As someone who has loved this team since its inception – yes I was very excited when it was announced that Chicago was getting a team in the WNBA some 16 years ago – yesterday marked the culmination of my dream of seeing this team win a WNBA Championship title. I’ve attended 100’s of their games and covered the team extensively in this blog with words and photos. Regrets – yes the big one – that I couldn’t attend Sunday’s game due to other work commitments. Thank God for DVR’s as I recorded the game and watched in the early evening luckily without hearing the final result beforehand and watching with great excitement and nerves as the Sky fell behind late in the game but true to form this post-season – put another BIG V in the victory column.

I’d like to send out congratulations to owner Michael Alter whose dream of owning a WNBA franchise and unwavering belief in supporting pro women’s sports really paid off this year. I’d like to thank Candace Parker for coming home although for me she never really left my thoughts for long thanks to having had the chance to see her play in high school, followed her through her wonderful career at Tennessee (my personal favorite college women’s team), seeing her play several times for the L.A. Sparks – and best of all having her back in Chicago and contributing in so many huge ways to leading this team to the championship.

Thank you Courtney Vandersloot for staying with the Sky all these years and providing me with so many wonderful moments and memories as a fan and sports photojournalist. You are and have been an MVP in too many games to recount but during these playoffs – OMG – you are a true basketball goddess. The Slootiest of all Sloots – she SLOOTS, she scores, she does it all. SLOOT there it is…SLOOT there it is! So happy that your WNBA dream came true.

Homey Allie Quigley – 3 point shooter extraordinaire – a Blue Demon of a player who struggled for a few years to find her home in the WNBA – but also came home like Candace and made her hoop dreams come true. Smooth as silk, quick release, HOOPS there it is! So happy for you, too.

Stefanie Dolson & Azura Stevens- I have a hard time liking players from UCONN thanks to my love of the Tennessee Lady Vols BUT I forgive you Stefanie and Azura. LOL – You have converted me into a fan and you played key roles in leading the Sky to their title. Two of the best BIGS in the game who came up big in the playoffs.

Kahleah Copper- KFC (Kahleah FREAKIN’ Copper), MVP of the finals – a scoring machine – tenacious – feisty – and so fast that my tired old eyes could barely keep up with her speedy flight down the court. Slipped by Griner, Taurasi, Diggins-Smith, Turner and Peddy with such ease and grace. Beautiful to watch and a deserving MVP of this tournament. Congrats and so happy for you Kahleah! Love the moniker from ESPN’s Carolyn Peck – KFC – love it! KFC serves chicken in buckets – Kahleah Freakin Copper just serves up tons of baskets!

Bench players Diamond DeShields, Lexie Brown, Dana Evans, Astou Ndour -Fall and Ruthy Hebard – the best bench in the biz. On a personal note – love my Lady Vol Diamond and to Ruthy Hebard, loved watching you play with Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally and your Oregon Ducks team. Oh how I wish the 2020 NCAA tournament for this team could have been played but due to CoVid lockdowns we will never know…I was so looking forward to seeing if your team could take the NCAA title in 2020 – such a talented team. Loved seeing you this year in a Sky uniform – hope you stay here for a long time as you are in my opinion, one to watch!

Coach James Wade and staff – a so so year with a .500 record, but you all said the heck with that – the SKY is the limit and you found that blue sky through all the ups and downs. Heck of a coaching job and congrats to you all on a job extremely WELL DONE!

BREAKING NEWS: Chicago Sky make history – appear on FRONT PAGE of the Chicago Tribune and on the FRONT PAGE of the sports section. Chicago Sky get the lead story on the TV Sports segments on multiple stations – over the Chicago Bears, Blackhawks and all those men’s sports. It’s about freakin’ time!