In a playoff game where the Chicago Sky’s shooters were silenced, Candace Parker had a vintage performance

None of Chicago’s sports teams won on Sunday.

The Cubs and White Sox lost early leaving the Sky to put the city in the win column in Game 1 of their semifinal series against the Connecticut Sun, but the defending WNBA champs just couldn’t pull ahead and stay there. There were 15 lead changes and the game was tied nine times, but the Sky never seemed to find their rhythm.

After the game, Sun coach Curt Miller said his team’s goal was “to make the game messy” for the Sky and they succeeded in the 68-63 win. The Sky’s shooters were held to limited looks and offensive rebounding was a major issue. The team was caught looking often, not following their shots and not boxing out as second-chance shots passed them by. While the Sun were able to bang on them over and over in the paint, the Sky died just as they lived — by the three.

Forced inside and taking shots that weren’t falling, the Sky’s responses were always just a little too late. One extra dribble, one extra pass, one extra look. The Sun didn’t need to beat them down, instead they imposed their game plan on a team who was a little frustrated by not only the physicality of the game, but with the officials. It was clear the Sky felt they weren’t getting the calls they should, and coach James Wade mentioned it more than once in his postgame news conference while trying to not criticize the officiating directly.

The Sky found themselves under pressure from a much more physical team in the Sun. For the first time this season, the Sun were able to come out and make the Sky play their game. They bullied everyone. Everyone but Candace Parker.

Parker had a game for the ages. This was vintage CP3. The 36-year-old played like it was 2008 again. With 19 points, 5 assists, 18 rebounds and 6 steals, Parker made a statement.

It was kind of expected though.

Jay-Z, Parker’s favorite rapper, dropped a verse on the song “God Did” on DJ Khaled’s new album and within a day, she knew every word, rapping it enthusiastically on her Instagram stories.

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During pregame warm-ups, as soon as Parker stepped out of the tunnel, the Sky’s DJ played a series of throwback Jay-Z songs. She was focused, rapping every single lyric as she went through her routine. It’s clear she finds inspiration in the Brooklyn rapper’s verses. When faced with adversity, she goes to his music.

Parker, a bright spot in a game where her opponents came out poised and prepared to body their way to a win, continued to uplift her teammates in a tough situation. She appeared to be coaching them up on the sidelines and during timeouts. She put them on her back and all but willed them to the end.

In the regular season, Parker averaged 13.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. But in Sunday’s Game 1, she took it to another level and found her place in the history books once again. She is the first player in WNBA history to drop 15+ points, 15+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 5+ blocks in a playoff game and is one double-double from tying Tamika Catchings for most playoff double-doubles in league history.

Though the Sky didn’t get run off the court, the chaos caused by the revenge-seeking Sun was just too much.

We’ve seen this from this team before — they lose Game 1 and then come back and dominate. Can they do it again?

Wade, Azurá Stevens and Allie Quigley all seemed confident in their ability to adjust and come back Wednesday in Game 2.

How will the Chicago Sky respond? Maybe someone should call Jay-Z.