Chicago Sky
Encyclopedia
The Chicago Sky is a professional basketball
team based in Rosemont, Illinois
, playing in the Eastern Conference
in the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA). The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season
began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter (principle owner) and Margaret Stender (minority owner). Like some other WNBA teams, the Sky has the distinction of not being affiliated with an NBA counterpart, although an NBA team, the Chicago Bulls
, also plays in the same city.
The Sky has missed the WNBA Playoffs
in each of its five years in Chicago. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as Rutgers standout Epiphanny Prince
, imposing center Sylvia Fowles
, and young point guard Courtney Vandersloot
.
announced that Chicago had been awarded with a new WNBA franchise. The franchise was temporarily named WNBA Chicago. On May 27, 2005, former NBA
player and coach Dave Cowens
was announced as the team's first head coach and general manager. The team home would be the UIC Pavilion
.
The team name and logo for the Chicago Sky were formally debuted on September 20, 2005, at the Adler Planetarium
. Team President and CEO
Margaret Stender
claimed the team colors of yellow and blue represent "A beautiful day in Chicago between the blue sky
and bright sunlight
to highlight the spectacular skyline."
The team's introduction in Chicago was highlighted by the appearance of several WNBA star players, including 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year
Diana Taurasi
, 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year Temeka Johnson
, 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year Sue Bird
and 2003 WNBA Champion
Ruth Riley
.
In November 2005, the team held an expansion draft
to help build its roster of players. Among the notable selections were Brooke Wyckoff from the Connecticut Sun
, Bernadette Ngoyisa
from the San Antonio Silver Stars
, Elaine Powell
from the Detroit Shock
and Stacey Dales
(who had retired prior to the 2005 season) from the Washington Mystics
.
On February 28, 2006, the team announced that two of the minority shareholders of the team are Michelle Williams
, from the vocal group Destiny's Child
and Matthew Knowles, father of Destiny's Child lead singer Beyoncé Knowles
.
, and finished last in the Eastern Conference.
After the season, Dave Cowens
resigned from the Sky to join the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons
. University of Missouri-Kansas City women's head basketball coach Bo Overton
was named the Chicago Sky's new head coach and general manager on December 12, 2006.
Their WNBA-worst 2006 record of 5-29 gave them the best chance of drawing the top pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft
. However, the Sky would not draw either of the top two picks, and ended up with the third overall pick, which they used to select Armintie Price
. They would get the first pick in the dispersal draft of the Charlotte Sting
which they used to select Monique Currie
.
In 2007, the Sky would field a vastly improved team. The core group of players from 2006 along with some new additions helped make the team competitive. The Sky would be in the Eastern Conference
playoff picture all year long, even holding the #4 seed for part of the season. But the Sky finished with a 14-20 record, two games behind the fourth and final playoff spot. Guard Armintie Price was named the 2007 WNBA Rookie of the Year after the season.
On March 12, 2008 the Sky announced that Head Coach Bo Overton
resigned his position of coach/general manager. Assistant coach Steven Key
was named head coach/general manager of the Sky.
The Sky selected Sylvia Fowles
with the second overall pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft
.
In the 2008 season, the Sky would once again fail to make the playoffs, posting a 12-22 record, finishing 5th in the East. The Sky's number one pick in the draft Sylvia Fowles was injured for most of the season.
In the off season Chicago Sky rookie center Sylvia Fowles was selected to play on the United States Olympic team. In the Beijing Olympics she averaged 13.4 ppg and 8.4 rbg leading her team to a perfect record in the Olympics and a gold medal.
, the Chicago Sky selected point guard Kristi Toliver
with the 3rd pick. A standout player from the University of Maryland, Toliver was known for her impressive shooting ability and propensity to produce in clutch situations. Never was this more evident than in the 2006 National Championship game when Toliver, then a freshman, hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime against Duke, eventually leading to a win and Maryland's first National Championship. In her debut season she averaged 7.6 ppg, 1.4 rbg and 1.9 apg.
In the 2009 season, the team had high hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time. The Sky would be in the their Conference playoff picture all year long, even holding the number two seed for a small portion of their season. Unfortunately, despite with a franchise record of 16-18, the Sky were again eliminated from playoff contention after being involved in a three-team tiebreaker, with the Washington Mystics
winning the breaker, and the Sky finished 5th in the Eastern Conference.
On August 17, 2009, the Sky announced that the team's new home would be Allstate Arena
. This change would go into effect beginning with the 2010 WNBA season
. The Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach signed a two year contract extension on September 25, 2009. On September 23, 2009 USA Basketball announced to the public that Dupree is one of 14 athletes who were invited to attend the fall training camp of the U.S. women's national team at American University in Washington. She joined her Sky teammate center Sylvia Fowles, who is anticipated to make the Olympic roster for the 2012 Games in London.
Entering the 2010 season, the Sky made some offseason moves. The Sky traded Candice Dupree
to the Phoenix Mercury
, and acquired Shameka Christon
and Cathrine Kraayeveld
from the New York Liberty
. Then, they traded Kristi Toliver
to the Los Angeles Sparks
.
When the regular season began, they opened the season losing their first four games. At one point during the season, they were at .500, just a few games back for the final playoff spot. However, the Sky ended up losing eight of their final ten games of the season, eliminating the Sky from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season. They finished 14-20, sixth in the Eastern Conference.
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky statistics
|- valign="top"
|
|-
|
The Chicago Sky is a professional basketball
team based in Rosemont, Illinois
, playing in the Eastern Conference
in the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA). The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season
began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter (principle owner) and Margaret Stender (minority owner). Like some other WNBA teams, the Sky has the distinction of not being affiliated with an NBA counterpart, although an NBA team, the Chicago Bulls
, also plays in the same city.
The Sky has missed the WNBA Playoffs
in each of its five years in Chicago. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as Rutgers standout Epiphanny Prince
, imposing center Sylvia Fowles
, and young point guard Courtney Vandersloot
.
announced that Chicago had been awarded with a new WNBA franchise. The franchise was temporarily named WNBA Chicago. On May 27, 2005, former NBA
player and coach Dave Cowens
was announced as the team's first head coach and general manager. The team home would be the UIC Pavilion
.
The team name and logo for the Chicago Sky were formally debuted on September 20, 2005, at the Adler Planetarium
. Team President and CEO
Margaret Stender
claimed the team colors of yellow and blue represent "A beautiful day in Chicago between the blue sky
and bright sunlight
to highlight the spectacular skyline."
The team's introduction in Chicago was highlighted by the appearance of several WNBA star players, including 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year
Diana Taurasi
, 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year Temeka Johnson
, 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year Sue Bird
and 2003 WNBA Champion
Ruth Riley
.
