The Sky was the limit in Chicago this year. As the final seconds melted off the clock at the end of Game 4 of the WNBA Finals, roars from a sellout crowd of Chicago Sky fans bounced off the walls of Wintrust Arena and rippled across the city. You didn’t have to listen hard to hear it; 25 years of disappointment collectively lifting off a die-hard fan base sounded almost as sweet as it felt.
- Josh Hill
FanSided Editorial Director
Best fan moment of the year
The Sky have prided themselves on creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for years, reaching out to the community and working on projects to make Chicago a better, safer place. That’s why it was no surprise that thousands of fans young, old, and famous turned out to celebrate during a victory parade that shut down major streets and took over the city’s famous downtown park. It was more than just a regular championship rally, it was a celebration of Sky fandom, of Chicago pride, and of a community coming together for an authentically glorious moment no one there will forget.
What emotion defined this fandom this year?
The WNBA is about much more than just basketball and this year was no exception. The league, led first and foremost by the voices of its players, has been a powerful force for advocacy and change on social justice, gender equity and more. From the Atlanta Dream players helping spur the sale of their team and campaigning for Raphael Warnock, to Layshia Clarendon continuing to be visible as a nonbinary athlete, to advocating for reproductive rights in the wake of restrictive new laws in Texas, WNBA players continue to leverage their platforms as changemakers as effectively as anyone in the world of sports.