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.
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
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
Roster
2023 Chicago Sky roster |
---|
Players | Coaches |
---|
Pos. | No. | Nat. | Name | Height | Weight | DOB | From | Yrs |
---|
F | 25 | | Bertsch, Morgan | 6' 4" (1.93m) | 173 lb (78kg) | 1997-04-20 | UC Davis | R | G/F | 2 | | Copper, Kahleah | 6' 1" (1.85m) | 165 lb (75kg) | 1994-08-28 | Rutgers | 7 | G | 11 | | Evans, Dana | 5' 6" (1.68m) | 145 lb (66kg) | 1998-08-01 | Louisville | 2 | G | 35 | | Gardner, Rebekah | 6' 1" (1.85m) | 130 lb (59kg) | 1990-07-09 | UCLA | 1 | F | 20 | | Harrison, Isabelle | 6' 3" (1.91m) | 183 lb (83kg) | 1993-09-27 | Tennessee | 6 | F | 24 | | Hebard, Ruthy | 6' 4" (1.93m) | 190 lb (86kg) | 1998-04-28 | Oregon | 3 | F | 23 | | Koné, Sika (S) | 6' 4" (1.93m) | 180 lb (82kg) | 2002-07-13 | Mali | R | G | 4 | | Mabrey, Marina | 5' 11" (1.8m) | 170 lb (77kg) | 1996-09-14 | Notre Dame | 4 | F | 21 | | Parks, Robyn | 6' 1" (1.85m) | 170 lb (77kg) | 1992-07-19 | VCU | R | F | 8 | | Smith, Alanna | 6' 4" (1.93m) | 180 lb (82kg) | 1996-09-10 | Stanford | 4 | F | 7 | | Soule, Taylor | 5' 11" (1.8m) | 186 lb (84kg) | 2000-01-05 | Virginia Tech | R | G | 10 | | Williams, Courtney | 5' 8" (1.73m) | 133 lb (60kg) | 1994-05-11 | South Florida | 7 | C | 1 | | Williams, Elizabeth | 6' 3" (1.91m) | 200 lb (91kg) | 1993-06-23 | Duke | 8 |
|
- Head coach
- Emre Vatansever (Marmara University)
- Assistant coaches
- Tonya Edwards (Tennessee)
- Ann Wauters
- Yoann Cabioc'h
- Athletic trainer
- Meghan Lockerby
- Strength and conditioning coach
- Ann Crosby (Western Michigan)
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (DP) Unsigned draft pick
- (FA) Free agent
- (S) Suspended
- Injured
|
Depth
Schedule
Preseason
Regular Season
2023 game log Total: 18–22 (Home: 7–13; Road: 11–9)
|
May: 3–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 2–1)
|
June
: 4–7 (Home: 3–3; Road: 1–4)
Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Record
|
6
|
June 2
|
New York
|
L 76–77
|
Kahleah Copper (20)
|
Kahleah Copper (9)
|
Courtney Williams (7)
|
Wintrust Arena 7,188
|
3–3
|
7
|
June 4
|
@ New York
|
W 86–82
|
Kahleah Copper (27)
|
Courtney Williams (9)
|
Courtney Williams (6)
|
Barclays Center 7,225
|
4–3
|
8
|
June 6
|
Indiana
|
W 108–103 (OT)
|
Marina Mabrey (28)
|
Elizabeth Williams (7)
|
Dana Evans (7)
|
Wintrust Arena 5,201
|
5–3
|
9
|
June 9
|
@ Los Angeles
|
L 62–77
|
Alanna Smith (19)
|
Alanna Smith (9)
|
Marina Mabrey (4)
|
Crypto.com Arena 5,431
|
5–4
|
10
|
June 11
|
@ Las Vegas
|
L 80–93
|
Marina Mabrey (20)
|
Alanna Smith (8)
|
Dana Evans (8)
|
Michelob Ultra Arena 9,786
|
5–5
|
11
|
June 15
|
Indiana
|
L 90–92
|
Marina Mabrey (36)
|
Alanna Smith (11)
|
Courtney Williams (10)
|
Wintrust Arena 6,323
|
5–6
|
12
|
June 18
|
@ Washington
|
L 69–77
|
Morgan Bertsch (16)
|
Alanna Smith (13)
|
Courtney Williams (6)
|
Entertainment and Sports Arena 4,009
|
5–7
|
13
|
June 22
|
Washington
|
L 59–80
|
Alanna Smith (13)
|
Alanna Smith (8)
|
Courtney Williams (9)
|