In November 2005, the team held an expansion draft
to help build its roster of players. Among the notable selections were Brooke Wyckoff from the Connecticut Sun
, Bernadette Ngoyisa
from the San Antonio Silver Stars
, Elaine Powell
from the Detroit Shock
and Stacey Dales
(who had retired prior to the 2005 season) from the Washington Mystics
.
On February 28, 2006, the team announced that two of the minority shareholders of the team are Michelle Williams
, from the vocal group Destiny's Child
and Matthew Knowles, father of Destiny's Child lead singer Beyoncé Knowles
.
, and finished last in the Eastern Conference.
After the season, Dave Cowens
resigned from the Sky to join the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons
. University of Missouri-Kansas City women's head basketball coach Bo Overton
was named the Chicago Sky's new head coach and general manager on December 12, 2006.
Their WNBA-worst 2006 record of 5-29 gave them the best chance of drawing the top pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft
. However, the Sky would not draw either of the top two picks, and ended up with the third overall pick, which they used to select Armintie Price
. They would get the first pick in the dispersal draft of the Charlotte Sting
which they used to select Monique Currie
.
In 2007, the Sky would field a vastly improved team. The core group of players from 2006 along with some new additions helped make the team competitive. The Sky would be in the Eastern Conference
playoff picture all year long, even holding the #4 seed for part of the season. But the Sky finished with a 14-20 record, two games behind the fourth and final playoff spot. Guard Armintie Price was named the 2007 WNBA Rookie of the Year after the season.
On March 12, 2008 the Sky announced that Head Coach Bo Overton
resigned his position of coach/general manager. Assistant coach Steven Key
was named head coach/general manager of the Sky.
The Sky selected Sylvia Fowles
with the second overall pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft
.
In the 2008 season, the Sky would once again fail to make the playoffs, posting a 12-22 record, finishing 5th in the East. The Sky's number one pick in the draft Sylvia Fowles was injured for most of the season.
In the off season Chicago Sky rookie center Sylvia Fowles was selected to play on the United States Olympic team. In the Beijing Olympics she averaged 13.4 ppg and 8.4 rbg leading her team to a perfect record in the Olympics and a gold medal.
, the Chicago Sky selected point guard Kristi Toliver
with the 3rd pick. A standout player from the University of Maryland, Toliver was known for her impressive shooting ability and propensity to produce in clutch situations. Never was this more evident than in the 2006 National Championship game when Toliver, then a freshman, hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime against Duke, eventually leading to a win and Maryland's first National Championship. In her debut season she averaged 7.6 ppg, 1.4 rbg and 1.9 apg.
In the 2009 season, the team had high hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time. The Sky would be in the their Conference playoff picture all year long, even holding the number two seed for a small portion of their season. Unfortunately, despite with a franchise record of 16-18, the Sky were again eliminated from playoff contention after being involved in a three-team tiebreaker, with the Washington Mystics
winning the breaker, and the Sky finished 5th in the Eastern Conference.
On August 17, 2009, the Sky announced that the team's new home would be Allstate Arena
. This change would go into effect beginning with the 2010 WNBA season
. The Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach signed a two year contract extension on September 25, 2009. On September 23, 2009 USA Basketball announced to the public that Dupree is one of 14 athletes who were invited to attend the fall training camp of the U.S. women's national team at American University in Washington. She joined her Sky teammate center Sylvia Fowles, who is anticipated to make the Olympic roster for the 2012 Games in London.
Entering the 2010 season, the Sky made some offseason moves. The Sky traded Candice Dupree
to the Phoenix Mercury
, and acquired Shameka Christon
and Cathrine Kraayeveld
from the New York Liberty
. Then, they traded Kristi Toliver
to the Los Angeles Sparks
.
When the regular season began, they opened the season losing their first four games. At one point during the season, they were at .500, just a few games back for the final playoff spot. However, the Sky ended up losing eight of their final ten games of the season, eliminating the Sky from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season. They finished 14-20, sixth in the Eastern Conference.
|-
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 10%;"| Season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 8%;" | Team
!rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 12%;" | Conference
!colspan="3" style="background:#eee; width: 15%;"| Regular season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 30%;"| Playoff
Results
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 13%;"| Head coach
|-
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|W
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|L
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|PCT
|-
|colspan="9" align=center bgcolor="#6495ED" | Chicago Sky
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2006
| 2006
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 7th
| 5
| 29
| .147
| Did not qualify
| Dave Cowens
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2007
| 2007
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 6th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Bo Overton
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2008
| 2008
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 5th
| 12
| 22
| .353
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2009
| 2009
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 5th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2010
| 2010
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 6th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2011
| 2011
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 5th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Pokey Chatman
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Regular season
|style="background:#eee;"| 75
|style="background:#eee;"| 129
|style="background:#eee;"| .368
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 0 Conference Championships
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Playoffs
|style="background:#eee;"| 0
|style="background:#eee;"| 0
|style="background:#eee;"| .000
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 0 WNBA Championships
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky head coaches
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="15%" rowspan="2" | Name
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | Start
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | End
! width="5%" rowspan="2" | Seasons
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Regular season
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Playoffs
|-
! W !! L !! PCT !! G !! W !! L !! PCT !! G
|-
| Dave Cowens
|| May 25, 2005 || September 12, 2006 || 1 || width="5%"|5 || width="5%"|29 || width="5%"|.147 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Bo Overton
|| December 12, 2006 || March 12, 2008 || 1 || width="5%"|14 || width="5%"|20 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Steven Key
|| March 12, 2008 || September 10, 2010 || 3 || width="5%"|42 || width="5%"|60 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|102 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Pokey Chatman || October 29, 2010 || Current || 1 || width="5%"|14 || width="5%"|20 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|}
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky statistics
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
|-
| 2006
| C. Dupree
(13.7)
| B. Ngoyisa
(5.7)
| J. Perkins
(3.2)
| 68.3 vs 79.0
| 30.5 vs 36.4
| .394 vs .452
|-
| 2007
| C. Dupree
(16.7)
| C. Dupree
(7.7)
| D. Canty
(4.1)
| 74.3 vs 76.8
| 34.3 vs 36.0
| .406 vs .429
|-
| 2008
| J. Perkins
(17.0)
| C. Dupree
(7.9)
| D. Canty
(4.1)
| 72.7 vs 73.8
| 33.1 vs 34.1
| .428 vs .416
|-
| 2009
| C. Dupree
(16.7)
| C. Dupree
(7.9)
| D. Canty
(3.2)
| 75.7 vs 79.2
| 31.9 vs 34.0
| .435 vs .442
|}
|-
|
The Chicago Sky is a professional basketball
team based in Rosemont, Illinois
, playing in the Eastern Conference
in the Women's National Basketball Association
(WNBA). The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season
began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter (principle owner) and Margaret Stender (minority owner). Like some other WNBA teams, the Sky has the distinction of not being affiliated with an NBA counterpart, although an NBA team, the Chicago Bulls
, also plays in the same city.
