Parker, Sky advance to WNBA semis, beat Liberty

NEW YORK -- — Candace Parker had 14 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lead the Chicago Sky over the New York Liberty 90-72 Tuesday night in the deciding Game 3 to advance to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.

The defending champion Sky await the winner of the Connecticut-Dallas series that will have its deciding Game 3 on Wednesday.

Allie Quigley and Kahleah Copper each added 15 points while Courtney Vandersloot had 14 points and 10 assists for the second-seeded Sky. Chicago has now won four consecutive elimination games dating to back-to-back single-elimination games last year en route to the franchise's first WNBA championship.

The seventh-seed Liberty shocked the Sky by taking Game 1. Chicago routed New York by a WNBA playoffs record 38 points in the second game, racing out to a 31-10 lead by the end of the first quarter and never looking back.

This one was a lot more competitive. Chicago led 25-20 after one and extended the advantage to 54-42 at the half as Parker had seven points, six assists and seven rebounds in the opening 20 minutes.

New York scored the first seven points of the fourth quarter, including a five-point possession by Sabrina Ionescu to get within 68-65 that brought the sold out lower bowl of Barclays Center to its feet.

This was New York’s first home playoff game since 2017 when the Liberty lost in the second round to Washington. New York hadn’t made the semifinals since 2015.

That euphoria didn't last long though as Chicago scored the next 16 points, including consecutive 3-pointers by Quigley to end the run and put the game away with just over 4 minutes left.

Betnijah Laney scored 15 points and Ionescu and Natasha Howard each had 14 for the Liberty.

STAT STUFFERS

Parker fell just short