There will be a new WNBA champion this year.
Even with home-court advantage, the defending champion Chicago Sky couldn't quite take the next step to the WNBA finals as they fell to the Connecticut Sun 72-63 on Sept. 8 at Wintrust Arena.
Kahleah Copper led the Sky with 22 points. However, Candace Parker scored only seven and Allie Quigley scored only three.
The Sky are now 9-8 in playoff-elimination games. They had won its last four elimination games: vs. Dallas (2021), at Minnesota (2021), vs. New York (2022) and at New York (2022).
According to The Chicago Tribune, the Sky took a 10-point lead into the fourth quarter and led 63-54 with 4:46 to play before the Sun went on an 18-0 run to end the game.
"It's tough," Sky coach James Wade said. "It's probably one of the biggest disappointments that I've had professionally. ... It's hard to put into words right now."
The Sun will now face the top-seeded Las Vegas Aces for the WNBA championship.