Sunday was special at the Chicago Sky game. Billed as Super Hero Day, it could have been DePaul Day, as the Sky hosted the Phoenix Mercury.
Former DePaul star Lexi Held is having a solid rookie season for the Mercury. That attracted family, friends, former DePaul coach Doug Bruno and DePaul alumni. Held received a huge ovation whenever she entered the game.
As usual, I arrived early, wanting to watch pre-game drills. I always enjoy seeing stadiums go from empty and serene to full chaos as fans arrive. Although I immediately saw Held, it wasn’t the time to chat with her. After watching practice for a while, I roamed the stadium. I enjoyed great food at a few of the arena’s dining sections before settling into my courtside seat.
Despite the absence of Sky star Angel Reese, the arena was filled and raucous. It got louder as the Sky built a 10-point lead. Unfortunately, the Mercury roared back to win 83–67. I’m not giving total credit to Held, but the game did turn around when she entered late in the first quarter.
After the game, I attended the media session featuring Sky players Maddy Westbald and Michaela Onyenwere. Despite losing eight consecutive games, they remained upbeat.
When I walked back to the court, I was greeted by Bruno. A Women’s Basketball Hall of Famer, Bruno always treated me with the utmost respect while I covered the Blue Demons. After battling illness a couple years back, Bruno looked and sounded great.
Held welcomed me warmly on the same court where we all celebrated big DePaul wins. I congratulated her on her fine rookie season. Averaging 18.5 minutes and seven points per game, Held is a solid contributor on the second-place Mercury. Knowing how hard she worked, it was wonderful to see her here.
Continuing my nostalgic DePaul day, I walked a couple blocks to Pizano’s, one of my favorite pizza spots. Seeing Held and a chicken pizza eased the pain of the Sky loss.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
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