the New York Liberty and Lexie Brown of the Los Angeles Sparks headline the biggest omissions from this year's Three-Point Contest.
France international Johannes has only appeared in nine games for the Liberty after returning to the team in June. During that time, though, her threes percentage has been high, succesfully shooting 47.4 percent of her shots from the three-point line.
Brown, meanwhile, is enjoying her best year to date, fueled partially by her significantly improved shooting. She's knocking down threes at a 45.9 percentage after having never finished a year at better than 38.5.
Sabrina Ionescu Ties Candace Parker's Career WNBA Triple-Doubles Record vs. Liberty
Jul 7, 2022
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) reacts against the Connecticut Sun in the second half during a WNBA basketball game, Saturday, May 7, 2022, in New York. The Liberty won 81-79. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu
is back level with Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker atop the WNBA's
all-time triple-double leaderboard after tallying 31 points, 13
rebounds and 10 assists in Wednesday's road win over the Las Vegas
Aces.
Ionescu and Parker each have three
triple-doubles, with the Sky star holding the record to herself for
just two weeks after regaining the top spot on June 23.
The Liberty cornerstone answered back
with a spectacular performance that saw her become the first WNBA
player to accomplish two feats as part of a triple-double: at least
30 points and no turnovers, per ESPN's Mechelle Voepel.
"I'm just trying to be the best
that I can every time I step out on the floor," Ionescu said. "It's
me versus me. I'm trying to get better and continue to learn from all
the situations that I've been put in."
Ionescu is in the midst of a breakout
season, averaging 17.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.1
steals across 21 appearances.
It's the type of All-Star play that was
expected when the Liberty selected her with the first overall pick in
the 2020 draft, but she was limited to three games as a rookie
because of an ankle injury and then endured an up-and-down 2021 season.
Now she's playing like an MVP
candidate, though she's more focused on trying to help the Liberty
turn a corner after a sluggish start to the campaign.
"As long as we win, it doesn't
matter, but I'm trying to be the best that I can in all aspects of
the game," Ionescu told reporters after Wednesday's victory.
New York currently sits ninth in the
WNBA standings with a 9-12 record, and the top eight squads qualify
for the playoffs. The team has 15 games left in the regular season.
Although there's plenty of time left
for movement up the standingsโthe Liberty are just one game
behind sixthโit's worth pointing out the Sky sit atop the WNBA
with a 15-6 mark, creating a path to a possible first-round showdown
between Ionescu and Parker.
For now, they'll probably spend the
remainder of the campaign trading the triple-double record back and
forth.
Sky to Face Aces in 2022 WNBA Commissioner's Cup Finals for $500K Prize Pool
Jun 19, 2022
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 28: A'ja Wilson #22 of the Las Vegas Aces shoots the ball during the game against the Chicago Sky on May 28, 2022 at Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Chicago Sky will play the Las Vegas Aces on July 26 in the second edition of the WNBA Commissioner's Cup final.
The Connecticut Sun lost 71-63 to the Washington Mystics, which meant nobody from the Eastern Conference could catch the Chicago Sky after they won their first eight cup games. The Aces had already secured the Western Conference's cup final berth.
The Commissioner's Cup boasts tangible stakes for those involved. Members of the winning team can earn up to $30,000 per player, and those on the losing team can collect as much as $10,000 per player.
"I do love that there's extra incentive for the players," Aces head coach Becky Hammon told reporters. "Anytime the league can throw a little bit of extra cash the players' way, I'm all for it."
The league probably couldn't have asked for a much better matchup, either.
The Sky own the WNBA's third-best record (10-5) as they continue the defense of their 2021 title. Kahleah Copper, who reported to the team late because of overseas commitments, is averaging a team-high 13.7 points to go along with 5.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists. In what's potentially her last season, Candace Parker continues filling up the stat sheet as well. She's averaging 12.4 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.5 assists per contest.
On the other side sit the Aces, who have been by far the strongest team of 2022. Las Vegas ranks first in net rating (12.2), per WNBA.com, and boasts a trio of potential MVP candidates in A'ja Wilson, Jackie Young and Kelsey Plum.
Hammering the Sun by 22 points in the inaugural Commissioner's Cup final seemingly reaffirmed the Seattle Storm's credentials in 2021 but proved to be a mirage. Seattle slumped to the finish line before losing to the Phoenix Mercury in the second round.
Beating the Sky in this year's final won't guarantee the Aces are crowned champions in the fall, but a one-sided victory over Chicago will send a clear message to the rest of the league.
Sky's Candace Parker Becomes Oldest Player in WNBA History to Record Triple-Double
May 22, 2022
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MAY 18: Candace Parker #3 of the Chicago Sky looks on against the Seattle Storm during the first half at Climate Pledge Arena on May 18, 2022 in Seattle, Washington. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Candace Parker is still making history at 36 years old.
The Chicago Sky star notched a triple-double of 16 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in Sunday's 82-73 victory over the Washington Mystics. She became the oldest player in WNBA history to finish with a triple-double and just the third player to accomplish the feat multiple times in a career.
Chicago trailed by four at halftime but took over after intermission thanks in large part to Parker's ability to impact the game in so many ways.
The only thing still in doubt in the final minute was whether she would get the 10th assist necessary to reach the triple-double, and it was fitting it came on a dish to Courtney Vandersloot. After all, the veteran point guard is one of the only other two WNBA players with multiple triple-doubles in a career.