The Sky has missed the WNBA Playoffs
in each of its five years in Chicago. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as Rutgers standout Epiphanny Prince
, imposing center Sylvia Fowles
, and young point guard Courtney Vandersloot
.
announced that Chicago had been awarded with a new WNBA franchise. The franchise was temporarily named WNBA Chicago. On May 27, 2005, former NBA
player and coach Dave Cowens
was announced as the team's first head coach and general manager. The team home would be the UIC Pavilion
.
The team name and logo for the Chicago Sky were formally debuted on September 20, 2005, at the Adler Planetarium
. Team President and CEO
Margaret Stender
claimed the team colors of yellow and blue represent "A beautiful day in Chicago between the blue sky
and bright sunlight
to highlight the spectacular skyline."
The team's introduction in Chicago was highlighted by the appearance of several WNBA star players, including 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year
Diana Taurasi
, 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year Temeka Johnson
, 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year Sue Bird
and 2003 WNBA Champion
Ruth Riley
.
In November 2005, the team held an expansion draft
to help build its roster of players. Among the notable selections were Brooke Wyckoff from the Connecticut Sun
, Bernadette Ngoyisa
from the San Antonio Silver Stars
, Elaine Powell
from the Detroit Shock
and Stacey Dales
(who had retired prior to the 2005 season) from the Washington Mystics
.
On February 28, 2006, the team announced that two of the minority shareholders of the team are Michelle Williams
, from the vocal group Destiny's Child
and Matthew Knowles, father of Destiny's Child lead singer Beyoncé Knowles
.
, and finished last in the Eastern Conference.
After the season, Dave Cowens
resigned from the Sky to join the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons
. University of Missouri-Kansas City women's head basketball coach Bo Overton
was named the Chicago Sky's new head coach and general manager on December 12, 2006.
Their WNBA-worst 2006 record of 5-29 gave them the best chance of drawing the top pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft
. However, the Sky would not draw either of the top two picks, and ended up with the third overall pick, which they used to select Armintie Price
. They would get the first pick in the dispersal draft of the Charlotte Sting
which they used to select Monique Currie
.
In 2007, the Sky would field a vastly improved team. The core group of players from 2006 along with some new additions helped make the team competitive. The Sky would be in the Eastern Conference
playoff picture all year long, even holding the #4 seed for part of the season. But the Sky finished with a 14-20 record, two games behind the fourth and final playoff spot. Guard Armintie Price was named the 2007 WNBA Rookie of the Year after the season.
On March 12, 2008 the Sky announced that Head Coach Bo Overton
resigned his position of coach/general manager. Assistant coach Steven Key
was named head coach/general manager of the Sky.
The Sky selected Sylvia Fowles
with the second overall pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft
.
In the 2008 season, the Sky would once again fail to make the playoffs, posting a 12-22 record, finishing 5th in the East. The Sky's number one pick in the draft Sylvia Fowles was injured for most of the season.
In the off season Chicago Sky rookie center Sylvia Fowles was selected to play on the United States Olympic team. In the Beijing Olympics she averaged 13.4 ppg and 8.4 rbg leading her team to a perfect record in the Olympics and a gold medal.
, the Chicago Sky selected point guard Kristi Toliver
with the 3rd pick. A standout player from the University of Maryland, Toliver was known for her impressive shooting ability and propensity to produce in clutch situations. Never was this more evident than in the 2006 National Championship game when Toliver, then a freshman, hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime against Duke, eventually leading to a win and Maryland's first National Championship. In her debut season she averaged 7.6 ppg, 1.4 rbg and 1.9 apg.
In the 2009 season, the team had high hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time. The Sky would be in the their Conference playoff picture all year long, even holding the number two seed for a small portion of their season. Unfortunately, despite with a franchise record of 16-18, the Sky were again eliminated from playoff contention after being involved in a three-team tiebreaker, with the Washington Mystics
winning the breaker, and the Sky finished 5th in the Eastern Conference.
On August 17, 2009, the Sky announced that the team's new home would be Allstate Arena
. This change would go into effect beginning with the 2010 WNBA season
. The Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach signed a two year contract extension on September 25, 2009. On September 23, 2009 USA Basketball announced to the public that Dupree is one of 14 athletes who were invited to attend the fall training camp of the U.S. women's national team at American University in Washington. She joined her Sky teammate center Sylvia Fowles, who is anticipated to make the Olympic roster for the 2012 Games in London.
Entering the 2010 season, the Sky made some offseason moves. The Sky traded Candice Dupree
to the Phoenix Mercury
, and acquired Shameka Christon
and Cathrine Kraayeveld
from the New York Liberty
. Then, they traded Kristi Toliver
to the Los Angeles Sparks
.
When the regular season began, they opened the season losing their first four games. At one point during the season, they were at .500, just a few games back for the final playoff spot. However, the Sky ended up losing eight of their final ten games of the season, eliminating the Sky from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season. They finished 14-20, sixth in the Eastern Conference.
|-
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 10%;"| Season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 8%;" | Team
!rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 12%;" | Conference
!colspan="3" style="background:#eee; width: 15%;"| Regular season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 30%;"| Playoff
Results
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 13%;"| Head coach
|-
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|W
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|L
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|PCT
|-
|colspan="9" align=center bgcolor="#6495ED" | Chicago Sky
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2006
| 2006
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 7th
| 5
| 29
| .147
| Did not qualify
| Dave Cowens
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2007
| 2007
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 6th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Bo Overton
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2008
| 2008
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 5th
| 12
| 22
| .353
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2009
| 2009
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 5th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2010
| 2010
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 6th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2011
| 2011
| style="width: 10%"|East
| 5th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Pokey Chatman
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Regular season
|style="background:#eee;"| 75
|style="background:#eee;"| 129
|style="background:#eee;"| .368
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 0 Conference Championships
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Playoffs
|style="background:#eee;"| 0
|style="background:#eee;"| 0
|style="background:#eee;"| .000
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 0 WNBA Championships
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky head coaches
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="15%" rowspan="2" | Name
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | Start
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | End
! width="5%" rowspan="2" | Seasons
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Regular season
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Playoffs
|-
! W !! L !! PCT !! G !! W !! L !! PCT !! G
|-
| Dave Cowens
|| May 25, 2005 || September 12, 2006 || 1 || width="5%"|5 || width="5%"|29 || width="5%"|.147 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Bo Overton
|| December 12, 2006 || March 12, 2008 || 1 || width="5%"|14 || width="5%"|20 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Steven Key
|| March 12, 2008 || September 10, 2010 || 3 || width="5%"|42 || width="5%"|60 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|102 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Pokey Chatman || October 29, 2010 || Current || 1 || width="5%"|14 || width="5%"|20 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|}
|}
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky statistics
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
|-
| 2006
| C. Dupree
(13.7)
| B. Ngoyisa
(5.7)
| J. Perkins
(3.2)
| 68.3 vs 79.0
| 30.5 vs 36.4
| .394 vs .452
|-
| 2007
| C. Dupree
(16.7)
| C. Dupree
(7.7)
| D. Canty
(4.1)
| 74.3 vs 76.8
| 34.3 vs 36.0
| .406 vs .429
|-
| 2008
| J. Perkins
(17.0)
| C. Dupree
(7.9)
| D. Canty
(4.1)
| 72.7 vs 73.8
| 33.1 vs 34.1
| .428 vs .416
|-
| 2009
| C. Dupree
(16.7)
| C. Dupree
(7.9)
| D. Canty
(3.2)
| 75.7 vs 79.2
| 31.9 vs 34.0
| .435 vs .442
|}
|-
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
|-
| 2010
| S. Fowles
(17.8)
| S. Fowles
(9.9)
| D. Canty
(3.4)
| 76.1 vs 76.8
| 31.7 vs 33.4
| .437 vs .444
|-
| 2011
| S. Fowles
(20.0)
| S. Fowles
(10.2)
| C. Vandersloot
(3.7)
| 74.2 vs 75.2
| 33.8 vs 32.6
| .438 vs .418
|}
|}
(CN100), which is a local television station for the area of Chicago. More often than not, NBA TV
will pick up the feed from the local broadcast, which is shown nationally. Broadcasters for the Sky games are Brent Stover and Patricia Babcock-McGraw.
