It is the No. 3-seeded Sun’s fourth Finals berth and will face the No. 1 Las Vegas Aces. Game 1 of the WNBA Finals begins Sunday in Las Vegas (3 p.m. ET, ABC). Both franchises are going for their first titles. The loss in Chicago ends the Sky’s bid for a repeat championship, which would have been the first since the Los Angeles Sparks in 2001-02. Chicago, the No. 2 seed this year, shocked the top-seeded Sun in the 2021 semifinals as the No. 6 seed. Connecticut held Chicago scoreless for the final 4:41 of the game and went on an 18-0 run, the longest scoring streak to close a playoff game, according to ESPN Stats and Information. They had 25 assists on 27 baskets, a franchise record and the second-highest mark in playoff history, per Positive Residual. It is the first time in WNBA history that a team has had five players record at least 12 points, three rebounds, two assists and one block. All five Sun starters hit those marks, led by “The Engine” Alyssa Thomas’ 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists. Jonquel Jones, the 2021 MVP, had 15 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and two blocks.
The controversial dynamic of the no-call game
The layup came with less than four minutes to play in a nine-point game, 63-54. Cooper fouled Bonner on the layup, and as Bonner called “and-1” as the ball went away, Cooper shoved her in the chest with her right hand. They started jawing and Bonner pushed Happer’s hand away. Bonner eventually pulled away, Jones went back to Copper and Sky’s teammates went inside. The story continues “We were locked in,” Jonquel Jones said on ESPN’s broadcast of the exchange. “We’re not going to be bullied. It is what it is.” The umpires reviewed and said there was nothing after the play. No technicals were assessed, objectively a shocking decision given all the technicals called throughout the season. If a technical was given to Copper, who tied the game earlier in the game, she would have been ejected from the semifinal matchup and eliminated from Game 1 of the WNBA Finals if the Sky had advanced. Phoenix Mercury players have been particularly vocal on Twitter about the lack of technology, especially Diamond DeShields. Bonner completed the three-point play. At the other end, Courtney Williams blocked a 3-pointer attempt by Ali Quigley and Thomas assisted on Williams’ bucket. Thomas hit two free throws and assisted on Natisha Hiedeman’s game-tying bucket with 2:24 left. Jones hit a three, Williams hit a dagger pullup jumper off another Thomas assist and Bonner added four free throws in the final 20 seconds.
Heaven loses its crown, faces an uncertain future
Like the Seattle Storm before it, the Chicago Sky are moving into an extremely uncertain offseason. Copper, the 2021 Finals MVP, is the only starter under contract in 2023. Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Emma Meesseman, Quigley and Azura Stevens, their sixth-rounder prospect, are all unrestricted free agents . There is a chance Parker and Quigley will retire. There is also prioritization, which requires players to return from overseas duties and rejoin their teams by the first day of the season. Many players have expressed concern about the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) clause coming into effect before next season. Some could choose to play only overseas, which is a consideration for Vandersloot and Meesseman. The Sky lost despite turning the Sun over 23 times, tying a record for turnovers in a WNBA postseason win. They assisted on 18 of their 24 field goals, but were only 24.3% from the field and 32% (8-of-25) from 3-point range. They were crushed again on the boards, 43-28, and in paint points, 36-26, despite big rebounds early by Meesseman. Halkinos scored a team-high 22 points after coming alive in the second quarter and shifting the momentum in the Sky’s favor. Vandersloot and Meesseman were the only other Sky players in double figures. It looked like Chicago had a Finals spot locked up until the final four minutes.
The WNBA Finals schedule
Game 1: Sunday at Las Vegas, 3 p.m. ET (ABC) Game 2: Tuesday at Las Vegas, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN) Game 3: Thursday, Sept. 15, at Connecticut, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN) Game 4*: Sunday, Sept. 18, at Connecticut, 4 p.m. ET (ESPN) Game 5*: Tuesday, Sept. 20, at Las Vegas, 9 p.m. ET (ESPN) *It it’s necessary
