2022 Chicago Sky season

The 2022 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 17th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their fourth season under head coach James Wade. They were the defending league champions after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in the 2021 WNBA Finals.

2022 Chicago Sky season
CoachJames Wade
ArenaWintrust Arena
Attendance7,180 per game
Results
Record26–10 (.722)
Place1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish2nd seed; Lost in Semifinals to Connecticut Sun
Team Leaders
PointsKahleah Copper – 15.7 ppg
ReboundsCandace Parker – 8.6 rpg
AssistsCourtney Vandersloot – 6.5 apg

Entering the offseason, the Sky only had four players from the previous season under contract.[1] The team re-signed Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, and Kahleah Copper and added Emma Meesseman via free agency.[2][3][4] Free agent Stefanie Dolson departed the team and signed with the New York Liberty.[5] In a sign-and-trade deal, free agent Diamond DeShields was traded to the Phoenix Mercury and the Sky added Julie Allemand.[6][7]

The defending champions lost the first game of the season, in overtime. However, they recovered and won their next two games. They finished the month winning three of five and with a 5–3 overall record. The Sky started June strongly, winning five of their first six, before losing to Indiana, on June 19. On June 21, the Sky broke the record for largest comeback win in WNBA history in a 104–95 win over the Las Vegas Aces after being down by 28 points.[8] They used that momentum to win their next three games and finish the month with a 9–2 record. In July the team kept the hot streak going, winning six games in a row from July 7 to July 22. Four players were named to the All-Star Game: Candace Parker, Vandersloot, Copper, and Meesseman.[9] They hosted the Commissioner's Cup, but lost to the Aces. The finished the month 9–2 and secured a playoff berth on July 20. After having secured the berth, their momentum slowed and they finished August with a 3–3 record. Their overall record of 26–10 was a franchise-best. They ended as the second seed in the playoffs.

As the second seed in the playoffs, they hosted a First Round series against the New York Liberty. They lost Game One of the series at home 91–98. They followed that up with a dominant 38 point win at home in Game Two. They Sky had to travel to New York for Game Three, and won by eighteen points to advance to the Semifinals. There, they faced off against the third seed Connecticut Sun. As the higher seed, they again had home court advantage in the series. As in the first round, they lost the first game at home. The Sky followed that up with a home win and a road win. They lost Game Four on the road by 24-points and could not finish the series at home in Game Five, losing 63–72 to end their season.

Transactions edit

WNBA draft edit

The Sky do not have any picks in the 2022 WNBA Draft, having traded their second- and third-round picks to the Dallas Wings and their first-round pick to the Indiana Fever.[10][11][6]

Trades and Roster Changes edit

DateTransaction
January 2, 2022Extended Qualifying Offers to Diamond DeShields and Lexie Brown[12]
January 12, 2022Extended a Core Qualifying Offer to Kahleah Copper[13]
January 25, 2022Hired Ann Wauters as assistant coach[14]
February 3, 2022Traded Diamond DeShields to Phoenix in exchange for Julie Allemand (from Indiana) and 2023 1st round pick (from Phoenix)[6][7]
February 5, 2022Signed Crystal Bradford to a one-year deal[15]
February 9, 2022Signed Kysre Gondrezick and Kamiah Smalls to a training camp contracts[16][17]
February 10, 2022Signed Rebekah Gardner to a training camp contract[18]
February 17, 2022Re-signed Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley to one-year deals[2]
Re-signed Kahleah Copper[3]
February 18, 2022Signed Emma Meesseman[4]
February 25, 2022Signed Kathleen Doyle and Tina Krajišnik to training-camp contracts[19]
March 9, 2022Waived Crystal Bradford[20]
March 11, 2022Signed Anneli Maley to a training-camp contract
March 15, 2022Signed Kaela Davis and Imani McGee-Stafford to training-camp contracts[21]
March 30, 2022Traded Lexie Brown to Los Angeles in exchange for the rights to Li Yueru[22]
Signed Li Yueru to a rookie-scale contract
April 13, 2022Signed Lexie Held and Kayla Wells to training-camp contracts[23]
April 14, 2022Signed Sparkle Taylor and Emmanuelle Tahane to training-camp contracts[24]
April 15, 2022Signed Masseny Kaba to a training-camp contract[25]
April 16, 2022Signed Lindsey Pulliam to a training-camp contract
April 28, 2022Waived Kayla Well and Kamiah Smalls[26]
April 29, 2022Waived Imani McGee-Stafford and Lexi Held[27]
May 2, 2022Waived Lindsey Pulliam
May 4, 2022Waived Kaela Davis, Kysre Gondrezick, Tina Krajišnik, Anneli Maley, and Sparkle Taylor[28]
May 5, 2022Waived Kathleen Doyle, Masseny Kaba, and Emmanuelle Tahane
Temporarily Suspend Julie Allemand, Rebekah Gardner, Kahleah Copper, and Li Yueru due to Overseas Commitments
May 6, 2022Signed Sparkle Taylor, Anneli Maley, Tina Krajišnik, and Kaela Davis to Hardship Contracts
May 9, 2022Released Kaela Davis and Anneli Maley from their Hardship Contracts [29]
Activated Rebekah Gardner from her Temporary Suspension
May 10, 2022Signed Anneli Maley to a Hardship Contract
May 13, 2022Released Sparkle Taylor from the Hardship Contract
Exercised the 4th Year Team Option on Ruthy Hebard and Julie Allemand
May 20, 2022Activated Kahleah Copper from her Temporary Suspension
Released Tina Krajišnik from her Hardship Contract[30]
May 24, 2022Activated Li Yueru from her Temporary Suspension
Released Anneli Maley from her Hardship Contract
August 24, 2022Signed Head coach James Wade to a Contract Extension [31]