The legendary Sheryl Swoopes is the other one.
Parker's performance helped propel the Sky to 3-2 on the season, but the defending champions are just starting to round into form. Sunday was Kahleah Copper's first game of the season because she was playing overseas.
The 2021 WNBA Finals MVP scored 12 points in her debut, while Allie Quigley, Emma Meesseman, Azura Stevens and Rebekah Gardner all scored in double figures as well in a balanced offensive effort on the road.
Attention now turns to Tuesday's home game against the Indiana Fever when the Sky will celebrate their championship by revealing the rings and the banner.
If Parker plays like she did Sunday, she will give the crowd yet another thing to celebrate.
Report: Chicago Expected to Host 2022 WNBA All-Star Game on July 10
Apr 7, 2022
Team WNBA's Arike Ogunbowale holds up the MVP trophy after Team WNBA defeated United States in a WNBA All-Star basketball game, Wednesday, July 14, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Chicago will host the WNBA All-Star Game for the first time ever, per Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times.
The game will take place Sunday, July 10, from Wintrust Arena, the home of the defending WNBA champion Chicago Sky.
"Details still need to be formalized before the league announces the game," Costabile reported. "Plans are already in the works for venues to host parties and events, a source said, but companies are staying quiet about details until the league makes the game official."
Last year's All-Star Game featured Team USA taking on a team of WNBA All-Stars. The WNBA won 93-85 behind 26 points from MVP Arike Ogunbowale.
The All-Star Game dots a revamped WNBA schedule that features numerous changes from previous years.
For starters, each team will play a league-record 36 games, up from 32 last year. There will also be "series play" to reduce travel, whereas a road team may play back-to-back games against the home team.
In addition, the gauntlet-style playoff bracket from last year has been scrapped. Eight of the league's 12 teams will still make the playoffs, but it's now a knockout-style bracket with the No. 1 seed playing No. 8, No. 2 playing No. 7 and so on.
The first round will have best-of-three series, and the semifinals and finals will be best-of-five.
This year's schedule will kick off with four games on Friday, May 6. The first one features the Indiana Fever visiting the Washington Mystics.
Candace Parker, Wife Anna Petrakova Announce Birth of Son Airr Larry Petrakov Parker
Feb 18, 2022
Chicago Sky center Candace Parker (3) during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Chicago Sky star Candace Parker announced Friday that she and wife Anna Petrakova welcomed a son on Feb. 11.
Parker posted a photo of herself, Petrakova and Parker's daughter from her previous marriage to former Duke and NBA center Shelden Williams, Lailaa, gathered around the newborn baby.
The 35-year-old Parker included the caption: "Airr Larry Petrakov Parker 2-11-22. We are in absolute love and utter appreciation that Goose chose us. Welcome to the fam SON."
Parker and Petrakova, who played together on Russian basketball team UMMC Ekaterinburg from 2012-15, have been married since 2019.
While the 37-year-old Petrakova has never played in the WNBA, she is a veteran player overseas and represented Russia at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
Parker is widely considered one of the greatest women's basketball players of all time, having won two WNBA MVP awards, two WNBA championships and a WNBA Finals MVP in addition to back-to-back NCAA titles, two Wooden Awards and the Naismith College Player of the Year award with the Tennessee Lady Vols
She played for the Los Angeles Sparks from 2008-20 and signed with the Sky before the 2021 season, leading them to their first championship.
Parker is also a highly decorated Olympian, winning gold medals for Team USA in 2008 and 2012.
Report: Courtney Vandersloot, Sky Agree to New Contract After Winning 2021 WNBA Title
Feb 12, 2022
Chicago Sky guard Courtney Vandersloot (22) during the first half of Game 2 of basketball's WNBA Finals against the Phoenix Mercury, Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
The defending WNBA champions are reportedly getting their star point guard back.
ESPN's Mechelle Voepel reported that the Chicago Sky and Courtney Vandersloot agreed to a one-year deal on Friday.
Whether Vandersloot and fellow guard Allie Quigley would return was the biggest question going into Chicago's offseason. Vandersloot is half of the equation, and WNBA insider Khristina Williams reported Quigley, who is also the point guard's wife, is "almost there" in regard to reaching a deal with the team.
It has been a busy offseason for the Sky.
They signed Rebekah Gardner, Kamiah Smalls and Kysre Gondrezick to training camp contracts, added Crystal Bradford via a regular contract and traded for Julie Allemand. Still, Vandersloot remained the biggest domino.
The Gonzaga product averaged 10.5 points, 8.6 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game during the regular season before elevating her game during the championship run in the playoffs.
She posted 13.0 points, 10.2 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 0.8 blocks a night while shooting 51.0 percent from the field in the playoffs. Vandersloot had a triple-double with 18 assists in Game 1 of the series against the Connecticut Sun and finished with double-digit assists in all four of the WNBA Finals games against the Phoenix Mercury while squaring off with Diana Taurasi.
Going head-to-head with the all-time great and ending up with the championship cemented Vandersloot's status as a Chicago legend, and she will look to add to that status with back-to-back titles after returning.
The Sky figure to be on the shortlist of realistic contenders, with Vandersloot, Candace Parker and Kahleah Copper leading the way.
