Say Her Name Candace Parker.
(photo credit / wslam / Twitter – Colby Marchio) At the tip off, it’s Parker versus Parker, that’s Cheyenne Parker against Candace Parker. The tip goes to the Chicago Sky. Candace Parker is already unstoppable on the baseline and scores. Its pretty difficult for any player to guard her in that position. Candace Parker is sending a message to the league that she means business and wants to finish the season strong. She starts the 1st quarter explosive, as her team takes the lead 8-5 at the top. CP is still dominating the 1st quarter with back to back daggers from the perimeter. She has found her versatility and brings her team to a 10-point deficit. Atlanta’s Erica Wheeler tries to chip away at the Sky’s lead with a basket and the lead is now 19-17 with 1:57 in the quarter. Cheyenne Parker ties the game at 19 with a layup going into the 2nd. Kristy Wallace steps up her game for the start of the quarter. Atlanta ‘s Aari McDonald is quick as a hiccup in the paint and adds to their lead 30-27. Atlanta’s Asia Durr contributes as they try and stop Candace Parker’s momentum. CP hits a long three from downtown and the score is now 39-35, Atlanta still with the lead. CP always has an answer back when the Dream scores. Kahleah Copper comes through with huge baskets toward the end of the 2nd and the score is 44-42 with 1:24 left before halftime.
At the start of the 3rd quarter, Dream’s Nia Coffey had a huge impact on the prior quarter. She ended the night with 11 points. Cheyenne Parker was Atlanta’s lead scorer with 14 points for the evening. But Candace Parker has a focus of being aggressive the remainder of the game. Copper ties the game at 50-50. She was the second lead scorer for the Sky with 23 points this game. The Sky take a 1 point edge in the 3rd, 54-53 with 5:14 left on the clock. The Atlanta Dream try to keep their head above the water with Rhyne Howard coming through huge buckets in the clutch. She finished the night with 7 points. Chicago slowly builds their stamina going into the 4th, however, the Dream would not die. They increased the lead 63-58. Kahleah Copper shows what she is made of with a mean layup in the quarter, cutting the lead to 70-69. The Chicago Sky put their foot on the gas and go on a huge scoring drive, bringing their lead 78-70 with 3:28 left to play. The Sky had a dominating quarter and gets the win 90-75, with their commander and chief, say her name – Candace Parker – career high 31 points and 11 rebounds (double-double).
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