2021 Chicago Sky season

The 2021 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 16th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and its third season under head coach James Wade. In the postseason, the Sky won their first WNBA championship.

2021 Chicago Sky season
WNBA champions
CoachJames Wade
ArenaWintrust Arena
Attendance3,187 per game
Results
Record16–16 (.500)
Place2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishWNBA Champions (Defeated Phoenix Mercury 3–1 in WNBA Finals)
Team Leaders
PointsKahleah Copper – 14.4 ppg
ReboundsCandace Parker – 8.4 rpg
AssistsCourtney Vandersloot – 8.6 apg

The offseason was marked by two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker joining the team. The Sky started the season with two wins but followed with a seven-game losing streak through mid-June. However, they went on a seven-game winning streak that included back-to-back wins over eventual top seed Connecticut. They entered the mid-season Olympic break with a 10–10 record. After the break, they recorded a 4–3 record in August, including back-to-back road wins in Seattle. In September, they began with a road loss and closed out the season with a four game home-stand that they split 2–2, finishing the season 16–16.

The Sky entered the playoffs as the sixth seed. They hosted the Dallas Wings in the First Round, and won in dominating fashion, 81–64. They faced the Minnesota Lynx on the road in the Second Round, winning the game 89–76. Facing the first-seeded Connecticut Sun in a best-of-three semifinals series, they won the Game 1 in double overtime but lost Game 2 on the road. The series returned home to Chicago, where the Sky won both games to win the series 3–1.

The Sky reached the Finals for the first time since 2014. They were only the third team to reach the finals with a record of .500 or below, and the lowest seed to do so since the new playoff format was introduced in 2016. In the WNBA Finals, the Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury in four games to win their first WNBA championship. Their only loss came in overtime in Game 2.[1][2]

Transactions edit

WNBA draft edit

The Sky made the following selections in the 2021 WNBA draft on December 4, 2020.

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
18Shyla Heal  AustraliaTownsville Fire (Australia)
216Natasha Mack  United StatesOklahoma State

Trades and Roster Changes edit

DateTrade or Roster Change
January 7, 2021Waived F Kiah Gillespie[3]
January 9, 2021Full-Season suspend G Maria Conde[3]
January 13, 2021Extended Qualifying Offer to F Alexis Prince[3]
February 1, 2021Signed F Candace Parker[4]
February 9, 2021Acquired the 16th Pick in the 2021 WNBA draft from Dallas in exchange for Chicago's Second Round Pick in the 2022 WNBA draft.[5]
Signed G Brittany Boyd-Jones to a training camp contract[6]
February 17, 2021Signed F Azurá Stevens to a Contract Extension[7]
March 7, 2021Waived F Stephanie Mavunga[8]
March 8, 2021Signed F Astou Ndour[9]
April 13, 2021Signed F Alexis Prince and G Jessica January to Training Camp Contracts[10]
April 17, 2021Signed G Shyla Heal, G Petra Holešínská, F Natasha Mack, F Sierra Campisano, and G Sparkle Taylor[11]
April 20, 2021Signed G Lexie Brown[12]
May 6, 2021Full-Seasons Suspended F Gabby Williams[13]
May 7, 2021Waived G Petra Holešínská[14]
May 9, 2021Traded Gabby Williams to Los Angeles in exchange for Stephanie Watts and the rights to Leonie Fiebich[15]
May 10, 2021Waived G Jessica January, G Sparkle Taylor, and F Sierra Campisano[16]
May 13, 2021Waived G Brittany Boyd-Jones, G Lexie Brown, F Alexis Prince and F Natasha Mack, and F Kobi Thornton[17]
Temporarily Suspend G Shyla Heal[18]
May 15, 2021Signed G Brittany Boyd-Jones to Hardship Contract[19]
May 17, 2021Temporarily Suspend C Stefanie Dolson[20]
May 18, 2021Signed F Natasha Mack to Hardship Contract[21]
May 20, 2021Released G Brittany Boyd from Hardship Contract[22]
May 21, 2021Activated G Shyla Heal from Temporarily Suspension List[23]
May 22, 2021Released F Natasha Mack from Hardship Contract[24]
May 23, 2021Signed F Natasha Mack to Hardship Contract[25]
May 30, 2021Released F Natasha Mack from Hardship Contract[26]
June 1, 2021Signed G Lexie Brown to Hardship Contract[27]
June 2, 2021Traded G Shyla Heal, a 2022 3rd Round Pick, and the option to swap 1st Round Picks in 2022 to the Dallas Wings in exchange for G Dana Evans[28]
Waived G Stephanie Watts
Activate C Stefanie Dolson from Temporary Suspension List[29]
Released G Lexie Brown from Hardship Contract
June 7, 2021Signed F Sierra Campisano[30]
June 8, 2021Waived F Sierra Campisano[31]
Temporarily Suspend F Astou Ndour due to Overseas Commitments
June 9, 2021Signed F Natasha Mack[32]
June 10, 2021Waived F Natasha Mack[33]
June 14, 2021Signed G Lexie Brown[34]
June 30, 2021Activate F Astou Ndour from Temporary Suspension[35]