All games (excluding blackout games, which are available on ESPN3.com) are broadcast to the WNBA LiveAccess game feeds on the league website. Furthermore, some Sky games are broadcast nationally on ESPN
, ESPN2 and ABC
. The WNBA has reached an eight year agreement with ESPN
, which will pay right fees to the Sky, as well as other teams in the league.
{| class="toccolours" width=70% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Regular season all-time attendance
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|- align="center" style="background:#eee;color:#000000;"
|width=75 |Year
|width=150|Average
|width=100|High
|width=100|Low
|width=75 |Sellouts
|width=150|Total for year
|width=150|WNBA game average
|- align="center"
| 2006 || 3,390 (14th) || 5,219 || 2,570 || 0 || 57,635 || 7,476
|- align="center"
| 2007 || 3,915 (14th) || 6,972 || 2,505 || 1 || 66,557 || 7,742
|- align="center"
| 2008 || 3,656 (13th) || 6,304 || 2,276 || 0 || 62,146 || 7,948
|- align="center"
| 2009 || 3,933 (13th) || 5,881 || 2,396 || 0 || 66,855 || 8,039
|- align="center"
| 2010 || 4,293 (12th) || 6,950 || 2,408 || 0 || 72,986 || 7,834
|- align="center"
| 2011 || 5,536 (11th) || 13,838 || 2,876 || 0 || 94,116 || 7,954
|}
|}
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that...
, playing in the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA). The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter (principle owner) and Margaret Stender (minority owner). Like some other WNBA teams, the Sky has the distinction of not being affiliated with an NBA counterpart, although an NBA team, the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, also plays in the same city.
The Sky has missed the WNBA Playoffs
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
in each of its five years in Chicago. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as Rutgers standout Epiphanny Prince
Epiphanny Prince
Epiphanny Prince is an American basketball player for Rutgers University Women's team and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey. She is best known for scoring 113 points for Murry Bergtraum in a high school game in 2006, breaking a girls' national prep record previously held by Hall of Famer Cheryl...
, imposing center Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
, and young point guard Courtney Vandersloot
Courtney Vandersloot
Courtney Vandersloot is an American basketball player, currently a point guard with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA and Beşiktaş in the Turkish Women's Basketball League...
.
Franchise origin
In February 2005, NBA Commissioner David SternDavid Stern
David Joel Stern is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984 succeeding Larry O'Brien...
announced that Chicago had been awarded with a new WNBA franchise. The franchise was temporarily named WNBA Chicago. On May 27, 2005, former NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player and coach Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
was announced as the team's first head coach and general manager. The team home would be the UIC Pavilion
UIC Pavilion
The UIC Pavilion is a 6,958-seat multi-purpose arena, located at 525 S. Racine Street on the West Side in Chicago, Illinois, USA, which opened in 1982. It is home to the University of Illinois at Chicago Flames basketball team and the former home of the Chicago Sky WNBA team...
.
The team name and logo for the Chicago Sky were formally debuted on September 20, 2005, at the Adler Planetarium
Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum in Chicago, Illinois was the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere and is the oldest in existence today. Adler was founded and built in 1930 by the philanthropist Max Adler, with the assistance of the first director of the planetarium, Philip Fox...
. Team President and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Margaret Stender
Margaret Stender
Margaret Stender is business woman and former college basketball player. She spent 21 years in the corporate business world, including being president of the ready-to-eat cereal division at Quaker Oats Company; senior vice-president and general manager of consumer travel solutions for Rand McNally...
claimed the team colors of yellow and blue represent "A beautiful day in Chicago between the blue sky
Sky
The sky is the part of the atmosphere or outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight, the sky of Earth has the appearance of a pale blue surface because the air scatters the sunlight. The sky is sometimes...
and bright sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...
to highlight the spectacular skyline."
The team's introduction in Chicago was highlighted by the appearance of several WNBA star players, including 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the 1998 WNBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States, each of whom...
Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year Temeka Johnson
Temeka Johnson
Temeka Rochelle Johnson is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. Her primary position is point guard.-College years:...
, 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
and 2003 WNBA Champion
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
Ruth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
.
In November 2005, the team held an expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
to help build its roster of players. Among the notable selections were Brooke Wyckoff from the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
, Bernadette Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa is a professional women's basketball center with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Ngoyisa is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2006 WNBA Expansion draft by the Sky from the San Antonio Silver Stars, where she played in 2005...
from the San Antonio Silver Stars
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
, Elaine Powell
Elaine Powell
Elaine Powell is a professional basketball player. A point guard, she played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2008.-College career:In two years at LSU, Powell averaged 19.1 points per game...
from the Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
and Stacey Dales
Stacey Dales
Stacey Dales, is a former Canadian basketball player and a current host on the NFL Network.-Basketball:...
(who had retired prior to the 2005 season) from the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
.
On February 28, 2006, the team announced that two of the minority shareholders of the team are Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams (singer)
Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
, from the vocal group Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
and Matthew Knowles, father of Destiny's Child lead singer Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
.
Reaching for the Sky (2006–2008)
The Sky posted a 5-29 record in its first season2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
, and finished last in the Eastern Conference.