Roster edit

2022 Chicago Sky roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G20 Allemand, Julie5' 8" (1.73m)147 lb (67kg)1996-07-07Belgium1
G/F2 Copper, Kahleah6' 1" (1.85m)165 lb (75kg)1994-08-28Rutgers6
G11 Evans, Dana5' 6" (1.68m)145 lb (66kg)1998-08-01Louisville1
G35 Gardner, Rebekah6' 1" (1.85m)130 lb (59kg)1990-07-09UCLAR
F24 Hebard, Ruthy6' 4" (1.93m)190 lb (86kg)1998-04-28Oregon2
F33 Meesseman, Emma6' 4" (1.93m)191 lb (87kg)1993-05-13Belgium7
F/C3 Parker, Candace6' 4" (1.93m)184 lb (83kg)1986-04-19Tennessee14
G14 Quigley, Allie5' 10" (1.78m)142 lb (64kg)1986-06-20DePaul13
F/C30 Stevens, Azurá6' 6" (1.98m)180 lb (82kg)1996-02-01Connecticut4
G22 Vandersloot, Courtney5' 8" (1.73m)137 lb (62kg)1989-02-08Gonzaga11
C28 Yueru, Li6' 7" (2.01m)200 lb (91kg)03-28-1999ChinaR
Head coach
James Wade (Kennesaw State)
Assistant coaches
Tonya Edwards (Tennessee)
Ann Wauters
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

Depth edit

Pos.StarterBench
CCandace ParkerRuthy Hebard
Li Yueru
PFEmma MeessemanAzurá Stevens
SFKahleah CopperRebekah Gardner
SGAllie QuigleyDana Evans
PGCourtney VanderslootJulie Allemand

Schedule edit

Preseason edit

2022 pre-season game log
April: 0–2 (Home: 0–1; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Record
1April 25DallasL 77–92Emma Meesseman (24)Maley
Meesseman (5)
Dana Evans (7)Wintrust Arena
N/A
0–1
2April 30@ IndianaL 75–79Emma Meesseman (13)Emma Meesseman (8)Evans/Taylor (3)Gainbridge Fieldhouse
N/A
0–2
2022 pre-season schedule

Regular Season edit

2022 game log
Total: 26–10 (Home: 14–4; Road: 12–6)
2022 season schedule

Playoffs edit

2022 playoff game log
First Round vs. New York Liberty
Won Series: 2–1
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance
Series
1August 17New YorkL 91–98Kahleah Copper (21)Candace Parker (10)Courtney Vandersloot (10)Wintrust Arena
7,524
0–1
2August 20New YorkW 100–62Kahleah Copper (20)Candace Parker (12)Allie Quigley (8)Wintrust Arena
7,732
1–1
3August 23@ New YorkW 90–72Copper
Quigley (15)
Candace Parker (13)Courtney Vandersloot (10)Barclays Center
7,837
2–1
Semifinals vs. Connecticut Sun
Lost Series: 2–3
2022 playoff schedule

