2023 Chicago Sky season
The 2023 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 18th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their fifth season under head coach James Wade. In the offseason, the team saw the departures of several key players in free agency including Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, and Azurá Stevens.
| 2023 Chicago Sky season | |
|---|---|
| Coach | James Wade (until July 1) Emre Vatansever (after July 1) |
| Arena | Wintrust Arena |
| Attendance | 7,242 per game |
| Results | |
| Record | 18–22 (.450) |
| Place | 5th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | 8th seed; Lost 1st Round 0–2 to Las Vegas |
| Team Leaders | |
| Points | Kahleah Copper – 18.7 ppg |
| Rebounds | Alanna Smith – 6.6 rpg |
| Assists | Courtney Williams – 6.3 apg |
|
2024 season → | |
On July 1, 2023, Wade stepped down as the head coach of the Sky to become an assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors in the NBA, so he was replaced by Emre Vatansever for the rest of the season. [1]
The Women’s National Basketball Association announced that the first WNBA Canada Game would feature the Minnesota Lynx and the Sky on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. It was the first-ever WNBA preseason game in Canada.[2]
The Sky started the season well, winning their first two games. However, they lost two of their last three in May to finish the month 3–2. The Sky won two of their first three games in June before going on a six-game losing streak. They defeated Los Angeles twice to finish the month and ended June with a 4–7 record. July began with a win before the team lost four straight games. Wins book-ended two losses to finish the month and the Sky finished with a 3–6 record in July. August started with two back-to-back wins in Dallas, but then the Sky lost five straight games. They finished the month winning three of their last five games to finish August with a 5–6 record. The Sky were battling with Los Angeles for the eighth and final playoff spot entering September. The Sky lost their first game of September, but won the last three to clinch the eighth seed on September 8, after defeating Minnesota.
As the eighth seed in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs, the Sky faced off against the first seed Las Vegas Aces in the First Round. The Sky lost the first game in Las Vegas 59–87. Needing a win in the second game, the Sky lost 70–92 in the second game and were eliminated from the playoffs. Their .450 winning percentage was the worst since 2018 and this was their fifth straight year qualifying for the playoffs.
Transactions
WNBA draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | School/Team/Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 23 | Kayana Traylor |  United States |
Virginia Tech |
| 3 | 35 | Kseniya Malashka |  Belarus |
Middle Tennessee |
Transactions
| Date | Transaction | |
|---|---|---|
| January 11, 2023 | Extended a Qualifying Offer to Rebekah Gardner[3] | |
| February 3, 2023 | Signed Elizabeth Williams[4] | |
| February 4, 2023 | Signed Courtney Williams[5] | |
| February 5, 2023 | Signed Isabelle Harrison[6] | |
| Signed Feyonda Fitzgerald and Robyn Parks to Training Camp Contracts[7] | ||
| February 7, 2023 | Signed Astou Ndour-Fall to a 1-Year Deal[8] | |
| February 11, 2023 | Acquired Marina Mabrey and a 2024 Second-Round Pick (from Phoenix) in a 4-Team Trade involving the Dallas Wings, Phoenix Mercury, and the New York Liberty[9] | |
| February 13, 2023 | Signed Rebekah Gardner to a Reserved Qualifying Offers[10] | |
| February 14, 2023 | Signed Alanna Smith to a 1-Year Deal[11] | |
| Suspended the contract of Julie Allemand for the full season due to her commitments with the Belgium National Team this summer[12] | ||
| February 16, 2023 | Signed Anneli Maley to a Training Camp Contract | |
| February 21, 2023 | Claimed Kristine Anigwe off of Waivers | |
| April 12, 2023 | Suspend the contract of Astou Ndour-Fall for the full season due to a personal decision[13] | |
| Signed Angel Baker to a Training Camp Contract[14] | ||
| April 17, 2023 | Signed Morgan Bertsch to a Training Camp Contract[15] | |
| April 29, 2023 | Signed Kayana Traylor to a Rookie Scale Deal | |
| May 10, 2023 | Waived Angel Baker[16] | |
| May 14, 2023 | Exercised 4th-Year Team Option on Dana Evans | |
| May 17, 2023 | Waived Feyonda Fitzgerald and Kayana Traylor | |
| May 18, 2023 | Suspended the contract of Li Yueru for the Full-Season due to Non-WNBA Injury | |
| Claimed Sika Koné off Waivers[17] | ||
| Waived Anneli Maley[17] | ||
| Placed Ruthy Hebard on the Inactive List due to Pregnancy/Child-Birth[17] | ||
| June 5, 2023 | Temporarily suspend the contract of Kristine Anigwe due to Overseas Commitments | |
| June 9, 2023 | Signed Khaalia Hillsman and Taylor Soule to Hardship Contracts[18] | |
| June 17, 2023 | Released Khaalia Hillsman from the Hardship Contract[19] | |
| June 22, 2023 | Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Kristine Anigwe due to Overseas Commitments | |
| July 1, 2023 | Head Coach James Wade resigned as Head Coach and GM to take an Assistant Coach position with the Toronto Raptors[20] | |
| Promoted Assistant Coach Emre Vatansever to Interim Head Coach/GM[20] | ||
| July 3, 2023 | Activated Ruthy Hebard from the Inactive List due to Pregnancy/Maternity Leave[21] | |
| Waived Kristine Anigwe | ||
| July 27, 2023 | Temporarily suspend the contract of Sika Koné due to Overseas Commitments | |
