WNBA FINALS: PHOENIX VS. CHICAGO

October 17, 2021

Candace Parker

Courtney Vandersloot

Allie Quigley

Kahleah Copper

Chicago Sky

Game 4: Postgame

Q. Candace and Kahleah, I saw coming out in the introductions before the game even started, you looked at Kah and it looked like you said, "I promise" or "promise," and I wonder if you could share what you guys connected on in that moment.

CANDACE PARKER: Um, I think throughout the Playoffs, we realized how important these two are. It's a lot, you know? Game 4 at home? We always text each other in the morning like before games, and I just wanted to make sure her mentality was right, and then right before the game we always check in. That was just a normal thing. We've done that all season.

Today was no different, and I think everybody showed up in the moments that they needed to.

Q. You were able to dribble out the clock, you sprint to the corner. Can you kind of just share some of your thoughts like in that moment as the clock ticks off?

CANDACE PARKER: Yeah, it's crazy. Like I had flashbacks from high school when I first realized we won the state championship, and it was kind of like similar, I don't know.

It was amazing to just hug my dad and my mom and my family. It was just an amazing feeling to be from here and see so many people in the stands that have been supporting you since you started. I sent Allie a picture this morning of us when we were in high school, and it was like, man, not bad for two suburban kids, right, playing in the WNBA Finals together?

So I think it's just a moment where you just have to really take it in, so that's what that was.

Q. Candace, did you know you were going to try to find your family right after, or did it occur to you when you got the ball? Courtney, just memories of playing out at Allstate Arena, if you can reflect on those days versus now.

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT: Well, you know, I can go back even further. When we did end up going to the finals and we played at UIC because our arena wasn't there, it was a great environment then, but it doesn't come close to what it was tonight. Absolutely unmatched out there, just the energy, the adrenaline that this crowd was able to give us when we really needed it.

It was so special to be able to do this in front of all those people, especially, a special shout-out to the ones that have been there on the ride, the ones that -- I see a couple right here in front of me when we weren't even making the Playoffs and they're still courtside, that's special.

But this crowd was so important tonight, and this one is for the city for sure.

Q. What does it mean now that you'll be known as a WNBA champion?

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT: That's what you work for, right? That's why we're here, all those times where you're just like, man, is it worth it?

KAHLEAH COPPER: Y'all remember Olympic break? Do you all remember Olympic break?

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT: It's so crazy what we've been through.

ALLIE QUIGLEY: We did this for each other. Kind of like a breaking point probably a month ago, and I feel like we all looked at each other and we said, what are we going to play for. And Candace the first thing she said she was going to play for me. It was just so inspiring that she wanted me to win a championship so bad, and I just -- it just made me want to play harder. And everybody went around and said who they were playing for. In the end we all wanted to play for each other, and that's what you saw tonight in this whole playoff experience.

Q. Courtney, James Wade talked about how at the beginning he met with you at a café, I'm assuming in Russia, when he first found out he was going to be the coach and you were going to have to continue to deal with him all the time, or if it was elsewhere please correct me. What got you to kind of buy into him then, and how did you get to that moment now?

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT: This is like -- I don't know, I feel like this is the craziest story because I was already bought in because of a conversation I had with this one right here. Do you know what year that was?

ALLIE QUIGLEY: Was that in Seattle?

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT: No, it was in Spain, USA Basketball. It was a long time ago, too long ago. We were in a club -- this is just so --

CANDACE PARKER: It's so cool.

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT: It's so special. She was the one that told me about James Wade when we were kind of going through a coaching change, saying this dude is special, you've got to tell him. I told Michael (Alter), Candace Parker told me we need to hire this guy. Now she comes to play for him, and the first year we come here, to win a championship -- I don't think you can write it better than that.

But it all happened. We all bought in. We all believed in each other. It was awesome, and it was Max and Benny's by the way, here in Deerfield. It was a good meeting, and he told us he wasn't taking the job unless me and Allie were going to be here, so that was our time. We committed then and there, and we were like, we're going to stay here because we want to win a championship.

And then fast forward, we signed this young lady right here --

CANDACE PARKER: Young?

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT: I said "young lady," yeah. You saw her out there tonight. How many minutes did you play? She was awesome.

Q. I'm curious if one of you can take me through what it's been like having Chance the Rapper at all these games in the stands and what that means --

CANDACE PARKER: He didn't wear my jersey, he wore your jersey. You answer this one.

Q. Not only to this team but also the WNBA at large, to have someone like him just really supporting this league.

KAHLEAH COPPER: It's awesome. You know, just to have him and just even other NBA players come out, the Bulls, the Bears were supporting us, like everybody was just supporting us. It's just amazing for the city to come together and for us to share that moment with them.

