By Dorothy J. Gentry
On Sunday, James Wade, the head coach of the Chicago Sky, became the third Black head coach in WNBA history to win a WNBA championship when his team defeated the Phoenix Mercury 80-74 in Game 4 of the best of 5 series.
It is the first championship for the WNBA team and fitting that they won it at home in Chicago’s Wintrust Arena in front of their fans. Kahleah Copper was named Finals MVP
The Sky were led all year by Candace Parker, a Chicago native, who has now won two WNBA titles in her career. She won in 2016 with the Los Angeles Sparks. Parker signed with the Sky in free agency last spring. She finished the game with 16 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
“Everything that this team went through the entire year prepared us for this,” Parker said.” We were down nine, we were down 11. We just got to stay with it, and that’s what we’ve done all season. I am so proud of this group, with our fight, next man up mentality.
“My high school coach is here …I mean, we got the whole city here and this is amazing how Chicago supports. I mean, we’re champions for life now.”