| August 8, 2023 | Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Sika Koné due to Overseas Commitments | |
| September 10, 2023 | Signed Kahleah Copper to a Contract Extension[22] | |
| October 12, 2023 | Hired Teresa Weatherspoon as Head Coach[23] | |
Roster Changes
Additions
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Subtractions
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Roster
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Schedule
Preseason
| 2023 game log Total: 2–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
May: 2–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–1)
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| 2023 season schedule | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Regular Season
Playoffs
| 2023 playoff game log | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First Round vs. Las Vegas Lost Series: 0-2
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 playoff schedule | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Standings
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB | Conf. | Home | Road | Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x – Las Vegas Aces | 34 | 6 | .850 | – | 18–2 | 19–1 | 15–5 | 9–1 |
| 2 | x – New York Liberty | 32 | 8 | .800 | 2 | 16–4 | 15–5 | 17–3 | 7–3 |
| 3 | x – Connecticut Sun | 27 | 13 | .675 | 7 | 14–6 | 13–7 | 14–6 | 7–3 |
| 4 | x – Dallas Wings | 22 | 18 | .550 | 12 | 11–9 | 11–9 | 11–9 | 6–4 |
| 5 | x – Atlanta Dream | 19 | 21 | .475 | 15 | 11–9 | 11–9 | 8–12 | 6–4 |
| 6 | x – Minnesota Lynx | 19 | 21 | .475 | 15 | 12–8 | 9–11 | 10–10 | 5–5 |
| 7 | x – Washington Mystics | 19 | 21 | .475 | 15 | 9–11 | 12–8 | 7–13 | 5–5 |
| 8 | x – Chicago Sky | 18 | 22 | .450 | 16 | 5–15 | 7–13 | 11–9 | 3–7 |
| 9 | e – Los Angeles Sparks | 17 | 23 | .425 | 17 | 9–11 | 10–10 | 7–13 | 5–5 |
| 10 | e – Indiana Fever | 13 | 27 | .325 | 21 | 5–15 | 6–14 | 7–13 | 2–8 |
| 11 | e – Seattle Storm | 11 | 29 | .275 | 23 | 8–12 | 4–16 | 7–13 | 4–6 |
| 12 | e – Phoenix Mercury | 9 | 31 | .225 | 25 | 2–18 | 8–12 | 1–19 | 1–9 |
Notes
- (#) – League Standing
- x – Clinched playoff berth
- e – Eliminated from postseason contention
- Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Playoffs
| Round One: Best-of-3 | Semifinals: Best-of-5 | Finals: Best-of-5 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 8 | Chicago Sky | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Dallas Wings | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 4 | Dallas Wings | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 5 | Atlanta Dream | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 1 | Las Vegas Aces | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | New York Liberty | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | New York Liberty | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 7 | Washington Mystics | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2 | New York Liberty | 3 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 3 | Connecticut Sun | 2 | ||||||||||||
| 6 | Minnesota Lynx | 1 | ||||||||||||
Bold Series winner
Statistics
| Legend | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game | RPG | Rebounds per game |
| APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game | BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game |
| FG% | Field-goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field-goal percentage | FT% | Free-throw percentage | TO | Turnovers per game |
| PF | Fouls per game | Team leader | League leader | ||||
Regular Season
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahleah Copper | 38 | 38 | 31.2 | .448 | .404 | .770 | 4.4 | 2.0 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 18.7 |
| Marina Mabrey | 39 | 39 | 30.0 | .411 | .390 | .836 | 3.7 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 15.0 |
| Courtney Williams | 40 | 40 | 30.1 | .437 | .443 | .600 | 6.0 | 6.3 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 10.4 |
| Elizabeth Williams | 40 | 40 | 29.7 | .514 | .000 | .630 | 5.8 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 9.8 |
| Alanna Smith | 38 | 35 | 26.5 | .498 | .294 | .679 | 6.6 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 9.2 |
| Dana Evans | 39 | 1 | 21.5 | .360 | .294 | .854 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 9.0 |
| Rebekah Gardner | 3 | 0 | 19.7 | .429 | .600 | 1.000 | 3.7 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 7.0 |
| Morgan Bertsch | 28 | 5 | 14.2 | .456 | .444 | .750 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 4.4 |
| Robyn Parks | 37 | 2 | 13.6 | .381 | .368 | 1.000 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 3.9 |
| Ruthy Hebard | 19 | 0 | 9.2 | .585 | .000 | .650 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 3.9 |
| Sika Koné≠ | 20 | 0 | 9.3 | .532 | .333 | .769 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 3.6 |
| Kristine Anigwe‡ | 10 | 0 | 8.3 | .455 | .000 | .625 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 2.5 |
| Taylor Soule≠ | 15 | 0 | 3.5 | .143 | .000 | .625 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.6 |
| Khaalia Hillsman‡ | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season
Playoffs
| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kahleah Copper | 2 | 2 | 34.5 | .406 | .455 | .750 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 20.0 |