After the season, Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
resigned from the Sky to join the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
. University of Missouri-Kansas City women's head basketball coach Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
was named the Chicago Sky's new head coach and general manager on December 12, 2006.
Their WNBA-worst 2006 record of 5-29 gave them the best chance of drawing the top pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft
2007 WNBA Draft
The 2007 WNBA Draft was the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league....
. However, the Sky would not draw either of the top two picks, and ended up with the third overall pick, which they used to select Armintie Price
Armintie Price
Armintie Ada Price is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream. Price, who played collegiately at the University of Mississippi, was drafted third overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2007 WNBA Draft...
. They would get the first pick in the dispersal draft of the Charlotte Sting
Charlotte Sting
The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
which they used to select Monique Currie
Monique Currie
Monique Currie is a WNBA basketball player who plays for the Washington Mystics.Currie was traded from the Chicago Sky during the 2007 season in exchange for Chasity Melvin...
.
In 2007, the Sky would field a vastly improved team. The core group of players from 2006 along with some new additions helped make the team competitive. The Sky would be in the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
playoff picture all year long, even holding the #4 seed for part of the season. But the Sky finished with a 14-20 record, two games behind the fourth and final playoff spot. Guard Armintie Price was named the 2007 WNBA Rookie of the Year after the season.
On March 12, 2008 the Sky announced that Head Coach Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
resigned his position of coach/general manager. Assistant coach Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
was named head coach/general manager of the Sky.
The Sky selected Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
with the second overall pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft
2008 WNBA Draft
The 2008 WNBA Draft is the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league. The draft was held on April 9, 2008....
.
In the 2008 season, the Sky would once again fail to make the playoffs, posting a 12-22 record, finishing 5th in the East. The Sky's number one pick in the draft Sylvia Fowles was injured for most of the season.
In the off season Chicago Sky rookie center Sylvia Fowles was selected to play on the United States Olympic team. In the Beijing Olympics she averaged 13.4 ppg and 8.4 rbg leading her team to a perfect record in the Olympics and a gold medal.
Sky's the Limit (2009–present)
In the 2009 WNBA Draft2009 WNBA Draft
The 2009 WNBA Draft is the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league. The draft was held on April 9, 2009. The first round was shown on ESPN2 at 3:00pm ET, while the second and third rounds were shown on ESPNU and NBA TV at...
, the Chicago Sky selected point guard Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver is a former basketball player for the University of Maryland at College Park. She is from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and has an older sister, Carli. She is the daughter of former NBA referee, George Toliver, and Peggy Toliver.-High school:Attended Harrisonburg High School and...
with the 3rd pick. A standout player from the University of Maryland, Toliver was known for her impressive shooting ability and propensity to produce in clutch situations. Never was this more evident than in the 2006 National Championship game when Toliver, then a freshman, hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime against Duke, eventually leading to a win and Maryland's first National Championship. In her debut season she averaged 7.6 ppg, 1.4 rbg and 1.9 apg.
In the 2009 season, the team had high hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time. The Sky would be in the their Conference playoff picture all year long, even holding the number two seed for a small portion of their season. Unfortunately, despite with a franchise record of 16-18, the Sky were again eliminated from playoff contention after being involved in a three-team tiebreaker, with the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
winning the breaker, and the Sky finished 5th in the Eastern Conference.
On August 17, 2009, the Sky announced that the team's new home would be Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Rosemont, Illinois.It is home to the Chicago Rush, of the Arena Football League, DePaul University's men's basketball team, the Chicago Wolves, of the AHL, and the Chicago Sky, of the WNBA.It is located near the intersection of Mannheim Road and...
. This change would go into effect beginning with the 2010 WNBA season
2010 WNBA season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star...
. The Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach signed a two year contract extension on September 25, 2009. On September 23, 2009 USA Basketball announced to the public that Dupree is one of 14 athletes who were invited to attend the fall training camp of the U.S. women's national team at American University in Washington. She joined her Sky teammate center Sylvia Fowles, who is anticipated to make the Olympic roster for the 2012 Games in London.
Entering the 2010 season, the Sky made some offseason moves. The Sky traded Candice Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
to the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
, and acquired Shameka Christon
Shameka Christon
Shameka Delynn Christon is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA....
and Cathrine Kraayeveld
Cathrine Kraayeveld
Cathrine Helene Kraayeveld is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. Her father, Dave, played football for the Seattle Seahawks in 1978.-High school and college:...
from the New York Liberty
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
. Then, they traded Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver is a former basketball player for the University of Maryland at College Park. She is from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and has an older sister, Carli. She is the daughter of former NBA referee, George Toliver, and Peggy Toliver.-High school:Attended Harrisonburg High School and...
to the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
.
When the regular season began, they opened the season losing their first four games. At one point during the season, they were at .500, just a few games back for the final playoff spot. However, the Sky ended up losing eight of their final ten games of the season, eliminating the Sky from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season. They finished 14-20, sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Uniforms
- 2006–2010: At home, white with light blue on the sides. Collar is light blue. On the road, light blue with gold on the sides. Collar is gold.
- 2011–present: At home, white with light blue stripes on the sides. Color is light blue. On the road, light blue with gold stripes on the sides. Collar is gold. In addition, both the home and away uniforms feature the team nickname and numbers in gold.
Season-by-season records
| Season | Team | Conference | Regular season | Playoff WNBA Playoffs The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals.... Results |
Head coach | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | PCT | ||||||
| Chicago Sky | ||||||||
| 2006 2006 WNBA season -External links:*******... |
2006 2006 Chicago Sky season The 2006 WNBA season was the first for the Chicago Sky.-Expansion Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
7th | 5 | 29 | .147 | Did not qualify | Dave Cowens Dave Cowens David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991... |
| 2007 2007 WNBA season -External links:* * * * * * * *... |
2007 2007 Chicago Sky season The 2007 Chicago Sky season was the 2nd season in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky.-Season schedule:-References:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
6th | 14 | 20 | .412 | Did not qualify | Bo Overton Bo Overton Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the... |
| 2008 2008 WNBA season -Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions.... |
2008 2008 Chicago Sky season The 2008 WNBA season was the third season for the Chicago Sky. The Sky were not able to have their first winning season.-Expansion Draft:The following player was lost in the Atlanta Dream expansion draft:* Carla Thomas-WNBA Draft:-Transactions:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
5th | 12 | 22 | .353 | Did not qualify | Steven Key Steven Key Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe.... |
| 2009 2009 WNBA season The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008... |
2009 2009 Chicago Sky season The 2009 WNBA season is the 4th for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Sky were unable to qualify for the WNBA Playoffs for the first time in franchise history.-Dispersal Draft:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
5th | 16 | 18 | .471 | Did not qualify | Steven Key Steven Key Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe.... |
| 2010 2010 WNBA season The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star... |
2010 2010 Chicago Sky season The 2010 WNBA season was the 5th season for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association.-Dispersal draft:Based on the Sky's 2009 record, they would pick 4th in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
6th | 14 | 20 | .412 | Did not qualify | Steven Key Steven Key Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe.... |
| 2011 2011 WNBA season The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV... |
2011 2011 Chicago Sky season The 2011 WNBA season is the 6th season for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association. Sky center Sylvia Fowles finished the season as only the second player in WNBA history to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.-WNBA Draft:... |
East Eastern Conference (WNBA) The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference... |
5th | 14 | 20 | .412 | Did not qualify | Pokey Chatman |
| Regular season | 75 | 129 | .368 | 0 Conference Championships | ||||
| Playoffs | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 WNBA Championships | ||||
Former players
- Shameka ChristonShameka ChristonShameka Delynn Christon is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA....
