We Want WNBA 5

Chicago 70, Washington 56

Below: Candace Parker

Two-time WNBA Most Valuable Player Candace Parker made her regular season debut for her hometown team, Chicago Sky as her squad travelled to Washington, Saturday for an early afternoon game that was nationally televised on ABC.

After 13 seasons in Los Angeles, Parker showed up with her new teammates in black uniforms trimmed with sky blue.

With about 5:20 to play, Chicago captured a 14-10 lead as forwards Parker and Kahleah Copper combined for 12 of the Sky's points on perfect 5-5 shooting. Washington forward Theresa Palisance had half of her team's points and two of its three rebounds at the time.

Below: Kahleah Copper

"Let's share the ball and enjoy the process," Parker told her teammates in the huddle during a timeout in the first quarter. "There's only so many times you get to start a season."

After that timeout it was Washington who enjoyed things, going on a 9-3 run, as center Tina Charles scored her first seven points, giving her team a 19-17 lead. Chicago stopped the bleeding and shutout the Mystics for the rest of the quarter taking a 22-17 lead into the second quarter. The Sky overcame six first quarter turnovers with 4-5 shooting from three and a 56.3 overall shooting percentage. They also had eight assists on nine baskets.

Washington shot 42.1 percent overall and 3-11 from three in the opening quarter.

Chicago pushed its lead to 33-25 at 6:18 in the second quarter when Copper drained two free-throws. By then she'd scored nine points, while Parker had eight. Shooting guard Diamond DeShields pitched in with four points, two assists and a steal at the time.

The Sky's top duo kept rolling over the next two minutes as Parker hit two free-throws and shortly after she got an assist when she found Copper on a layup making the score 37-25. With 4:05 to go in the second quarter, Washington's overall shooting percentage sank down to 30 percent, while the Sky made 50 percent of their attempts.

Things got worse as Chicago had a 43-27 lead with just under three minutes to go in the half. By then Parker and Copper had 25 of the Sky's points nearly outscoring the Mystics on their own.

The first half ended with Chicago enjoying the process of the season opener and Washington appearing to have frustration, trailing 46-30. Chicago had just one turnover and six assists in the second quarter. Washington had just six assists in the whole first half, while Chicago tallied 14.

Copper had 15 points in the first half, Parker posted 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three blocked shots. Washington had 12 points from Charles, who struggled shooting 4-12 in the first two quarters.

In the second half, Washington stepped up its play outscoring the Sky 10-5 with 1:53 to play in the third quarter. The Mystics started to scrap and claw back into things but Chicago snapped out of it going on a 6-0 run over to take a 57-40 lead as the third quarter closed.

At the end of the third, Chicago's overall field goal percentage dipped to 37 percent which was good news for Washington. The bad news is that it still had a hard time overcoming the Sky's defensive effort. The Mystics were shooting an awful 24.6 percent from the field, including 3-23 from three-point land.

The Sky continued its lead in the final quarter to wrap up the contest. Copper closed things with 19 points, eight rebounds, two steals and two assists. Parker scored 16 points, pulled down eight boards, with four assists, three blocks and one steal. DeShields led the way with five assists to go along with her seven points.

Charles finished the game leading her team with 14 points on 5-16 shooting. Plaisance had nine points shooting 4-12.

Seattle 97, Las Vegas 83

Above: Liz Cambage scores for Las Vegas

Defending champ Seattle turned a one point first quarter lead into a 49-40 advantage at the half over visiting Las Vegas. Seattle had a balanced scoring effort as six players posted between five and 10 points led by power forward Breanna Stewart's 10. Las Vegas was led in scoring by reigning MVP A'ja Wilson's 16 points at the half.

After the intermission, Seattle mashed the gas pedal scoring the first 10 points of the the third quarter, making it a 59-40 lead. By the end of the third, Las Vegas was down 72-57 as Stewart scored nine points in quarter for the Storm.

Las Vegas outscored Seattle 26-25 in the final quarter but it wasn't enough. Stewart led Seattle with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Storm shooting guard Jewell Loyd had 22 points and six assists. Sue Bird led the Storm with eight assists to go with 11 points.

The Aces' were paced by Wilson's 24 points. Center Liz Cambage returned to the WNBA after missing the 2020 season. She scored 16 points for Las Vegas.