Roster edit

2021 Chicago Sky roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G7 Brown, Lexie5' 9" (1.75m)162 lb (73kg)1994-10-27Duke3
G/F2 Copper, Kahleah6' 1" (1.85m)165 lb (75kg)1994-08-28Rutgers5
G1 DeShields, Diamond6' 1" (1.85m)172 lb (78kg)1995-03-05Tennessee3
C31 Dolson, Stefanie6' 5" (1.96m)235 lb (107kg)1992-01-08Connecticut7
G11 Evans, Dana5' 6" (1.68m)145 lb (66kg)1998-08-01LouisvilleR
F24 Hebard, Ruthy6' 4" (1.93m)190 lb (86kg)1998-04-28Oregon1
F/C45 Ndour, Astou6' 5" (1.96m)162 lb (73kg)1994-08-22Spain5
F/C3 Parker, Candace6' 4" (1.93m)184 lb (83kg)1986-04-19Tennessee12
G14 Quigley, Allie5' 10" (1.78m)142 lb (64kg)1986-06-20DePaul12
F/C30 Stevens, Azurá6' 6" (1.98m)180 lb (82kg)1996-02-01Connecticut3
G22 Vandersloot, Courtney5' 8" (1.73m)137 lb (62kg)1989-02-08Gonzaga10
Head coach
James Wade (Kennesaw State)
Assistant coaches
Tonya Edwards (Tennessee)
Olaf Lange
Emre Vatansever
Athletic trainer
Meghan Lockerby
Strength and conditioning coach
Ann Crosby (Western Michigan)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Game log edit

Preseason edit

2021 pre-season game log
May: 1–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1May 9@ IndianaL 65–82Kahleah Copper (14)Boyd-Jones
Mack (6)
Brittany Boyd-Jones (3)Bankers Life Fieldhouse
No Fans
0–1
2May 11IndianaW 83–70Astou Ndour-Fall (13)Candace Parker (6)Brittany Boyd-Jones (5)Wintrust Arena
No Fans
1–1
2021 pre-season schedule

Regular season edit

2021 game log
Total: 16–16 (Home: 6–10; Road: 10–6)
June: 8–4 (Home: 3–1; Road: 5–3)
July: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
19July 2@ DallasL 91–100Candace Parker (22)Candace Parker (7)Courtney Vandersloot (9)College Park Center
2,187
10–9
20July 10WashingtonL 85–89 (OT)Stefanie Dolson (20)Candace Parker (13)Courtney Vandersloot (15)Wintrust Arena
8,331
10–10
September: 2–3 (Home: 2–2; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
28September 2@ Las VegasL 83–90Candace Parker (30)Candace Parker (14)Courtney Vandersloot (8)Michelob Ultra Arena
N/A
14–14
29September 5Las VegasW 92–84Allie Quigley (22)Candace Parker (13)Candace Parker (8)Wintrust Arena
5,210
15–14
30September 12WashingtonL 71–79Azurá Stevens (18)Candace Parker (11)Courtney Vandersloot (6)Wintrust Arena
4,707
15–15
31September 17Las VegasL 70–103Candace Parker (20)Azurá Stevens (6)Courtney Vandersloot (6)Wintrust Arena
4,911
15–16
32September 19IndianaW 98–87Diamond DeShields (30)Allie Quigley (8)Diamond DeShields (6)Wintrust Arena
N/A
16–16
2021 season schedule