Q. Those last few plays, especially that last stretch when the lead was kind of stuck at five for a while and then you were able to get those back-to-back plays on a screen-roll with Stef, it seemed there was a moment -- being that you two have been here for so long along with Kah and it kind of went back to games where you've had where you've found Stef on screens-rolls for clutch baskets, can you go through those moments? Was it familiar? Did it feel like the end of a Finals game or did it just feel like moments you had had before running pick-and-roll with Stef?

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT: That's a good question. It did feel a little familiar. That's kind of the bread and butter when it gets down it, to stretch ,to kind of spread it out, dictate where everyone is. We've played this team four times, we knew their rotations at this point, so we wanted to get a pick-and-roll going down at BG and try and get Stef -- you know, Stef is awesome at that little floater. She has amazing touch and she's done it a few times. This isn't the first. But it was nice to be able to see her get in there, and it just felt comfortable.

Q. Candace, a couple years ago, tough, tough loss in LA; last year, tough loss. You've been through your share of them, including some tough Game 4s. Can you put in perspective what it means to be sitting here now, because you told me the other day you could have four or five of these or you could have none, and now you have two.

CANDACE PARKER: You know, I think we live in a result-driven world, which is great, because I think the champions obviously -- when you have MJ, who everybody in Chicagoland aspires to be like him, six rings, but I just feel like sometimes it's like the tough ones that stay the course, you know? I just was 0-2 in Game 4s in the Finals. I remember looking at everybody up here and saying, I am 0-2 in Game 4s, but I think yesterday I looked at myself, and I was like, why? Like there's a point in the game where it's like, you've got to live with the results, but you've got to do it in a way that's like aggressive. You can't be passively accepting the other team and what they do.

So I just think there's growth in those moments that are heartbreak. I remember Sophia Young's shot when it went in, I remember Brittney Griner's turnaround, I remember Maya Moore hitting that shot. I remember every single one of those shots. I was like, if that's going to be the case, I'm going to go down swinging. Our group is going to go down swinging. We still have to maintain composure.

I think that because of that, some of this was the case this game. I think the heartbreaks hurt, but this one is so sweet. Like to do it with this group, I love this group, I love this team, and to do it here at home, it's just like, all of those heartbreaks, it was just supposed to be today. Today was a microcosm -- this game was a microcosm of our season. Our season was like up and down and we were down and then we lost seven and then we won seven and it was just crazy.

I think because of that it prepared us for this.

Game 4, like I'm still 1-2, but I'm glad I'm 1-2 with this group.

Q. Kahleah, after your rookie season you were traded, you and Stef were traded to Chicago for Elena Delle Donne. Can you remember what you felt when you found out about that trade, and then to compare that to now, you've brought a championship to Chicago, you're Finals MVP? That's a remarkable journey.

KAHLEAH COPPER: I think -- I was overseas, I'll never forget. I was overseas in Belgium, and I kept seeing stuff on Instagram about possible trades, and I'm like, there's no way it could be me. I don't know how it works or whatever. Then I saw Coach T (Thibault) calling me, and I was like, damn, it's me. I answered the phone, and we had a conversation. We talked about it, and I just didn't know what to expect next.

I went from being close to home, I also chose Rutgers to be close to home, so my family could come to a lot of the games, and I got traded to Chicago; everything was so new.

I just came in and just tried to find my way. I came in and just tried to find a road. I didn't play much, so let's do some handshakes, let's get everybody ready for the game, let's just try to figure it out, just play your role, and that's what I did. I'm just grateful for my process. I wouldn't change anything.

I stayed confident, kept preparing myself to meet an opportunity and just to take off from there. I'm just super humble and just grateful for everything, and I'm happy.

Q. Allie, your career got off to a bit of a slow start. I think you were on four teams your first four years. Come to Chicago and you really found a home. Now --

CANDACE PARKER: Stupid. Four teams? Wait, four teams? Wow.

Q. Five teams in four years is what I read.

CANDACE PARKER: Wow.

Q. Just reflecting back on that in 2013 you come to the Sky. I think that might have been around the time you met Courtney, as well. How did your career sort of take off when you reflect back on it now as a champion and as a star?

ALLIE QUIGLEY: I mean, I feel like that was in my mind, going to be my last go-around. It was like, I'm tired of going to all these different teams and not playing, and my confidence was down. I think I just gave everything I had for this last chance because it was home, and I wanted it to work so bad.

I think it was just a combination of all my years overseas, gaining confidence playing against WNBA players and feeling like I really did belong and just waiting for that chance, and Pokey (Chatman) gave me that chance, especially year 2 in Chicago. She told me, okay, you're first off the bench, I want you to be a big role. I feel like her belief in me really helped me believe in myself, and from there it just grew.

Q. To the left we have one of the greatest facilitators of all time and then the best shooter in the world right next to her --

KAHLEAH COPPER: Period.

CANDACE PARKER: First of all, I'm really upset that you didn't get that last rebound because you needed one rebound to get a triple-double. That should be knowledge. You should spread that at the free-throw line.