| Dana Evans | 2 | 0 | 22.5 | .417 | .250 | 1.000 | 0.5 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 14.5 |
| Marina Mabrey | 2 | 2 | 32.5 | .348 | .222 | 1.000 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 9.5 |
| Courtney Williams | 2 | 2 | 32.5 | .316 | .286 | .000 | 8.0 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 7.0 |
| Elizabeth Williams | 2 | 2 | 33.0 | .286 | .000 | .000 | 10.0 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 4.0 |
| Alanna Smith | 2 | 2 | 18.0 | .300 | .000 | 1.000 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 |
| Robyn Parks | 2 | 0 | 13.0 | .333 | .333 | .000 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.5 |
| Sika Koné | 2 | 0 | 4.5 | .667 | .000 | .000 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 |
| Ruthy Hebard | 2 | 0 | 7.0 | .250 | .000 | .000 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 |
| Morgan Bertsch | 1 | 0 | 5.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Taylor Soule | 1 | 0 | 1.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Awards and honors
| Recipient | Award | Date awarded | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kahleah Copper | WNBA All-Star | July 1 | [28] |
| Courtney Williams | Eastern Conference Player of the Week | July 5 | [29] |
| Elizabeth Williams | All-Defensive Second Team | September 22 | [30] |
References
- "James Wade leaving Chicago Sky as head coach, accepts assistant coach position with Raptors". cbsnews.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
- "First-Ever WNBA Canada Game to Feature Lynx and Chicago Sky in Toronto". lynx.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- @AnnieCostabile (January 11, 2023). "Sky have extended QO to Rebekah Gardner" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Chicago Sky Sign Elizabeth Williams". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Sign Courtney Williams". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Signs Isabelle Harrison". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Signs Robyn Parks, Feyonda Fitzgerald to Training Camp Contracts". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Welcomes Back Astou Ndour-Fall". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Acquires Marina Mabrey in Four-Team Trade". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Re-Signs Rebekah Gardner". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Signs Alanna Smith". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Roster Update". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
- MARCHIO, COLBY. "Chicago Sky Center Astou Ndour-Fall to Sit Out 2022 Season". ontapsportsnet.com. On Tap Sports. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Signs Angel Baker to Training Camp Contract". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
- "Chicago Sky Signs Morgan Bertsch to Training Camp Contract". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 22, 2023.
- @chicagosky (May 10, 2023). "We have waived Angel Baker" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- @AnnieCostabile (May 18, 2023). "Another sky roster update. This makes sense considering the Sky's needs. Sika Koné is young but has already proven herself internationally. She can do it all. According to a few pieces I've already read on her, she studied Candace Parker's game growing up. Big get for the Sky" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Chicago Sky: Roster Update". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- @chicagosky (June 17, 2023). "We have released Khaalia Hillsman from her hardship contract" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- Philippou, Alexa. "James Wade, Sky GM and coach, joining NBA's Raptors' staff". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- @chicagosky (July 3, 2023). "We have activated Ruthy Hebard off of Pregnancy/Childbirth absence, and have released Kristine Anigwe. Thanks for everything, Kristine! 👊🏾" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- @AnnieCostabile (September 9, 2023). "BREAKING: Kahleah Copper has agreed to a 2-year extension with the Sky. Terms of the deal include $241,984 in year one and $248,134 in year two, Copper's agent Zack Miller of WME tells the Sun-Times.! 👊🏾" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- "Chicago Sky Hire Teresa Weatherspoon as Head Coach". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
- "Former WNBA MVP Parker to sign with Las Vegas". ESPN.com. January 28, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- "'Grateful' Vandersloot writes goodbye to Sky". ESPN.com. February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- "Quigley to sit out WNBA season but not retiring". ESPN.com. February 1, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- "Stevens to join Sparks as Sky exodus continues". ESPN.com. February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
- "Connecticut Sun's Alyssa Thomas, Washington Mystics' Elena Delle Donne Highlight Reserves For 2023 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- "Sky's Courtney Williams named Player of the Week as team wins 3 straight". CBS News Chicago. July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- @WNBA (September 22, 2023). "Your 2023 WNBA All-Defensive Second Team ⬇️ @BetnijahLaney @ezimagbegor @nnekaogwumike @PHEEsespieces @E_Williams_1 #MoreThanGame" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
External links
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