Sun force decisive Game 5 by outplaying Sky at their own game

UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Sky forward Candace Parker played eight seasons before she won her first WNBA title in 2016. Guard Allie Quigley won her first title in her 14th season and guard Courtney Vandersloot in her 11th.

Before Game 4 of the Sky’s WNBA semifinal series Tuesday against the Sun, with an opportunity to wrap up the series, the players’ message to the team was rooted in the difficulty of even making it to this stage of the postseason. They wanted their teammates to understand these opportunities are few and far between.

‘‘So let’s get this win today,’’ Parker told the team Tuesday morning.

But not only did the Sky fail at closing the series, they dropped Game 4 in embarrassing fashion, losing 104-80.

The mental fortitude the Sky played with in Games 2 and 3 was gone. After falling into a double-digit deficit in the first half, they remained a step behind the Sun throughout the second. Vandersloot and Quigley spent the entire fourth quarter on the bench.

One bright spot for the Sky was Dana Evans’ fourth-quarter performance. General manager/coach James Wade has spoken frequently about his bench players’ ability to stay ready, regardless of their limited minutes. Evans scored 10 points on 4-for-5 shooting from the field, including 2-for-2 from three-point range. She added two rebounds and a steal in 10 minutes.

‘‘For me, it’s about doing what the team needs,’’ Evans said. ‘‘I just want to win.’’

The Sun executed GM/coach Curt Miller’s emphasis on making things difficult for the Sky’s free-flowing offense well in the first half. Parker was held to three points in the first two quarters and finished with 11 points and four assists. Her nine rebounds, however, were enough for her to pass Tamika Catchings for first place on the WNBA’s all-time list for playoff rebounds.

Quigley and Vandersloot contributed 10 points apiece. Kahleah Copper scored a team-high 16 points.

The Sun’s 58 first-half points were the most they had scored in a half all season. DeWanna Bonner and Courtney Williams finished 19 points apiece, and Alyssa Thomas added 17. The Sun outscored the Sky 66-34 in the paint.

The Sky won Game 3 by outlasting the Sun, but the Sun beat the Sky at their own game Tuesday. The Sky were unable to keep up with the Sun’s ball movement, allowing them to shoot 56.9% from the field and 40% from three-point range.

‘‘We had too many moments where we weren’t there and weren’t ready,’’ Quigley said.

The Sun’s victory forced a decisive Game 5 that will be played at 7 p.m. Thursday at Wintrust Arena. The winner will face the Las Vegas Aces in the Finals.

Game 5 is a risk against a Sun team hungry for its first title. It’s a team very similar to the Sky’s 2021 championship squad, which featured every player but Parker playing for their first title.

Forward Jonquel Jones spoke about the Sun’s exhaustion with their inability to capitalize in the postseason. The Sun have made it to the semifinals in each of the last four seasons and lost to the Mystics in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals in 2019.

The Sky played with little fire in Game 4. If they repeat that performance Thursday, they’re going to get burned.

‘‘We have to stay together and have the mentality we aren’t going to lose,’’ Quigley said. ‘‘We’re going to stay together, that’s the main thing.’’