Playoffs edit

2021 playoff game log
Total: 8–2
First Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1September 23DallasW 81–64Kahleah Copper (23)Candace Parker (15)Candace Parker (7)Wintrust Arena
4,672
1–0
Second Round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1September 26@ MinnesotaW 89–76Courtney Vandersloot (19)Kahleah Copper (10)Courtney Vandersloot (5)Target Center
4,334
1–0
Finals
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1October 10@ PhoenixW 91–77Kahleah Copper (21)Kahleah Copper (10)Courtney Vandersloot (11)Footprint Center
10,191
1–0
2October 13@ PhoenixL 86–91 (OT)Courtney Vandersloot (20)Copper
Parker
Stevens (9)
Courtney Vandersloot (14)Footprint Center
13,685
1–1
3October 15PhoenixW 86–50Kahleah Copper (22)Azurá Stevens (6)Courtney Vandersloot (10)Wintrust Arena
10,378
2–1
4October 17PhoenixW 80–74Allie Quigley (26)Candace Parker (13)Courtney Vandersloot (15)Wintrust Arena
10,378
3–1
2021 playoff schedule

Standings edit

#Team W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1xConnecticut Sun266.81312–315–111–59–1
2xLas Vegas Aces248.750211–413–311–56–4
3xMinnesota Lynx2210.688410–513–39–77–3
4xSeattle Storm2111.65659–611–510–68–2
5xPhoenix Mercury1913.59476–97–912–45–5
6xChicago Sky1616.5001010–56–1010–66–4
7xDallas Wings1418.438127–87–97–93–7
8xNew York Liberty1220.375146–97–95–115–5
9eWashington Mystics1220.375147–88–84–124–6
10eLos Angeles Sparks1220.375142–138–84–121–9
11eAtlanta Dream824.250186–94–124–124–6
12eIndiana Fever626.188204–114–122–142–8

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoff contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings


Playoffs edit

First round
Sept. 23
Second round
Sept. 26
Semifinals
Sept. 28 – Oct. 8
WNBA Finals
Oct. 10 – Oct. 17
2Las Vegas Aces9691609384
4Seattle Storm805Phoenix Mercury90117877687
5Phoenix Mercury835Phoenix Mercury85OT5Phoenix Mercury7791OT5074
8New York Liberty826Chicago Sky91868680
1Connecticut Sun95798369
3Minnesota Lynx766Chicago Sky1012OT688679Third place
6Chicago Sky816Chicago Sky89
7Dallas Wings64

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Statistics edit

Legend
  GPGames 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 gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Source:[36]

Regular Season edit

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Kahleah Copper323230.845.930.681.84.21.80.90.314.4
Candace Parker232326.745.832.979.48.44.00.71.213.3
Allie Quigley261124.444.845.495.92.72.30.50.313.2
Diamond DeShields322226.939.330.082.03.52.31.20.411.3
Courtney Vandersloot323230.543.334.685.73.48.61.70.410.5
Stefanie Dolson241520.048.640.494.73.51.30.30.87.5
Azurá Stevens301119.650.033.381.34.60.80.80.77.4
Astou Ndour-Fall20817.139.723.594.14.80.40.40.86.6
Ruthy Hebard30616.852.90.079.44.40.80.70.75.8
Dana Evans2308.635.640.587.50.51.20.20.03.9
Lexie Brown1709.526.324.20.00.71.10.40.01.6

Awards and honors edit

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Courtney VanderslootEastern Conference Player of the WeekJune 21[37]
Kahleah CopperWNBA All-Star SelectionJune 30[38]
Courtney Vandersloot
Candace Parker
James WadeCoach of the Month – JuneJuly 1[39]
Courtney VanderslootPeak Performer: AssistsSeptember 20[40]
Dana EvansWNBA All-Rookie TeamOctober 5[41]
Courtney VanderslootAll-WNBA Second TeamOctober 15[42]
Kahleah CopperWNBA Finals MVPOctober 17[43]

References edit

  1. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (October 17, 2021). "2021 WNBA Finals - Candace Parker's legacy comes full circle as she leads Chicago Sky to first WNBA championship". ESPN.com.
  2. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (October 17, 2021). "Chicago rallies past Phoenix to win first WNBA crown; Sky's Kahleah Copper named MVP". ESPN.com.
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  8. ^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. March 7, 2021. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
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External links edit