Chicago celebrates Sky’s WNBA championshipMadeline Kenneyon October 19, 2021 at 2:14 pm

Candace Parker and Kahleah Copper celebrate after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in Game Four of the WNBA Finals to win the championship at Wintrust Arena on October 17, 2021. | Stacy Revere/Getty file

The Chicago Sky, reigning WNBA champions, will be honored at a parade in the Loop and rally ending at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

For the first time in five years, Chicago has a professional sports team worth celebrating. And on Tuesday, that’s what the city plans to do.

The Chicago Sky, reigning WNBA champions, will be honored at a parade in the Loop and rally ending at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.

“The city of Chicago could not be prouder of our winning Chicago Sky,” Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement. “We are thrilled to throw a celebration worthy of this historic moment in Chicago sports and congratulate the Sky for bringing our city its first WNBA title.”

The Sky beat the Phoenix Mercury 80-74 Sunday at Wintrust Arena. The win made the Sky the first Chicago sports team to win a title since the Cubs won it all in 2016, ending a centurylong drought. The Sky were also the first team to win a championship at home since the Blackhawks in 2015.

The parade will begin at 11 a.m. when the Sky leave Wintrust Arena and head north on Michigan Avenue from Roosevelt Road to Randolph Street. The entourage will go east on Randolph to Pritzker Pavilion.

Street closures will begin after 10 a.m. on Indiana Avenue from 21st Street to Cermak Road. Michigan Avenue will reopen as soon as the championship motorcade passes.

The rally will begin at noon and is free and open to the public. There will be a security screening at entrances to the Pavilion on Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street.

COVID-19 vaccination is not required for fans to attend, but the city highly encourages it. The Pritzker Pavilion will be open to fans beginning at 10 a.m.

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