(2010) - Monique CurrieMonique CurrieMonique Currie is a WNBA basketball player who plays for the Washington Mystics.Currie was traded from the Chicago Sky during the 2007 season in exchange for Chasity Melvin...
(2007), now a member of the Washington MysticsWashington MysticsThe Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'... - Stacey DalesStacey DalesStacey Dales, is a former Canadian basketball player and a current host on the NFL Network.-Basketball:...
(2006–2007) - Candice DupreeCandice Dupree-External links:**...
(2006–2009), now a member of the Phoenix MercuryPhoenix MercuryThe Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises... - Stacey Lovelace-TolbertStacey Lovelace-TolbertStacey Lovelace-Tolbert is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, who played in the WNBA.Lovelace-Tolbert attended college at Purdue University and graduated in 1996. On May 2, 2000 she was assigned with the Indiana Fever later in 2000 Lovelace-Tolbert played with the Seattle Storm...
(2006) - Nikki McCrayNikki McCrayNikki McCray is a former American professional basketball player. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons....
(2006) - Chasity MelvinChasity MelvinChasity Melvin is an American professional basketball player originally from Roseboro, North Carolina.A 6'3" forward, Melvin has played in the WNBA since 1999, competing for the Cleveland Rockers, the Washington Mystics, and the Chicago Sky. Through twelve seasons in the league, she holds career...
(2006–2008) - Bernadette NgoyisaBernadette NgoyisaBernadette Ngoyisa is a professional women's basketball center with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Ngoyisa is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2006 WNBA Expansion draft by the Sky from the San Antonio Silver Stars, where she played in 2005...
(2006–2007) - Chelsea NewtonChelsea NewtonChelsea Newton was born February 17, 1983 in Monroe, Louisiana. She is a former WNBA player, who last played for the Sacramento Monarchs. She signed with the Seattle Storm, but later retired before even playing a game with them....
(2006) - Jia PerkinsJia PerkinsJia Dorene Perkins is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the WNBA.-WNBA career:...
(2006–2010), now a member of the San Antonio Silver StarsSan Antonio Silver StarsThe San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio... - Elaine PowellElaine PowellElaine Powell is a professional basketball player. A point guard, she played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2008.-College career:In two years at LSU, Powell averaged 19.1 points per game...
(2006) - Ashley Robinson (2006), now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
- Brooke WyckoffBrooke WyckoffBrooke Wyckoff is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'1" forward from Florida State University, Wyckoff played in the WNBA from 2001 to 2009, competing for the Orlando Miracle, the Connecticut Sun, and the Chicago Sky...
(2006–2009)
Head coaches
| Chicago Sky head coaches | |
|---|---|
General managers
- Dave CowensDave CowensDavid William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
(2006) - Bo OvertonBo OvertonBo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
(2007) - Steven KeySteven KeySteven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
(2008–2010) - Pokey Chatman (2011–present)
Assistant coaches
- Steven KeySteven KeySteven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
(2006–2007) - Roger Reding (2007)
- Stephanie WhiteStephanie WhiteStephanie White-McCarty was a basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association. As an intercollegiate athlete, she was named the winner of the Wade Trophy in 1999, which recognizes the top female basketball player in the nation.White was the 1995 Indiana Miss Basketball and was...
(2007–2010) - Michael Mitchell (2008–2010)
- Jeff House (2011–present)
- Christie Sides (2011–present)
Statistics
{| class="toccolours" width=80% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky statistics
|- valign="top"
|
|-
|
The Chicago Sky is a professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that...
, playing in the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA). The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter (principle owner) and Margaret Stender (minority owner). Like some other WNBA teams, the Sky has the distinction of not being affiliated with an NBA counterpart, although an NBA team, the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, also plays in the same city.
The Sky has missed the WNBA Playoffs
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
in each of its five years in Chicago. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as Rutgers standout Epiphanny Prince
Epiphanny Prince
Epiphanny Prince is an American basketball player for Rutgers University Women's team and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey. She is best known for scoring 113 points for Murry Bergtraum in a high school game in 2006, breaking a girls' national prep record previously held by Hall of Famer Cheryl...
, imposing center Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
, and young point guard Courtney Vandersloot
Courtney Vandersloot
Courtney Vandersloot is an American basketball player, currently a point guard with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA and Beşiktaş in the Turkish Women's Basketball League...
.
Franchise origin
In February 2005, NBA Commissioner David SternDavid Stern
David Joel Stern is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984 succeeding Larry O'Brien...
announced that Chicago had been awarded with a new WNBA franchise. The franchise was temporarily named WNBA Chicago. On May 27, 2005, former NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player and coach Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
was announced as the team's first head coach and general manager. The team home would be the UIC Pavilion
UIC Pavilion
The UIC Pavilion is a 6,958-seat multi-purpose arena, located at 525 S. Racine Street on the West Side in Chicago, Illinois, USA, which opened in 1982. It is home to the University of Illinois at Chicago Flames basketball team and the former home of the Chicago Sky WNBA team...
.
The team name and logo for the Chicago Sky were formally debuted on September 20, 2005, at the Adler Planetarium
Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum in Chicago, Illinois was the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere and is the oldest in existence today. Adler was founded and built in 1930 by the philanthropist Max Adler, with the assistance of the first director of the planetarium, Philip Fox...
. Team President and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Margaret Stender
Margaret Stender
Margaret Stender is business woman and former college basketball player. She spent 21 years in the corporate business world, including being president of the ready-to-eat cereal division at Quaker Oats Company; senior vice-president and general manager of consumer travel solutions for Rand McNally...
claimed the team colors of yellow and blue represent "A beautiful day in Chicago between the blue sky
Sky
The sky is the part of the atmosphere or outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight, the sky of Earth has the appearance of a pale blue surface because the air scatters the sunlight. The sky is sometimes...
and bright sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...
to highlight the spectacular skyline."
