Phoenix Mercury beat Chicago Sky to win WNBA title
By Dan Zinski
Party hard Phoenix, your team sits on top of the women’s basketball world once again.
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Friday night the Phoenix Mercury defeated the Chicago Sky 87-82 to sweep the three-game series and claim their third-ever WNBA championship.
Diana Taurasi, the finals MVP the last time the Phoenix won it all, was once again named MVP, scoring 24 points with 5 assists in the winning contest.
The Mercury won the game without star center Brittney Griner who was forced to sit out after suffering an eye injury in game 2 and undergoing a retinal procedure. Griner also needed dental work after a second hit in the same game.
Think someone on Chicago might have ordered Griner knocked out? Didn’t matter.
Phoenix blew through the postseason with a 7-1 mark after going 29-5 in the regular season. They were an unstoppable women’s basketball juggernaut all year and would not be denied when the title was on the line.
The Mercury completely dominated the Sky in the first two games, winning by 21 and 29 points. Without Brittney Griner to contend with, the Sky at least managed to keep the final game close, losing by only 5.
MVP Taurasi carried the Mercury down the stretch, scoring 14 of the team’s last 20 points including the game winner with 14 seconds left on the clock.
A superstar playing like a superstar in crunch time. That’s what you expect from Taurasi.
Candice Dupree also had 24 in the final game for the Mercury. Elena Delle Donne led Chicago with 23.
Try to keep control of yourselves tonight, Phoenix sports fans. We don’t want any riots breaking out over this one.