NEW YORK – Candace Parker had 14 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Chicago Sky past the New York Liberty 90-72 on Tuesday night in a decisive Game 3 and advance to the WNBA semifinals.
The defending champion Sky awaits the winner of the Connecticut-Dallas playoff series in a decisive Game 3 on Wednesday night.
Ellie Quigley and Kaleya Cooper each had 15 points and Courtney Vandersloot had 14 points and 10 assists for the second-seeded Sky. Chicago has now won four straight elimination contests, dating back to last year’s single-elimination games, en route to the franchise’s first WNBA championship.
Seventh-placed Liberty shocked Sky by winning their first game. Chicago defeated New York by scoring a WNBA playoff-record 38 points in Game 2, taking a 31-10 lead late in the first quarter and never looking back.
“We knew what we had to do. They were all on a mission and you could tell it was a collective mission,” Chicago coach James Wade said. “We decided it was time to go and show what we’re made of and responded in Game 2 and built on it after that.”
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This one was much more competitive. Chicago led 25-20 after one quarter and extended its lead to 54-42 at the half as Parker had seven points, six assists and seven rebounds in the first 20 minutes.
New York scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, including five possessions by Sabrina Ionescu, to pull within 68-65, lifting a packed Barclays Center lower bowl.
It was New York’s first home playoff game since 2017, when the Liberty lost in the second round to Washington. New York has not reached the semifinals since 2015.
That euphoria was short-lived as Chicago scored the next 16 points, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Quigley that ended the streak and tied the game with 4 minutes left.
Bethnia Laney scored 15 points, while Ionescu and Natasha Howard had 14 each for the Liberty.
“(Chicago) is a really good team, look at the chemistry there,” New York coach Sandy Brandello said. “They have poise, they played and we couldn’t. We were quick to take a few shots when they played. Proud of these girls, proud of this team. The more experienced team won tonight.”
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STATESMEN
Parker fell short of the fourth triple-double in WNBA playoff history. She wanted to join Vandersloot, Lisa Leslie and Margot Dydek.
TO BE RECOGNIZED
Chicago Sky coach and general manager James Wade was named WNBA Executive of the Year on Monday. The voting panel consists of one basketball executive from each WNBA team, with each representative offering their top three choices. Wade won by being named on the most ballots (11). … Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash and tennis great Billie Jean King were in attendance at the Barclays Center.
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