Chicago Sky facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chicago Sky
Conference	Eastern
Leagues	WNBA
Founded	2005
History	Chicago Sky 2006–present
Arena	Wintrust Arena
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Team colors	Sky blue, radiant yellow, black, white
General manager	Jeff Pagliocca
Head coach	Tyler Marsh
Assistant(s)	Crystal Robinson Tamera Young Sydney Johnson
Ownership	Michael J. Alter Margaret Stender Michelle Williams Mathew Knowles
Championships	1 (2021)
Conference titles	1 (2014)
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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 and are part of the Eastern Conference. They had a great run from 2013 to 2016, making the playoffs several times. In 2014, they even played in the WNBA Finals. Later, from 2019 to 2022, they found success again and won their first championship in 2021!

The team is owned by Michael J. Alter and Margaret Stender. Unlike many other WNBA teams, the Chicago Sky is not connected to an NBA team. However, the Chicago Bulls (an NBA team) also play in Chicago.

History of the Chicago Sky

How the Team Started

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

On September 20, 2005, the team's name and logo were officially shown. They chose the name "Chicago Sky" because their colors, yellow and blue, represent a "beautiful day in Chicago between the blue sky and bright sunlight to highlight the spectacular skyline." Some famous WNBA players like Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird were there for the big announcement.

To build the team, they held an expansion draft in November 2005. They picked players like Brooke Wyckoff and Stacey Dales. In February 2006, it was announced that Michelle Williams from the music group Destiny's Child and Mathew Knowles (Beyoncé's father) were also part-owners of the team.

Early Years and Challenges (2006–2012)

In their first season (2006), the Sky won only 5 games and lost 29. They finished last in their conference. After that, Coach Dave Cowens left. Bo Overton became the new coach and general manager. In 2007, the team got better, winning 14 games, but still missed the playoffs. Armintie Price was named the WNBA Rookie of the Year that season.

In 2008, the Sky picked Sylvia Fowles second overall in the 2008 WNBA draft. Even with Fowles, who was injured for much of the season, they didn't make the playoffs. In 2009, they drafted Kristi Toliver. The Sky almost made the playoffs in 2009, finishing just shy.

Sylvia Fowles was a key player for the Sky.

For the 2010 season, the team moved to Allstate Arena. They made some player changes but still missed the playoffs. Coach Steven Key resigned, and Pokey Chatman took over in October 2010.

In 2011, Sylvia Fowles was amazing, averaging 20 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. The Sky finished with a 14-20 record again. In 2012, they started strong but ended with the same 14-20 record. The Sky was the only WNBA team that had never made the playoffs.

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, leading the league in All-Star votes. She helped the Sky get a 24-10 record and finish first in the Eastern Conference.

Delle Donne was named Rookie of the Year. Sylvia Fowles was named Defensive Player of the Year and led the league in rebounds. The Sky made the playoffs for the first time but lost to the Indiana Fever.

Courtney Vandersloot was known for her assists.

In 2014, the Sky had a 15-19 record but still made the playoffs. Allie Quigley, who grew up nearby, was named Sixth Woman of the Year. In the playoffs, they won two series and reached the WNBA Finals for the first time! However, they lost to the Phoenix Mercury in three games.

In 2015, the Sky got Cappie Pondexter. They had a great 2015 season with a 23-11 record. Elena Delle Donne was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Courtney Vandersloot led the league in assists, and Allie Quigley won Sixth Woman of the Year again. But they lost in the playoffs to the Indiana Fever.

In 2016, the Sky finished 4th in the league and made the playoffs again. They lost in the semifinals to the Los Angeles Sparks.

Building a New Team (2017–2018)

In December 2016, Amber Stocks became the new head coach and general manager. The Sky traded Elena Delle Donne and received Kahleah Copper, Stefanie Dolson, and a high draft pick. In 2017, the Sky missed the playoffs.

They drafted Diamond DeShields and Gabby Williams in 2018. The Sky missed the playoffs again in 2018. During these years, Courtney Vandersloot continued to lead the league in assists, and Allie Quigley won the Three-Point Contest twice at the All-Star Game.

