Chicago Sky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chicago Sky
Conference	Eastern
Leagues	WNBA
Founded	February 8, 2005; 20 years ago (2005-02-08)
History	Chicago Sky 2006–present
Arena	Wintrust Arena
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Team colors	Sky blue, radiant yellow, black, white
Main sponsor	Magellan Corporation
CEO	Adam Fox
General manager	Jeff Pagliocca
Head coach	Tyler Marsh
Assistant(s)	Courtney Paris Tanisha Wright Rena Wakama
Ownership	Michael J. Alter Nadia Rawlinson Harvey Alter John Rogers
Championships	1 (2021)
Conference titles	1 (2014)
Retired numbers	1 (14)
Heroine Explorer Rebel

The Chicago Sky is a professional basketball team from Chicago, USA. They play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The Sky joined the league in 2006. They are part of the Eastern Conference.

The team had great success between 2013 and 2016. During this time, they reached the playoffs four times. They even played in the 2014 WNBA Finals. The Sky had another strong period from 2019 to 2022. They won their first championship in the 2021 WNBA Finals.

The Chicago Sky is owned by Michael J. Alter and Nadia Rawlinson. Unlike many WNBA teams, they are not connected to an NBA team. However, the Chicago Bulls also play basketball in Chicago.

Team History: How the Sky Began

Starting the Team (2005)

In February 2005, the WNBA announced a new team for Chicago. It was first called WNBA Chicago. On May 27, 2005, Dave Cowens, a former NBA player and coach, became the team's first coach. He was also the general manager. The team's home court was the UIC Pavilion.

The team's name and logo were revealed on September 20, 2005. This event happened at the Adler Planetarium. The team's president, Margaret Stender, explained the colors. Yellow and blue represent a "beautiful day in Chicago." They show the blue sky and bright sunlight over the city's skyline. Famous WNBA players like Diana Taurasi attended the event.

In November 2005, the team picked players in a special "expansion draft." This helped them build their first roster.

Early Years and Challenges (2006–2012)

In their first season in 2006, the Sky had a record of 5 wins and 29 losses. They finished last in their conference. After this, Coach Dave Cowens left. Bo Overton became the new coach and general manager.

In 2007, the team improved, winning 14 games. But they still missed the playoffs. Armintie Price was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year. In 2008, Overton resigned. Steven Key took over as coach and general manager.

Sylvia Fowles

The Sky picked Sylvia Fowles second overall in the 2008 draft. They still missed the playoffs that year. In 2009, they picked Kristi Toliver. The team got closer to the playoffs but just missed out.

For the 2010 season, the Sky moved to Allstate Arena. They drafted Epiphanny Prince. The team made some player changes. They finished with 14 wins and 20 losses, missing the playoffs again. Steven Key resigned. Pokey Chatman became the new coach and general manager.

In 2011, the Sky drafted Courtney Vandersloot. Sylvia Fowles was a star player. She averaged 20 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. Fowles was named Defensive Player of the Year. The team finished 14–20 for the second year in a row.

Before the 2012 season, the Sky added experienced players. They signed Ticha Penicheiro and Ruth Riley. They also traded for Swin Cash. The team started strong but injuries hurt their season. They finished 14–20 for the third straight year.

Reaching the Playoffs (2013–2016)

The 2013 season was a big change for the Sky. They drafted Elena Delle Donne second overall. Delle Donne quickly became a star. She led the team to a 24–10 record. This was their best record ever. They finished first in the Eastern Conference.

Delle Donne was named Rookie of the Year. Fowles won Defensive Player of the Year again. She also led the league in rebounds. The Sky made the playoffs for the first time. They lost to the Indiana Fever in the semifinals.

Courtney Vandersloot

In 2014, the Sky had a 15–19 record. But they still made the playoffs. Allie Quigley, who grew up nearby, was named Sixth Woman of the Year. In the playoffs, they won two series. This led them to the 2014 WNBA Finals for the first time. They played against the Phoenix Mercury and lost in three games.

In 2015, the Sky added Cappie Pondexter. Elena Delle Donne was named the league's MVP. Courtney Vandersloot led the league in assists. Allie Quigley won Sixth Woman of the Year again. The team finished 21–13. But they lost to the Indiana Fever in the playoffs.

In 2016, the WNBA changed its playoff rules. The Sky finished 4th in the league. They returned to the playoffs. They lost to the Los Angeles Sparks in the semifinals.

Rebuilding the Team (2017–2018)

The Sky hired Amber Stocks as coach and general manager in December 2016. They traded Elena Delle Donne to the Washington Mystics. In return, they got Kahleah Copper, Stefanie Dolson, and a draft pick. In 2017, the Sky finished 12–22 and missed the playoffs. This was their first time missing them in five seasons.

Before the 2018 season, the Sky moved their home games to Wintrust Arena. They drafted Diamond DeShields and Gabby Williams. The team finished 13–21 and missed the playoffs again. Amber Stocks was replaced as coach and general manager. During these years, Courtney Vandersloot led the league in assists. Allie Quigley won the Three-Point Contest twice.

Championship Victory (2019–2022)

In November 2018, James Wade became the new coach and general manager. The 2019 season was a big improvement. The Sky finished with a 20–14 record. They made the playoffs as the fifth seed. Wade won Coach of the Year. Courtney Vandersloot set a new record for assists per game. Vandersloot, Quigley, and DeShields were all All-Stars. The Sky won their first playoff game. But they lost a close game to the Las Vegas Aces.

