Neighborhood News: Everything’s looking up for the Chicago Sky’s future
Two days after the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Chicago Tribune reported a surge in ticket sales for the Chicago Sky, the 18-year-old WNBA franchise that brought a championship to this city, led by Naperville native and WNBA starCandace Parker, in 2021.
The excitement is building for the Sky’s19th WNBA season, welcoming new Head Coach Teresa “Spoon” Weatherspoon, thefive-time WNBA All-Star and New Orleans Pelicans Assistant Coach, and General Manager Jeff Pagliocca. On Monday, April 15, the Sky drafted Kamilla Cardoso, the 6’7 centerfrom the University of South Carolina with the 3rd overall pick, 6’3 LSU standoutforwardAngel Reese at #7, and 6’0 guard Brynna Maxwell from Gonzaga University with the 13th overall pick.
The Sky finished the 2023 season with a record of 18-22, and clinched their fifth straight postseason berth.
We are beyond excited,” Chicago Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “This is who we were so excited to get at number three. She has everything we want at six foot seven. She is athletic, a great person, a great teammate, she comes from a winning program and we cannot wait to get her here to Chicago.*
Cardoso was the 2024 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year, averaging 15 2.5 blocks per game, and led the Gamecocks in points (14.4 ppg), rebounds (9.7 rpg), blocks (82 total), and field goal percentage (59.4%).
Of Reese, Pagliocca said, “She is a relentless rebounder, she is a national champion (2023) and an SEC Player of the Year and we cannot wait to see her here in Chi Town.” Reese averaged 23.0 points, 15.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.6 blocks in her junior season, and she recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds in the title-clinching game over Iowa in 2023.
Maxwell was a five-year starter with Gonzaga and Utah. She averaged 12.9 points while shooting 42.7% from three on 5.7 attempts across 154 collegiate appearances (128 starts).
“We strongly feel that Brynna is the best shooter in the nation,” Pagliocca said.
In the beginning…
The Chicago SIn February 2005, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that Chicago had been awarded a new WNBA franchise, which was owned, then as now, by Chicago businessman Michael Alter. Forrmer NBA player and coach Dave Cowens was announced as the team’s first head coach and general manager, and games would be played at the UIC Pavilion. Then- team President and CEO Margaret Stender explained the team colors of yellow and blue represent “[a] beautiful day in Chicago between the blue sky and bright sunlight to highlight the spectacular skyline,” according to Wikipedia sources.
In the 2006 WNBA draft the team selected forward Candice Dupree of Temple University with the sixth overall pick. Dupree earned WNBA All-Rookie honors after averaging 13.7 points per game in 2006. However, the Sky struggled to a 5–29 record, and Cowens departed at the end of the season.
As reported by Brittanica.com, the Sky improved its record over the next several seasons but continued to miss the playoffs. Former Louisiana State University coachPokey Chatman took over as head coach of the Sky in 2011. In 2013 she guided the Sky to a 24–10 record and its first playoff appearance. Chicago advanced to the Eastern Conference semifinals before losing to the Indiana Fever. Although the Sky managed only a 15–19 record in 2014, the team qualified for the playoffs and went on to capture the Eastern Conference title behind the stellar play of forward-guard Elena Delle Donneand center Sylvia Fowles. In the WNBA finals Chicago l to the Phoenix Mercury in three of five game series.
In 2010, the Sky moved their games from the UIC Pavilion to Allstate Arena, where they remained until Wintrust Arena was built in the South Loop. They
In 2015 Delle Donne was selected as the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player (MVP). She led the league in scoring that season, averaging 23.4 points per game, and spearheaded the Sky’s run to the Eastern Conference semifinals, where the team again fell to Indiana. Chicago traded Delle Donne to the Washington Mystics in early 2017. Two losing seasons followed, but the team posted a winning record and made the playoffs in both 2019 and 2020. But during this time, they strengthened their roster with players like future All-Stars Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot, who later married and were key players in their run to the championship.
In February 2021 the Sky signed two-time league MVP Candace Parker to a two-year contract. Although the Sky finished the regular season with a 16–16 record, the team earned a playoff berth and reached the league finals again. There, the Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury in four games to secure the first championship in franchise history. In 2022 the Sky posted a 26–10 record, which tied the Las Vegas Aces for the best record in the league, but Chicago was upset in the second round of the WNBA playoffs.
The Chicago Sky tip off the 2024 regular-season on Wednesday, May 15 against the Dallas Wings in Dallas at 7:00 p.m. For tickets and information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