The team's introduction in Chicago was highlighted by the appearance of several WNBA star players, including 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the 1998 WNBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States, each of whom...
Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year Temeka Johnson
Temeka Johnson
Temeka Rochelle Johnson is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. Her primary position is point guard.-College years:...
, 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
and 2003 WNBA Champion
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
Ruth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
.
In November 2005, the team held an expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
to help build its roster of players. Among the notable selections were Brooke Wyckoff from the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
, Bernadette Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa is a professional women's basketball center with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Ngoyisa is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2006 WNBA Expansion draft by the Sky from the San Antonio Silver Stars, where she played in 2005...
from the San Antonio Silver Stars
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
, Elaine Powell
Elaine Powell
Elaine Powell is a professional basketball player. A point guard, she played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2008.-College career:In two years at LSU, Powell averaged 19.1 points per game...
from the Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
and Stacey Dales
Stacey Dales
Stacey Dales, is a former Canadian basketball player and a current host on the NFL Network.-Basketball:...
(who had retired prior to the 2005 season) from the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
.
On February 28, 2006, the team announced that two of the minority shareholders of the team are Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams (singer)
Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
, from the vocal group Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
and Matthew Knowles, father of Destiny's Child lead singer Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
.
Reaching for the Sky (2006–2008)
The Sky posted a 5-29 record in its first season2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
, and finished last in the Eastern Conference.
After the season, Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
resigned from the Sky to join the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
. University of Missouri-Kansas City women's head basketball coach Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
was named the Chicago Sky's new head coach and general manager on December 12, 2006.
Their WNBA-worst 2006 record of 5-29 gave them the best chance of drawing the top pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft
2007 WNBA Draft
The 2007 WNBA Draft was the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league....
. However, the Sky would not draw either of the top two picks, and ended up with the third overall pick, which they used to select Armintie Price
Armintie Price
Armintie Ada Price is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream. Price, who played collegiately at the University of Mississippi, was drafted third overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2007 WNBA Draft...
. They would get the first pick in the dispersal draft of the Charlotte Sting
Charlotte Sting
The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
which they used to select Monique Currie
Monique Currie
Monique Currie is a WNBA basketball player who plays for the Washington Mystics.Currie was traded from the Chicago Sky during the 2007 season in exchange for Chasity Melvin...
.
In 2007, the Sky would field a vastly improved team. The core group of players from 2006 along with some new additions helped make the team competitive. The Sky would be in the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
playoff picture all year long, even holding the #4 seed for part of the season. But the Sky finished with a 14-20 record, two games behind the fourth and final playoff spot. Guard Armintie Price was named the 2007 WNBA Rookie of the Year after the season.
On March 12, 2008 the Sky announced that Head Coach Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
resigned his position of coach/general manager. Assistant coach Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
was named head coach/general manager of the Sky.
The Sky selected Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
with the second overall pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft
2008 WNBA Draft
The 2008 WNBA Draft is the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league. The draft was held on April 9, 2008....
.
In the 2008 season, the Sky would once again fail to make the playoffs, posting a 12-22 record, finishing 5th in the East. The Sky's number one pick in the draft Sylvia Fowles was injured for most of the season.
In the off season Chicago Sky rookie center Sylvia Fowles was selected to play on the United States Olympic team. In the Beijing Olympics she averaged 13.4 ppg and 8.4 rbg leading her team to a perfect record in the Olympics and a gold medal.
Sky's the Limit (2009–present)
In the 2009 WNBA Draft2009 WNBA Draft
The 2009 WNBA Draft is the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league. The draft was held on April 9, 2009. The first round was shown on ESPN2 at 3:00pm ET, while the second and third rounds were shown on ESPNU and NBA TV at...
, the Chicago Sky selected point guard Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver is a former basketball player for the University of Maryland at College Park. She is from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and has an older sister, Carli. She is the daughter of former NBA referee, George Toliver, and Peggy Toliver.-High school:Attended Harrisonburg High School and...
with the 3rd pick. A standout player from the University of Maryland, Toliver was known for her impressive shooting ability and propensity to produce in clutch situations. Never was this more evident than in the 2006 National Championship game when Toliver, then a freshman, hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime against Duke, eventually leading to a win and Maryland's first National Championship. In her debut season she averaged 7.6 ppg, 1.4 rbg and 1.9 apg.
In the 2009 season, the team had high hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time. The Sky would be in the their Conference playoff picture all year long, even holding the number two seed for a small portion of their season. Unfortunately, despite with a franchise record of 16-18, the Sky were again eliminated from playoff contention after being involved in a three-team tiebreaker, with the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
winning the breaker, and the Sky finished 5th in the Eastern Conference.
On August 17, 2009, the Sky announced that the team's new home would be Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Rosemont, Illinois.It is home to the Chicago Rush, of the Arena Football League, DePaul University's men's basketball team, the Chicago Wolves, of the AHL, and the Chicago Sky, of the WNBA.It is located near the intersection of Mannheim Road and...
. This change would go into effect beginning with the 2010 WNBA season
2010 WNBA season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star...
. The Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach signed a two year contract extension on September 25, 2009. On September 23, 2009 USA Basketball announced to the public that Dupree is one of 14 athletes who were invited to attend the fall training camp of the U.S. women's national team at American University in Washington. She joined her Sky teammate center Sylvia Fowles, who is anticipated to make the Olympic roster for the 2012 Games in London.
Entering the 2010 season, the Sky made some offseason moves. The Sky traded Candice Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
to the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
, and acquired Shameka Christon
Shameka Christon
Shameka Delynn Christon is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA....
and Cathrine Kraayeveld
Cathrine Kraayeveld
Cathrine Helene Kraayeveld is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. Her father, Dave, played football for the Seattle Seahawks in 1978.-High school and college:...
from the New York Liberty
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
. Then, they traded Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver is a former basketball player for the University of Maryland at College Park. She is from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and has an older sister, Carli. She is the daughter of former NBA referee, George Toliver, and Peggy Toliver.-High school:Attended Harrisonburg High School and...
to the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
.
When the regular season began, they opened the season losing their first four games. At one point during the season, they were at .500, just a few games back for the final playoff spot. However, the Sky ended up losing eight of their final ten games of the season, eliminating the Sky from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season. They finished 14-20, sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Uniforms
- 2006–2010: At home, white with light blue on the sides. Collar is light blue. On the road, light blue with gold on the sides. Collar is gold.
- 2011–present: At home, white with light blue stripes on the sides. Color is light blue. On the road, light blue with gold stripes on the sides. Collar is gold. In addition, both the home and away uniforms feature the team nickname and numbers in gold.