Wintrust Arena 6,158
|
5–8
|
14
|
June 25
|
@ Connecticut
|
L 72–96
|
Kahleah Copper (29)
|
Kahleah Copper (7)
|
Evans Mabrey C. Williams (5)
|
Mohegan Sun Arena 6,517
|
5–9
|
15
|
June 28
|
Los Angeles
|
W 80–63
|
Courtney Williams (21)
|
Courtney Williams (9)
|
Marina Mabrey (4)
|
Wintrust Arena 8,810
|
6–9
|
16
|
June 30
|
Los Angeles
|
W 86–78
|
Alanna Smith (18)
|
Courtney Williams (11)
|
Courtney Williams (13)
|
Wintrust Arena 7,272
|
7–9
|
|
July
: 3–6 (Home: 1–5; Road: 2–1)
|
August
: 5–6 (Home: 1–3; Road: 4–3)
Game |
Date |
Team |
Score |
High points |
High rebounds |
High assists |
Location Attendance |
Record
|
26
|
August 4
|
@ Dallas
|
W 104–89
|
Copper C. Williams (25)
|
Courtney Williams (6)
|
Courtney Williams (6)
|
College Park Center 3,762
|
11–15
|
27
|
August 6
|
@ Dallas
|
W 104–96
|
Marina Mabrey (32)
|
Courtney Williams (8)
|
Courtney Williams (8)
|
College Park Center 4,057
|
12–15
|
28
|
August 8
|
Minnesota
|
L 79–88
|
Kahleah Copper (23)
|
Elizabeth Williams (9)
|
Courtney Williams (6)
|
Wintrust Arena 5,099
|
12–16
|
29
|
August 11
|
New York
|
73–89
|
Alanna Smith (19)
|
Courtney Williams (10)
|
Courtney Williams (6)
|
Wintrust Arena 8,070
|
12–17
|
30
|
August 13
|
@ Washington
|
L 76–83
|
Kahleah Copper (17)
|
Elizabeth Williams (12)
|
Courtney Williams (7)
|
Entertainment and Sports Arena 3,796
|
12–18
|
31
|
August 18
|
@ Atlanta
|
L 67–78
|
Dana Evans (18)
|
Alanna Smith (12)
|
Elizabeth Williams (5)
|
Gateway Center Arena 2,957
|
12–19
|
32
|
August 20
|
Connecticut
|
L 73–79
|
Kahleah Copper (15)
|
Alanna Smith (8)
|
C. Williams E. Williams (6)
|
Wintrust Arena 6,901
|
12–20
|
33
|
August 22
|
Seattle
|
W 102–79
|
Dana Evans (23)
|
Alanna Smith (7)
|
Dana Evans (8)
|
Wintrust Arena 4,822
|
13–20
|
34
|
August 24
|
Las Vegas
|
L 87–94
|
Marina Mabrey (22)
|
Elizabeth Williams (9)
|
Courtney Williams (6)
|
Wintrust Arena 8,084
|
13–21
|
35
|
August 27
|
@ Seattle
|
W 90–85
|
Elizabeth Williams (23)
|
Kahleah Copper (12)
|
C. Williams Evans (6)
|
Climate Pledge Arena 9,893
|
14–21
|
36
|
August 29
|
@ Los Angeles
|
W 76–75
|
Kahleah Copper (22)
|
C. Williams E. Williams (9)
|
Courtney Williams (7)
|
Crypto.com Arena 6,041
|
15–21
|
|
September
: 3–1 (Home: 1–1; Road: 2–0)
|
2023 season schedule
|
Playoffs
Standings
Notes
- (#) – League Standing
- x – Clinched playoff berth
- e – Eliminated from postseason contention
- Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings
Playoffs
- Bold – Series winner
- Italic – Team with home-court advantage
Statistics
Regular Season
‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season
Playoffs
Awards and honors
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.
- ^ a b c @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.
- ^ a b 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
|
---|
|
Franchise | |
---|
Arenas | |
---|
Head coaches | |
---|
Administration | |
---|
Retired numbers
| |
---|
All-Stars | |
---|
Seasons | |
---|
Playoff appearances | |
---|
Conference Championships / Finals appearances | |
---|
WNBA Championships | |
---|
Rivals | |
---|
Media | |
---|