Playoffs and First Championship (2019–2022)

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

The 2020 season was shorter because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sky had some injuries and finished with a 12-10 record, losing in the first round of the playoffs.

On February 1, 2021, the Sky signed Candace Parker, a two-time WNBA MVP. Parker grew up near Chicago and wanted to play for her hometown team. The 2021 season was exciting, with both losing and winning streaks. They entered the playoffs as the 6th seed.

On October 17, 2021, the Sky won their first WNBA Championship! They beat the Phoenix Mercury 3-1 in the WNBA Finals. Kahleah Copper was named the Finals MVP. The Sky became the lowest-seeded team to win the championship under the new playoff rules.

In 2022, the team continued its success with a 26-10 record, earning the second seed. They also played in the WNBA Commissioner's Cup but lost to the Las Vegas Aces. In the playoffs, they won their first series but then lost in the semifinals.

Changes and New Beginnings (2023–Present)

The 2023 season brought many changes. Several longtime players, including Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, and Candace Parker, left the team. New players like Marina Mabrey and Courtney Williams joined. In July, coach James Wade left to join an NBA team. Emre Vatansever became the interim coach. The team finished 8th and lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Team Look: Name, Logo, and Uniforms

Uniforms

The Chicago Sky's uniforms have changed over the years:

• 2006–2010: White uniforms for home games with light blue sides. Light blue collars. Away uniforms were light blue with gold sides and gold collars.
• 2011–2012: Similar design but with light blue stripes on the sides for home games and gold stripes for away games. The team name and numbers were in gold.
• 2013–2014: The font for numbers and names changed, but the overall uniform design stayed the same.
• 2015: Magellan Corporation became a sponsor, and their logo was placed on the left shoulder of the jerseys.
• 2016: The WNBA started having all-color uniform matchups. The Sky added a gold uniform to go with their light blue road uniform.
• 2018: University of Chicago Medicine also became a jersey sponsor.

Mascot

The Chicago Sky's mascot is Skye the Lioness. She was introduced on August 26, 2024. Skye was designed by Tom Sapp and Real Characters Inc., who have created mascots for other sports teams. Skye's first game was on August 28, 2024. The team's older mascot, The Sky Guy, will stay on to help Skye during the 2024 season.

Season Records

The Chicago Sky has played many seasons. Here's a quick look at their overall performance:

Players of the Chicago Sky

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

Former Players

Many talented players have been part of the Chicago Sky. Some notable former players include:

• Cappie Pondexter (2015–2017)
• Tamera Young (2009–2017)
• Elena Delle Donne (2013–2016)
• Candice Dupree (2006–2009)
• Sylvia Fowles (2008–2014)
• Stefanie Dolson (2017–2021)
• Gabby Williams (2018–2021)
• Courtney Vandersloot (2011–2022)
• Allie Quigley (2013–2022)
• Kahleah Copper (2017–2023)
• Candace Parker (2021–2022)

Coaches and Staff

Owners

The Chicago Sky is currently owned by Michael J. Alter and Nadia Rawlinson (since 2023).

Head Coaches

Here are the head coaches who have led the Chicago Sky:

General Managers

The general manager helps build the team and makes important decisions about players.

• 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

Assistant coaches help the head coach with training and game strategies.

Media Coverage

You can watch Chicago Sky games on Marquee Sports Network. Some games are also shown on local Chicago channels like WMEU-CD and WCIU-TV. In South Bend, Indiana, you can watch them on WMYS-LD. The local announcers for Sky games are Lisa Byington and Stephen Bardo. Some games are also broadcast nationally on channels like ABC, ESPN, CBS, and NBA TV.

For a couple of seasons, Sky games were on the radio on WVON-AM 1690. But since 2008, they haven't been on regular radio.

Home Arenas

The Chicago Sky has played in a few different home arenas:

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

Images for kids

• 

  The Chicago Sky's home uniform from 2011.

See also

In Spanish: Chicago Sky para niños