ALLIE QUIGLEY: Last thing anybody was thinking about.

CANDACE PARKER: Sorry, I'm just saying, a triple-double in Game 4 of the Finals? I feel like we should have known that. I would have tipped it -- sorry to interrupt your question. Greatest facilitator ever, greatest shooter.

ALLIE QUIGLEY: I don't know what the question was.

Q. You two have been the two pillars of this franchise for so long. What does it mean to you to not only do it for the franchise but also do it given your relationship, to do this together?

COURTNEY VANDERSLOOT: I think we just together made a commitment to this team and to this franchise because we did get a taste early what it felt like to be in the Finals, and we got our asses kicked, but we did get that taste. We knew if we got the right people, exhibit A and B, that we could be in this moment, and it would be special here. We didn't want to go seeking that. We didn't want to go seeking this feeling. We wanted to do it here, and we just knew that we had what it takes. We were just -- we just needed a few more pieces and people to believe, and that's exactly what we got. We were able to put it together at the right time, and it's just a really special moment for us two individually but also as a franchise.

Q. Candace, we all saw that special moment with your daughter, you embracing. Can you explain how special --

KAHLEAH COPPER: Who is cutting onions?

CANDACE PARKER: You know what's crazy, I have a picture of Lailaa in Minnesota when we first won, and it was in similar fashion where it was like, we didn't know who was going to win, it was dramatic, and she's like yelling, "Mom, we did it!" And I have that picture like on my wall in the office.

Before I decided to come here, which has been like -- it's tough, we're away from each other. We started the season for a month; we're never away from each other. So I asked her if it was okay if I came to Chicago, and she was like, I want another picture. Like I want another picture like that.

And it's crazy because she came out to the court and said, "we did it," and it was just like, surreal. She's grown up. I owe everything I am to her, just because she's been my motivation and my reason for everything.

We've gone through this together. You know? Like she sacrifices her mom so that I can live my dream. I just am so thankful for her, that she's here for the big moments, but she's also here when I don't want to get up and go work out, she sees those moments. So I just am so, just, over the moon at how amazing she's grown up to be, and I know I'm partial, but she's an amazing young lady. And I just appreciate her sacrifice and her being here and just everything. So that's what that was.

Q. I often bring the perspective of kids; I was just wondering what message does this, you all being here today, send to all the kids out there who watched you win today know everything this team has overcome?

CANDACE PARKER: I think sometimes you don't have to tell your story; time will. I think that's something that I've lived by. I think everybody up here has had that moment where they've felt like they have to tell their side of the story, and you don't have to. Like just put your head down, continue to work, do what's right, be a good person, work hard, give energy, and like the world will give back to you. I think that's my message with all of this is like you don't have to yell from the rooftops who you are or what you do. Let time tell. Just enjoy the moment.

Q. Candace, I'm just curious what it was about James that made you suggest him as a coach to Courtney at a club in Spain several years ago --

CANDACE PARKER: Why do we keep including the club in this? We were just out there dancing and I was like, yo, James should be the coach. No, just kidding.

Honestly, so my first experience with James was overseas. I played for Ekaterinburg, Russia. Olaf (Lange) and Sandy were actually my coach, so Olaf was the head coach, Sandy was assistant. James came over to help in the Elite 8, in the final 8, and he just saw the game. You could just tell he was like a disciple of Sandy and Olaf. He just saw the game. He played the game the way that it was evolving, and I just felt like the way that they play, that's like the perfect coach for them.

That was kind of what it was. I think that he's a good coach and he deserved a shot, and I tried to get him in LA and he went to Minnesota as an assistant, and I think that's the reason why we lost in 2017 is some of the adjustments that he made. So yeah.

Q. Allie, you had said earlier that about a month ago this team came to a breaking point and you all kind of looked at each other and said, I'm playing for you. What preceded that moment? What led up to that breaking point for the team?

ALLIE QUIGLEY: I mean, I think it was just the struggles you saw on the court. It was our inconsistency playing. Obviously a seven-game win streak, a seven-game losing streak. We just didn't know who we were. I feel like we were frustrated with ourselves, with each other, and it was because we didn't know who we were.

I think, thank God, first game of the Playoffs in Dallas, we found who we were, and it was by the leadership of our coaches and each other just really buying into our defense and this new way that we all wanted to play and we all believed in.

I think that was the biggest thing that we all believed in and we finally figured out who we were as a team.

CANDACE PARKER: I want to say one thing. Can I say one more thing?

I think Kobe and Gigi have meant so much to our league, so the advice I got from Vanessa (Bryant) before the game was play Gigi's way, and I think we've done that. We've done that all Playoffs, so I want to acknowledge his contribution. And Vanessa said, if Gigi could play, she would play as hard as she could. So I think that was huge in our team and just us overcoming everything that came together. So thank you, Vanessa. We love you, Gigi. We love you, Kobe.