The Chicago Sky hosted the Connecticut Sun on Thursday night for the decisive fifth game in their WNBA semifinal series. On Her Turf provided live updates and highlights; see below to relive how the game unfolded.
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun: Fourth Quarter Highlights
7:20 Q4: The Chicago Sky are making this look like a game of keep away. Emma Meesseman makes it an 11-point game.
3MMA M33SS3MAN 👌@EmmaMeesseman puts the @chicagosky up 11 points in the 4Q 🎯
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/1CF5J0W6GU
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 9, 2022
3:46 4Q: Oof. Kahleah Copper and DeWanna Bonner getting into it after Bonner scores. But after a long review, no foul is called. That is a huge sigh of relief for Copper, who would have missed game one of the WNBA Finals if she had gotten a technical. Chicago leads 63-56.
3:20 4Q: And the Connecticut Sun are not going home without a fight. DeWanna Bonner and Natisha Hiedeman with two big baskets just now. The Sun have cut the deficit to four.
Game 5 intensity turnt alll the way up 👏
And-1 for DB babbbby ‼️
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/bSkPFZkdKJ
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 9, 2022
2:24 4Q: TIE GAME. What!! After Alyssa Thomas capitalizes on two free throws, Natisha Hiedeman evens the score, 63-63.
2:00: Wow. Connecticut leads 66-63. On a 9-0 run since that scuffle between Copper and Bonner.
0:20.4: And Connecticut has extended the lead to seven after DeWanna Bonner makes two free throws.
0:00 4Q: Connecticut wins 72-63. Wow. What a comeback. And we are guaranteed to have a first-time WNBA champion. Both the Sun and Las Vegas Aces are aiming to win their first ever WNBA title.
After the game, DeWanna Bonner tells media that the Sun found their confidence in game four. “We wanted this one bad. We come up here every year and Chicago kicks our ass,” she says.
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun: Third Quarter Highlights
4:14 Q3: After Candace Parker hits a three, Kahleah Copper widens the gap to seven (video below). Chicago leads 54-46.
AND-1, TURN ME UPPPP KAH ‼️ @kahleahcopper is up to 20 PTS 🙌
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/j8GEKi2Vt5
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 9, 2022
0:00 Q3: That quarter felt like a revenge tour for the Chicago Sky. The defending WNBA champs lead 58-48.
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun: Second Quarter Highlights
6:14 Q2: Wild how quickly a lead can shrink. The Sky now trail by just three points (30-27) thanks to some great shooting from Emma Meesseman and Courtney Vandersloot.
3:39 Q2: And Chicago fans are not happy. Candace Parker called for a foul — with a very late whistle — after stealing the ball away.
2:26 Q2: And for the first time since Courtney Vandersloot‘s opening bucket, the Chicago Sky lead. Kahleah Copper, the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP, ties it with a three-pointer and then gives Chicago the lead with a layup.
0:10.8 Q2: WHERE DID SHE COME FROM?! Kahleah Copper does a great job intercepting a Connecticut pass and finishes with a layup.
0:00 Q2: At the end of the first half, it’s a tie game, 40-40. What else would you expect when the series is tied 2-2?
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun: First Quarter Highlights
9:11 Q1: The Chicago Sky get on the board first with a jump shot from Courtney Vandersloot (video below).
.@Sloot22 with the first bucket of Game 5 ‼️
We live on ESPN2 📺 pic.twitter.com/YHf3zWVTRS
— WNBA (@WNBA) September 9, 2022
5:18 Q1: A nice run from the Connecticut Sun, and especially Natisha Hiedeman, who already has eight points tonight. Sun lead 16-9.
0:00 Q1: At the end of the first quarter, Connecticut leads 24-16. Some sloppy moments at the end, but the Sun certainly made an early statement that Tuesday’s blowout win was no fluke.
WNBA Semifinals – What’s at Stake
- The Chicago Sky are the defending WNBA champions and could become the first team in 20 years to win back-to-back titles.
- The Connecticut Sun are aiming to win the franchise’s first ever WNBA title. The Sun have previously qualified for the WNBA Finals three times (most recently in 2019).
Chicago Sky vs. Connecticut Sun: Semifinal Results (Series Tied 2-2)
- Game 1: Connecticut won, 68-63
- Game 2: Chicago won, 85-77
- Game 3: Chicago won, 76-72
- Game 4: Connecticut won, 104-80