The 2020 season was shorter due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sky played in a "bubble" in Florida. They had injuries and finished 12–10. They lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Candace Parker

On February 1, 2021, the Sky signed Candace Parker. She was a two-time MVP. Parker grew up in Illinois and wanted to play for her hometown team. The 2021 season was full of ups and downs. They had a seven-game losing streak and a seven-game winning streak. They finished 16–16.

The Sky entered the playoffs as the 6th seed. They won two single-elimination games. Then they won their semifinals series. On October 17, 2021, the Sky won their first WNBA Championship! They beat the Phoenix Mercury 3–1 in the 2021 WNBA Finals. Kahleah Copper was named the Finals MVP. The Sky became the lowest-seeded team to win the championship.

In 2022, the team continued its success. They finished with a 26–10 record. They were the second seed in the playoffs. They won their first-round series. But they lost in the semifinals to the Connecticut Sun.

Changes and New Beginnings (2023–Present)

The 2023 season brought many changes for the Sky. Many key players left the team. These included Vandersloot, Quigley, and Parker. The team added new players like Marina Mabrey and Courtney Williams. Coach James Wade resigned in July. Emre Vatansever became the interim coach. The team finished 18–22 and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

In October 2023, Teresa Weatherspoon became the new head coach. Jeff Pagliocca became the new general manager. More players left the team. The Sky acquired high draft picks in the 2024 WNBA draft. They selected Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. The 2024 season saw the Sky finish 13–27. They did not make the playoffs. After the season, Weatherspoon was replaced.

In November 2024, Tyler Marsh was named the new head coach. Courtney Vandersloot returned to the team. The Sky also traded for Ariel Atkins.

Team Look: Name, Logo, and Uniforms

Uniforms

• 2006–2010: Home uniforms were white with light blue sides. Away uniforms were light blue with gold sides.
• 2011–2012: Similar design, but with stripes on the sides. The team name and numbers were in gold.
• 2013–2014: The font for numbers and names changed.
• 2015: Magellan Corporation became the new jersey sponsor. Their logo was on the left shoulder.
• 2016: The WNBA started all-color uniform games. The Sky added a gold uniform.
• 2018: University of Chicago Medicine joined Magellan as a jersey sponsor.

Mascot

Skye the Lioness is the Chicago Sky's mascot. She was introduced on August 26, 2024. Skye replaced the team's old mascot, "Sky Guy." The idea for a lioness came from the famous lion statues at the Art Institute of Chicago.

Skye was designed by Tom Sapp and Real Characters Inc. They have created mascots for other sports teams. Skye's first game was on August 28, 2024. Sky Guy stayed with the team for the 2024 season to help Skye get started.

Team Records: Season by Season

Players

Current Roster

Chicago Sky roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Nat. Name Height Weight DOB From Yrs G 20 Allemand, Julie 5' 8" (1.73m) 147 lb (67kg) 07-07-1996 Belgium 1 G/F 2 Copper, Kahleah 6' 1" (1.85m) 165 lb (75kg) 08-28-1994 Rutgers 6 G 11 Evans, Dana 5' 6" (1.68m) 145 lb (66kg) 08-01-1998 Louisville 1 G 35 Gardner, Rebekah 6' 1" (1.85m) 130 lb (59kg) 07-09-1990 UCLA R F 24 Hebard, Ruthy 6' 4" (1.93m) 190 lb (86kg) 04-28-1998 Oregon 2 F 33 Meesseman, Emma 6' 4" (1.93m) 191 lb (87kg) 05-13-1993 Belgium 7 F/C 3 Parker, Candace 6' 4" (1.93m) 184 lb (83kg) 04-19-1986 Tennessee 14 G 14 Quigley, Allie 5' 10" (1.78m) 142 lb (64kg) 06-20-1986 DePaul 13 F/C 30 Stevens, Azurá 6' 6" (1.98m) 180 lb (82kg) 02-01-1996 Connecticut 4 G 22 Vandersloot, Courtney 5' 8" (1.73m) 137 lb (62kg) 02-08-1989 Gonzaga 11 C 28 Yueru, Li 6' 7" (2.01m) 200 lb (91kg) 03-28-1999 China R	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 Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended Injured   WNBA roster page
East ATL CHI CON IND NY WAS West DAL LV LA MIN PHO SEA

Retired Numbers

The Chicago Sky has retired one jersey number to honor a special player.

Famous Former Players

• Cappie Pondexter (2015–2017)
• Tamera Young (2009–2017)
• Elena Delle Donne (2013–2016)
• Candice Dupree (2006–2009)
• Sylvia Fowles (2008–2014)
• Jia Perkins (2006–2010)
• Brooke Wyckoff (2006–2009)
• Stefanie Dolson (2017–2021)
• Allie Quigley (2013–2022)
• Kahleah Copper (2017–2023)
• Candace Parker (2021–2022)

Coaches and Staff

Owners

• Michael J. Alter and Nadia Rawlinson (2023–present)

Head Coaches

General Managers

• Dave Cowens (2006)
• Bo Overton (2007)
• Steven Key (2008–2010)
• Pokey Chatman (2011–2016)
• Amber Stocks (2017–2018)
• James Wade (2019–2023)
• Emre Vatansever (2023)
• Jeff Pagliocca (2024–present)

Assistant Coaches

Team Statistics

Media Coverage

Chicago Sky games are shown locally on The U. Lisa Byington and Stephen Bardo are the local broadcasters. Some games are also shown nationally on channels like ABC, ESPN, CBS, CBS Sports Network, Ion, or NBA TV.

The Sky used to have radio broadcasts on WVON-AM 1690. But they have not been on radio since 2008.

Home Arenas

• UIC Pavilion (2006–2009)
• Allstate Arena (2010–2017)
• Wintrust Arena (2018–present)

See also

In Spanish: Chicago Sky para niños