Chicago Sky sharpshooter Allie Quigley's perseverance pays off

Former castoff Quigley honors late father with on-target shooting in game, contest

July 29, 2018 at 4:47AM
Chicago Sky guard Allie Quigley signed autographs for fans as she arrived at Target Center.
Chicago Sky guard Allie Quigley signed autographs for fans as she arrived at Target Center. (Brian Stensaas — Star Tribune/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

As she stood in the corner of the Target Center court, waiting to start the first round of Saturday's WNBA All-Star three-point shooting contest, Allie Quigley felt just a little bit nervous. The Chicago Sky guard knew exactly how to calm herself down: by thinking of her late father, Pat.

"It's kind of like a strength thing," she said. "I just think about him up there, like an extra angel, giving me extra strength. I just want to play for him."

Quigley won the contest for the second year in a row, earning another $10,000 contribution from the WNBA for a scholarship fund named after her dad. She also notched another major achievement in a league she nearly quit six years ago. After playing for four teams in her first four WNBA seasons, Quigley was cut by Seattle after training camp in 2012 and considered doing something else with her summers while continuing to play overseas in the winter.

Her career was transformed when she was signed by Chicago — her hometown team — in 2013. Saturday, the two-time WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year was cheered by a big group of friends and family at her second All-Star Game, where Quigley scored 18 points for Team Candace Parker in its 119-112 victory over Team Elena Delle Donne.

Quigley, 32, hit four three-pointers in the game — a team high — and showed deadly accuracy in the three-point contest, which was held at halftime. After tying with Las Vegas guard Kayla McBride in the two-person final round, Quigley saved her hottest stretch for the tiebreaker, earning 29 of a possible 34 points for the victory.

"It was so exciting to do it again," said Quigley, who led DePaul to four NCAA tournament appearances from 2004 to '08. "It was a little more interesting than I thought it was going to be, with the tiebreaker.

"It means a lot. My dad passed away when I was young, and the scholarship is for underprivileged kids at the school we both went to [Joliet Catholic Academy]. I think about him right before I start shooting, which is probably why I've been able to win it."

As grateful as she is for winning the $10,000 charity prize two years running, Quigley is most thankful to be playing her best basketball at this point in her career. She played only 34 games total in her first four WNBA seasons, with Phoenix, Indiana, San Antonio and Seattle, and was not signed in 2012.

If any team other than Chicago had called her in 2013, Quigley said, she would have quit. She signed with the Sky and has been a standout for six seasons, playing in the past two All-Star Games.

Now a starter for the Sky, Quigley is averaging 16.0 points per game and making 43.5 percent of her three-point attempts. She was on such a roll in the three-point contest that Lynx forward Maya Moore rubbed her hands on Quigley afterward, hoping to get some of her shooting mojo to transfer.

Pat Quigley died of cancer in 1994, and Allie said his memory has lifted her ever since. Saturday, he was with her as always, on one of her happiest days in the WNBA.

"It's kind of crazy to think that I almost decided not to give [the WNBA] another try," she said. "It's pretty amazing to know that even if a million doors close, if you want something bad enough, it can still happen."

Team Parker forward Angel McCoughtry (35) drove to the basket past Team Delle Donne center Sylvia Fowles (34) in the first half. ] ANTHONY SOUFFLE ï anthony.souffle@startribune.com Team Delle Donne played Team Parker in the annual WNBA All Star Game Saturday, July 28, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis.
Team Delle Donne’s Sylvia Fowles, right, got between Angel McCoughtry and the basket during Saturday’s WNBA All-Star Game at Target Center. McCoughtry, with 10 points on 5-for-13 shooting, was one of seven Team Parker players to reach double figures in scoring. (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
DEERFIELD, IL - MAY 9: during the 2013 Chicago Sky Media Day on May 09, 2013 at the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2013 NBAE (Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 168482075
Quigley (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Rachel Blount

Reporter/Columnist

Rachel Blount is a sports reporter for the Minnesota Star Tribune who covers a variety of topics, including the Olympics, Wild, college sports and horse racing. She has written extensively about Minnesota's Olympic athletes and has covered pro and college hockey since joining the staff in 1990.

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