Standings edit

# W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1xLas Vegas Aces2610.72215–313–513–59–1
2xChicago Sky2610.72215–314–412–69–1
3xConnecticut Sun2511.6941.011–713–512–65–5
4xSeattle Storm2214.6114.010–813–59–96–4
5xWashington Mystics2214.6114.011–712–610–85–5
6xDallas Wings1818.5008.08–108–1010–85–5
7xNew York Liberty1620.44410.010–89–97–116–4
8xPhoenix Mercury1521.41711.07–1111–74–143–7
9eMinnesota Lynx1422.38912.08–107–117–114–6
10eAtlanta Dream1422.38912.05–138–106–123–7
11eLos Angeles Sparks1323.36113.06–127–116–123–7
12eIndiana Fever531.13921.02–163–152–162–8

Notes

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

Playoffs edit

Round One:
Best-of-3
Semifinals:
Best-of-5
Finals:
Best-of-5
         
1Las Vegas Aces2
8Phoenix Mercury0
1Las Vegas Aces3
4Seattle Storm1
4Seattle Storm2
5Washington Mystics0
1Las Vegas Aces3
3Connecticut Sun1
2Chicago Sky2
7New York Liberty1
2Chicago Sky2
3Connecticut Sun3
3Connecticut Sun2
6Dallas Wings1

Bold Series winner

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

Regular Season edit

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Kahleah Copper313128.7.481.356.7755.72.30.50.015.7
Candace Parker323228.3.468.311.8168.64.51.01.013.2
Emma Meesseman363628.6.571.342.8875.53.81.40.812.4
Courtney Vandersloot323226.5.481.367.7653.96.51.20.511.8
Allie Quigley343426.3.428.355.9502.52.90.70.211.4
Azurá Stevens35821.9.472.362.7443.90.80.51.110.6
Rebekah Gardner35221.7.542.357.8003.31.31.40.58.4
Sparkle Taylor2012.5.833.0001.0001.00.00.00.05.5
Dana Evans33111.5.377.328.8800.81.20.30.14.3
Julie Allemand25416.1.417.290.8331.63.40.60.13.0
Ruthy Hebard2409.7.510.000.7501.70.50.30.12.3
Anneli Maley4011.0.500.667.0001.80.80.80.32.0
Li Yueru1605.1.444.0001.0001.50.10.10.11.8
Kaela Davis1010.0.000.000.0001.00.00.00.00.0
Tina Krajišnik202.5.000.000.0000.01.00.50.00.0


Waived/Released during the season
Traded during the season
Acquired during the season

Playoffs edit

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Kahleah Copper8830.5.452.346.7953.80.91.60.416.8
Candace Parker8829.4.438.333.75910.84.61.42.614.8
Courtney Vandersloot8828.3.481.261.8003.95.61.10.511.5
Emma Meesseman8829.6.470.300.8334.03.51.50.911.1
Allie Quigley8829.0.338.319.7143.13.11.00.39.6
Azura Stevens8018.8.472.188.6673.80.51.00.97.4
Rebekah Gardner8017.9.389.000.8573.31.80.80.45.0
Dana Evans405.8.600.6001.0000.80.50.50.04.3
Julie Allemand8011.5.500.300.5000.52.00.30.12.5
Ruthy Hebard404.3.200.000.0001.30.30.50.00.5

Awards and honors edit

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Kahleah CopperEastern Conference Player of the WeekJune 21[32]
WNBA All-Star SelectionJune 28[33]
Candace ParkerWNBA All-Star StarterJune 22[34]
All-WNBA First TeamSeptember 15[35]
Courtney VanderslootEastern Conference Player of the WeekJune 27[36]
August 1[37]
WNBA All-Star SelectionJune 28[33]
Emma MeessemanWNBA All-Star SelectionJune 28[33]
James WadeWNBA Coach of the Month - JuneJuly 5[38]
WNBA Coach of the Month - JulyAugust 2[39]
WNBA Basketball Executive of the YearAugust 22[40]
Rebekah GardnerWNBA All-Rookie TeamAugust 25[41]

