Vendor Donald Morris Attends a Chicago Sky Game

Patrick: So, Don, how are you this day? Donald: Very good.

So what did you do yesterday? Well, since you ask, I was in heaven yesterday.

Oh, really. So, you’re saying you were surrounded by hot wings and celery and carrot sticks with an endless supply of Ranch Dressing? (Laugh.) Apparently, I know what your version of heaven is! Mine is watching a Chicago Sky game—a playoff game no less.

Oh, wow, so what happened? With all of the COVID-19 restrictions, how did it work getting in? It was a lot actually. I had to go through various security checks, including showing my COVID-19 vaccination records. But, once in, shoot, I may as well have been on the 50-yard line of a Bears Monday night football game! I was four rows up from the court and could see the Sky women across the court. I could even hear the ladies’ curses. Absolutely amazing.

So, who was the opponent? The Dallas Wings. We lost two of the three games we played against them this year.

Well, you don’t look unhappy, so guessing we won? Yessir! We won and looked good doing it. We had a moment there where Dallas came out with steel in their gloves looking to turn the game around, but because of Candace Parker’s basketball talent and her smooth leadership, the Sky were able to hold off the Wings.

Well, good. Now, I did see some of the highlights on TV, but didn’t get to see a lot. So, who else other than Candace Parker held it down for the Sky? So, even though Candace Parker who, I might add, nearly recorded a tripledouble: She scored 11, hauled down 15 rebounds with a solid showing of 7 assists- -it’s Kahleah Copper who had been our hottest player, averaging 14.4 points per game, while shooting a pretty good 45.9 percent from the field. She continued her hot shooting, going 10 for 14 for 23 points. Of course, Gloria Vandersloot was phenomenal: She scored 17 points on 6 of 11 shooting, hauled in 8 rebounds and handed out 6 assists, all in just 33 minutes.

So, what do you think is the key to the win? The awesome shooting? Nope. I believe us getting Candace Parker, who I will say is still in her prime, was and will always be the reason that the Sky excelled in this game and, I truly believe, will get them much further than their record would indicate. Candy, as those on the inside are allowed to call her, has been with the team only one year and, already, there has been an improvement in toughness. Related to that is, often, a good defense is more important than offense. The Chicago Sky has a roster built for it. Allie Quigley, who scored 15 in the game, and Diamond DeShields, teamed up and helped keep the Wings away from the basket. Of course, Candace and Vandersloot are defensive stalwarts, so the Sky has a bright future. Then, as soon as the defense kicks in, in comes Vandersloot and Quigley from longrange, tossing up threes as if they were layups!

Well, Don, by the time this airs, either the Sky will still be battling, or the Championship dream could be just that—so, what do you think? I feel a championship can be had. The odds are against us, but I’m with us. To the sky, baby.

Note: At the time we went to press, the Chicago Sky was 2-1 in a five-game semi-finals series against the Connecticut Sky, after defeating them 86-83 in the third game October 3.

Executive Assistant Patrick Edwards chats with Vendor Donald Morris after a Chicago Sky game.