Attending my first Chicago Sky game this season, I decided to make a day of it in downtown Chicago. I started the day checking out the Loop Mural Walk (see yesterday’s blog), watched the Sky win and finished with victory pizza at Pizano’s.

The Sky beat the Connecticut Sun 81–75. Trailing most of the first half, the Sky had a big third quarter to take the lead. After seven straight losses, the Sky is on a four-game winning streak. Prior to the season, I predicted the Sky would make the championship game, and the team is finally playing like a contender.

Courtney Vandersloot photo courtesy of Chicago Sky – WNBA.

The largest crowd of the season included a large contingent from Wisconsin to see Green Bay native and Marquette University product Natisha Hiedeman of the Sun, and she responded with 13 points. Equally as large was the group of family and friends cheering for hometown Sky player Candace Parker, who recently returned from a season-long nagging injury. Parker hit a big shot near the end of the game, causing the crowd to erupt.

Natisha Hiedeman photo courtesy of Connecticut Sun WNBA

After the game, we walked across the street to Pizano’s to celebrate the big win. The original Pizano’s was opened in 1991 by Rudy Malnati, Jr. Rudy’s father founded Pizzeria Uno and his brother Lou established Lou Malnati’s, two iconic Chicago pizza spots. Unlike the Chicago-style deep-dish pizza served at those places, Pizano’s features a thin crust, developed by the late Donna Malnati, although she preferred the deep-dish pizza.

It was a long but fun day. Of course, I made sure to order enough pizza to have leftovers the next day. Victory pizza is always good even warmed the day after the win.

— John Wroblewski, writer