References edit

  1. ^ Kay, James (January 13, 2022). "5 predictions for the Chicago Sky as WNBA free agency opens, including Allie Quigley and Diamond DeShields moving on". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Chicago Sky re-sign Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Chicago Sky Re-Sign WNBA All-Star and WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 17, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Chicago Sky Sign WNBA Champion, WNBA All-Star, 2019 WNBA Finals MVP Emma Meesseman". Chicago Sky. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  5. ^ Ward, Zack (January 31, 2022). "Stefanie Dolson heading home to New York". Swish Appeal. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Merchant, Sabreena (February 3, 2022). "Three-team trade sends Diamond DeShields to Phoenix". Swish Appeal. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Chicago Sky acquire Julie Allemand in three-team trade". Chicago Sky. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Sky make WNBA-record 28-point comeback in win over Las Vegas; Rebekah Gardner braces for LA homecoming". Chicago Sun-Times. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  9. ^ Pickman, Ben (June 28, 2022). "2022 No. 1 Pick Rhyne Howard Among 12 WNBA ASG Reserves". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  10. ^ "Sky Acquire 2021 Second-Round Draft Pick". Chicago Sky. February 9, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "Chicago Sky Acquire Dana Evans From Dallas". Chicago Sky. June 2, 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  12. ^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  13. ^ Costabile, Annie. "Sky put core designation on WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper". chicago.suntimes.com. Chicago Sun Times. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  14. ^ "CHICAGO SKY HIRE ANN WAUTERS AS ASSISTANT COACH". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
  15. ^ "Chicago Sky Sign Crystal Bradford". Chicago Sky. February 5, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
  16. ^ "Chicago Sky sign Kysre Gondrezick". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "Rachel Galligan Tweet 2". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  18. ^ "Chicago Sky add Kamiah Smalls, Rebekah Gardner to training camp roster". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  19. ^ "Chicago Sky Add Two to Training Camp Roster". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  20. ^ Galligan, Rachel (March 9, 2022). "The Chicago Sky have waived Crystal Bradford. @Winsidr". Twitter. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "Sky Sign Davis, McGee-Stafford, and Maley Ahead of Training Camp". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  22. ^ Costabile, Annie (March 30, 2022). "Sky acquire center Li Yueru in sign-and-trade sending Lexie Brown to Sparks". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  23. ^ "Chicago Sky Adds Two Players Ahead of Training Camp". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  24. ^ "Chicago Sky Continues to Build Training Camp Roster with Addition of Emmanuelle Tahane". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
  25. ^ Rachel, Galligan. "The Chicago Sky have signed Masseny Kaba to a training camp contract out of UCF. @Winsidr". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  26. ^ "We have waived Kamiah Smalls and Kayla Wells". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  27. ^ "We have waived Imani McGee-Stafford and Lexi Held". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  28. ^ "We have waived Kaela Davis, Kysre Gondrezick, Tina Krajisnik, Anneli Maley, and Sparkle Taylor". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
  29. ^ Costabile, Annie. "Sky have waived Kaela Davis to make room for Rebekah Gardner". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  30. ^ "We have activated Kahleah Copper and released Tina Krajišnik". twitter.com. Twitter. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  31. ^ Taylor, Ryan. "Sky extend head coach James Wade through 2025". nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  32. ^ @WNBA (June 21, 2022). "Slight work for the former MVP & Finals MVP! @_ajawilson22 earns her third Player of the Week honors, and @kahleahcopper earns her first 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  33. ^ a b c "Chicago Sky Trio of Kahleah Copper, Emma Meesseman, Courtney Vandersloot Highlight Reserves for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2022". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  34. ^ "AT&T WNBA All-Star Starters Announced With Seattle Storm's Sue Bird Extending Record-Number of All-Star Selections to 13". wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  35. ^ "Kia WNBA MVP A'ja Wilson Leads 2022 All-WNBA First Team" (Press release). WNBA. September 15, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2022.
  36. ^ @WNBA (June 27, 2022). ".@nnekaogwumike & @Sloot22 are your WNBA Players of the Week 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  37. ^ @WNBA (August 1, 2022). "Players of the Week are in! ⤵ Kelsey Plum (@Kelseyplum10) and Courtney Vandersloot (@Sloot22) were straight-up balling last week! 👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. ^ @WNBA (July 5, 2022). ".@coachjameswade is your #WNBA Coach of the Month after leading the @chicagosky to a 9-2 record 🤩👏" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  39. ^ @WNBA (August 2, 2022). "Another WNBA Coach of the Month honor for @coachjameswade 🎉" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  40. ^ Poe, Julia (August 22, 2022). "Chicago Sky coach/GM James Wade named WNBA's Basketball Executive of the Year after team's best regular-season record ever". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  41. ^ Maloney, Jack (August 25, 2022). "2022 WNBA Rookie of the Year: Dream's Rhyne Howard wins honor, highlights All-Rookie team". cbssports.com. CBS. Retrieved August 25, 2022.


External links edit