Sky hangs tough, but Mercury claims title
Despite all the film she watches and all the play scheming she does to get ready for each game, Pokey Chatman found herself woefully unprepared Friday night.
The Chicago Sky coach got emotional when she recounted what it was like to walk into her team's locker room at UIC Pavilion moments after the Sky was edged by the Phoenix Mercury 87-82 in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.
The Mercury swept the Sky, which was playing in its first WNBA Finals, 3-0. But after winning the first two games by an average of 25 points, the clincher wasn't quite as easy for Phoenix.
The Sky had its chances all the way to the end.
“I wasn't prepared for a farewell speech tonight. Truth be told. I wasn't,” Chatman said. “I've tried to always be true to my players. So if it's in my mind and my heart, it's coming out of my mouth. So (that moment in the locker room) was emotional.
“I wanted them to understand that I want this to hurt. I want it to sting. I also want them to appreciate what they were able to accomplish as individuals, within a team, for a franchise and for a city. They need to take that wherever they go (in the off-season), marinate in it for a while and let that be the driving force, because this could be a special unit for years to come.”
The Sky was incredibly close to keeping this year going.
The score was knotted at 82-82 with 33.1 seconds left before Phoenix star guard Diana Taurasi broke the tie with a tough baseline jumper with 14.3 seconds left. Taurasi was fouled by Courtney Vandersloot and made the free throw.
A 3-point attempt by Elena Delle Donne (team-best 23 points) at the other end was no good. Phoenix guard Penny Taylor hit 2 free throws to close out the scoring.
“It's been a tough series,” said Sky center Sylvia Fowles, who scored 20 points and was determined to take advantage of the absence of Phoenix center Brittney Griner (retinal injury). “Of course, the first two games, we weren't where we wanted to be. We tried to take into consideration that we were home in front of our crowd and just tried to go out and play tough.
“Emotionally, it (stinks) that we couldn't advance to a fourth game. But at the same time, I'm so proud of my teammates from where we came from to where we are now. I can only hold my head high and try to come back (next year) and do it all over again.”
Even if the Sky can reach the Finals again, however, the Merucry — already winners of three of the last eight titles — has the makings of the next WNBA dynasty.
Not that Taurasi is thinking too much about that right now, though.
“I'm just thinking about what I'm drinking tonight,” laughed the always quotable Taurasi, who tied teammate and former Sky star Candice Dupree for a game-high 24 points. “This team has just been unbelievable all year. Every single day we come to work. What we achieved on the court (a league-record 29 regular season wins) probably won't ever happen again.
“So for tonight and for (the rest of 2014), I'm just going to enjoy it and really be thankful that I got to share the court with all these players and coaches.”
Taurasi, the WNBA Finals most valuable player, was especially thankful for Dupree, and even joked that her MVP trophy should be shared with Dupree.
Dupree was vital in off-setting the loss of Griner, who got poked in the eye by Sylvia Fowles in Game 2. She had a procedure in Phoenix earlier in the week and was dressed in uniform but not quite ready to return to game action.
In 2006, Dupree was the very first draft pick of the Sky. She played in Chicago for four seasons, all at the UIC Pavilion.
“I never thought I'd be back here (at UIC) again, that's for sure,” Dupree said with a laugh. “But I had a lot of fun (tonight). My thought process was to dominate, and I was able to do that in my first WNBA championship.
“It was a packed house in here tonight and I think that's great for the Sky and this city. Hopefully they can build off that for next season and more seasons to come.”
Phoenix also got 12 points from DeWanna Bonner and 11 points from Taylor. Former DePaul great Allie Quigley, the WNBA's Sixth Woman of the Year, came off the bench for the Sky and added 19 points while Vandersloot rolled up a game-high 11 assists.