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Parker leads Sky over Sun as underdogs advance to WNBA Finals

Jeff Haynes / National Basketball Association / Getty

The Chicago Sky are headed to their first WNBA Finals since 2014 after beating the top-seeded Connecticut Sun 79-69 on Wednesday to secure a 3-1 series victory.

Central to the win was Naperville, Illinois, native Candace Parker, who recorded 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting with nine rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks in 34 minutes of action. The 35-year-old two-time MVP joined her home-state Sky last offseason after a Hall of Fame-worthy tenure with the Los Angeles Sparks.

Courtney Vandersloot added 19 points and four assists. Kahleah Copper contributed 18 points.

Suns center Jonquel Jones - who was recently named 2021 MVP - scored a game-high 25 points in defeat, adding 11 boards, two steals, and two blocks.

The Sky are the first No. 6 seed to reach the league's championship series since the current playoff format was implemented in 2016. Conversely, 2021 will mark the first time since 2015 that the top overall seed has failed to advance to the Finals.

Chicago now awaits the winner of the other semifinal series. The fifth-seeded Phoenix Mercury can book their ticket to the Finals with a win over the Las Vegas Aces later Wednesday.

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