2019 WNBA Team Preview: Chicago Sky
While the Chicago Sky have had one of the best backcourts in the WNBA for the past two seasons, it hasn’t been enough for them to make a run at the playoffs.
New head coach James Wade will look to take the Sky to their first playoff berth since 2016. Wade has a phenomenal WNBA pedigree. He worked as an assistant coach for the San Antonio Stars, under current Seattle Storm head coach Dan Hughes. He also worked as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Lynx under Cheryl Reeve during their championship season in 2017. He will bring that experience and winning culture to a talented Sky roster.
2018 Season Recap (13–21, 10th place)
Coach Wade will have his hands full as he tries to improve upon the team’s 13–21 record from 2018, when the Sky led the league in turnovers (15.3 per game) and opponent’s points per game (90.1 per game). Improvements in those categories will go a long way toward getting the Sky back to the playoffs. Since trading away Elena Delle Donne at the end of the 2016 season, Chicago has won only 25 games and have missed the playoffs in both years.
Projected 2019 Starting Five
Courtney Vandersloot [2018 Stats: 12.5 PPG, 8.6 AST, 3.7 RPG]
Vandersloot had a career year in 2018, leading the league in assists for the second time with 8.6 per game. She broke Ticha Penicheiro’s 18-year-old record for most assists in a season, totaling 258 for the season. The 30-year-old point guard will look to build on her success from last year when she set a career high in points per game with 12.5 and had the highest assist rate for a season in the history of the WNBA (43.4%).
Allie Quigley [15.4 PPG, 42.0 3P%, 2.5 AST]
The sharpshooting wing turned in a great season last year. She tied for second in the league with 2.3 3-pointers made, hitting 42.0% from deep. She also won her second straight 3-point contest at the WNBA All-Star Game.
Gabby Williams [7.3 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 1.6 SPG]
The fourth overall pick of the 2018 draft, Williams led the team in steals in her rookie season. She’s played well this preseason, scoring ten points and grabbing six rebounds to go along with three assists and two blocks in a game against the Indiana Fever. If her preseason stats are any indication, she should be able to improve upon her rookie season.
Stefanie Dolson [9.7 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 93.8 FT%]
Last season, Dolson took a step back from the success of two seasons ago, when she averaged 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and a 43.7 three-point percentage. Her three-point shooting took the biggest hit, dropping to 34.6% in 2018, hitting only 18-of- 51 from deep. With more shooting around her, she should be able to have a bounce-back year and regain the form of her 2017 season. She’s the team’s most vocal leader and with a lack of size on the roster, she will have to handle the bulk of the defense inside the paint.
Diamond DeShields [14.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.2 AST]
Last year’s third overall pick had an incredible rookie season in 2018, earning a spot on the All-Rookie Team. She ended last season on a high note, averaging 26.3 points per gam , 5.6 rebounds per game, 66.6 field goal percentage, including an impressive 85.7 3P% during the Sky’s last three games. Assuming she’s 100% recovered from a preseason hamstring injury, DeShields should be ready to improve on her stellar rookie season.
Key Bench Players
Cheyenne Parker [10.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 53.1 FG%]
Parker set career-highs in points, rebounds, and blocks in 2018, her fourth season in the league. She will be a key contributor off the Chicago bench.
Katie Lou Samuelson [UConn Senior Season: 18.5 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 3.9 AST]
The rookie from UConn will likely start her career coming off the bench for the Sky. Known for her 3-point shooting, Lous has become a stronger all-around players as a senior at UConn, grabbing 6.3 rebounds per game and recording 6 double doubles in her senior year. Don’t be surprised if Coach Wade gives Lou a start early in the season as he will likely experiment with different lineups to help spread the floor and take advantage of her 3-point shooting.
Jantel Lavender [5.2 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 90.0 FT%]
Size was an issue for this Sky team before they traded a 2020 second-round draft pick to the Los Angeles Sparks for All-Star forward/center Jantel Lavender. This adds not only a proven veteran with championship experience, but an additional interior presence to help out Dolson. Lavender, a first-round pick in 2011, was an All-Star in 2015, won the WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year award in 2016, and won a WNBA Championship with Los Angeles in 2016.
Prediction
The Sky had the league’s worst defense rating last season.If they can shore up their defense and reduce their turnovers, they should improve on their 13–21 record from 2018. The acquisition of Lavender, as well as the team’s draft picks, have helped fortify the Chicago bench. If all goes according to plan, Chicago could return to the playoffs after a two-year absence.
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