We've had people that wanted to be out of Chicago. 3 draft pick in 2011, Vandersloot said throughout the organization's ups and downs - which included stars Sylvia Fowles and Elena Delle Donne forcing trades to leave the Sky - she kept believing. The longest-tenured Sky player, Vandersloot was with Chicago previously when it made the WNBA Finals, in 2014. But Parker being in the lineup makes a world of difference. After opening with two victories, Chicago lost its next seven, and coach James Wade admitted that he was questioning himself. The record was in part because Parker missed nine games this season dealing with injury. The hard part that Parker alluded to? A 16-16 regular-season record, making the Sky just the third team in WNBA history to make the Finals with a record of. The fit was instantaneous from both personality and playing-style perspectives. With her 35th birthday looming in April, Parker opted in February to leave the Sparks, the only WNBA team she had played for, and sign with the Sky. Last year, she was the league's defensive player of the year. She won another MVP award in 2013 and a WNBA championship in 2016. 1 by the Los Angeles Sparks in 2008, when she was both MVP and rookie of the year. Parker grew up in suburban Naperville, Illinois, won two NCAA titles at Tennessee and then was drafted No. That's what it means to us for her to come here and come home." She was going to take us to this point that we are right here. And it was Candace Parker," Vandersloot said. Sky point guard Courtney Vandersloot, one of those responsible for sending Chicago culinary favorites to lure Parker during free agency, said the Sky wanted her just as much. After playing against them for so many years, I wanted to be a part of it." You get knocked down, and you get back up. "We have a bunch of people who get back up. We're sitting here, and this is great, but it was hard this year. "This is a special group," Parker said after the Sky's 79-69 victory over Connecticut in Game 4 of their semifinal series, which put them into the WNBA Finals. But it was the hunger for another WNBA championship that truly lured Parker back to her hometown. Hometown hero Candace Parker leads Chicago Sky to WNBA Finals over Connecticut SunĬHICAGO - Candace Parker laughed Wednesday about the food deliveries she got in January from her prospective Sky teammates to convince her she should come home to Chicago. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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