Season-by-season records
{|class="navbox wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center; width: 85%;"|-
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 10%;"| Season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 8%;" | Team
!rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 12%;" | Conference
!colspan="3" style="background:#eee; width: 15%;"| Regular season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 30%;"| Playoff
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
Results
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 13%;"| Head coach
|-
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|W
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|L
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|PCT
|-
|colspan="9" align=center bgcolor="#6495ED" | Chicago Sky
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2006
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
| 2006
2006 Chicago Sky season
The 2006 WNBA season was the first for the Chicago Sky.-Expansion Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 7th
| 5
| 29
| .147
| Did not qualify
| Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
| 2007
2007 Chicago Sky season
The 2007 Chicago Sky season was the 2nd season in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky.-Season schedule:-References:...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 6th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2008
2008 WNBA season
-Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions....
| 2008
2008 Chicago Sky season
The 2008 WNBA season was the third season for the Chicago Sky. The Sky were not able to have their first winning season.-Expansion Draft:The following player was lost in the Atlanta Dream expansion draft:* Carla Thomas-WNBA Draft:-Transactions:...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 5th
| 12
| 22
| .353
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
| 2009
2009 Chicago Sky season
The 2009 WNBA season is the 4th for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Sky were unable to qualify for the WNBA Playoffs for the first time in franchise history.-Dispersal Draft:...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 5th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2010
2010 WNBA season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star...
| 2010
2010 Chicago Sky season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 5th season for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association.-Dispersal draft:Based on the Sky's 2009 record, they would pick 4th in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 6th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2011
2011 WNBA season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV...
| 2011
2011 Chicago Sky season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 6th season for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association. Sky center Sylvia Fowles finished the season as only the second player in WNBA history to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.-WNBA Draft:...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 5th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Pokey Chatman
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Regular season
|style="background:#eee;"| 75
|style="background:#eee;"| 129
|style="background:#eee;"| .368
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 0 Conference Championships
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Playoffs
|style="background:#eee;"| 0
|style="background:#eee;"| 0
|style="background:#eee;"| .000
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 0 WNBA Championships
|}
Former players
- Shameka ChristonShameka ChristonShameka Delynn Christon is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA....
(2010) - Monique CurrieMonique CurrieMonique Currie is a WNBA basketball player who plays for the Washington Mystics.Currie was traded from the Chicago Sky during the 2007 season in exchange for Chasity Melvin...
(2007), now a member of the Washington MysticsWashington MysticsThe Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'... - Stacey DalesStacey DalesStacey Dales, is a former Canadian basketball player and a current host on the NFL Network.-Basketball:...
(2006–2007) - Candice DupreeCandice Dupree-External links:**...
(2006–2009), now a member of the Phoenix MercuryPhoenix MercuryThe Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises... - Stacey Lovelace-TolbertStacey Lovelace-TolbertStacey Lovelace-Tolbert is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, who played in the WNBA.Lovelace-Tolbert attended college at Purdue University and graduated in 1996. On May 2, 2000 she was assigned with the Indiana Fever later in 2000 Lovelace-Tolbert played with the Seattle Storm...
(2006) - Nikki McCrayNikki McCrayNikki McCray is a former American professional basketball player. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons....
(2006) - Chasity MelvinChasity MelvinChasity Melvin is an American professional basketball player originally from Roseboro, North Carolina.A 6'3" forward, Melvin has played in the WNBA since 1999, competing for the Cleveland Rockers, the Washington Mystics, and the Chicago Sky. Through twelve seasons in the league, she holds career...
(2006–2008) - Bernadette NgoyisaBernadette NgoyisaBernadette Ngoyisa is a professional women's basketball center with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Ngoyisa is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2006 WNBA Expansion draft by the Sky from the San Antonio Silver Stars, where she played in 2005...
(2006–2007) - Chelsea NewtonChelsea NewtonChelsea Newton was born February 17, 1983 in Monroe, Louisiana. She is a former WNBA player, who last played for the Sacramento Monarchs. She signed with the Seattle Storm, but later retired before even playing a game with them....
(2006) - Jia PerkinsJia PerkinsJia Dorene Perkins is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the WNBA.-WNBA career:...
(2006–2010), now a member of the San Antonio Silver StarsSan Antonio Silver StarsThe San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio... - Elaine PowellElaine PowellElaine Powell is a professional basketball player. A point guard, she played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2008.-College career:In two years at LSU, Powell averaged 19.1 points per game...
(2006) - Ashley Robinson (2006), now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
- Brooke WyckoffBrooke WyckoffBrooke Wyckoff is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'1" forward from Florida State University, Wyckoff played in the WNBA from 2001 to 2009, competing for the Orlando Miracle, the Connecticut Sun, and the Chicago Sky...
(2006–2009)
Head coaches
{| class="toccolours" width=90% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky head coaches
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="15%" rowspan="2" | Name
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | Start
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | End
! width="5%" rowspan="2" | Seasons
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Regular season
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Playoffs
|-
! W !! L !! PCT !! G !! W !! L !! PCT !! G
|-
| Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
|| May 25, 2005 || September 12, 2006 || 1 || width="5%"|5 || width="5%"|29 || width="5%"|.147 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
|| December 12, 2006 || March 12, 2008 || 1 || width="5%"|14 || width="5%"|20 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
|| March 12, 2008 || September 10, 2010 || 3 || width="5%"|42 || width="5%"|60 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|102 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Pokey Chatman || October 29, 2010 || Current || 1 || width="5%"|14 || width="5%"|20 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|}
General managers
- Dave CowensDave CowensDavid William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
(2006) - Bo OvertonBo OvertonBo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
(2007) - Steven KeySteven KeySteven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
(2008–2010) - Pokey Chatman (2011–present)
Assistant coaches
- Steven KeySteven KeySteven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
(2006–2007) - Roger Reding (2007)
- Stephanie WhiteStephanie WhiteStephanie White-McCarty was a basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association. As an intercollegiate athlete, she was named the winner of the Wade Trophy in 1999, which recognizes the top female basketball player in the nation.White was the 1995 Indiana Miss Basketball and was...
(2007–2010) - Michael Mitchell (2008–2010)
- Jeff House (2011–present)
- Christie Sides (2011–present)
Statistics
{| class="toccolours" width=80% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky statistics
|- valign="top"
|
2000s
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
|-
| 2006
2006 Chicago Sky season
The 2006 WNBA season was the first for the Chicago Sky.-Expansion Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*...
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(13.7)
| B. Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa is a professional women's basketball center with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Ngoyisa is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2006 WNBA Expansion draft by the Sky from the San Antonio Silver Stars, where she played in 2005...
(5.7)
| J. Perkins
Jia Perkins
Jia Dorene Perkins is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the WNBA.-WNBA career:...
(3.2)
| 68.3 vs 79.0
| 30.5 vs 36.4
| .394 vs .452
|-
| 2007
2007 Chicago Sky season
The 2007 Chicago Sky season was the 2nd season in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky.-Season schedule:-References:...
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(16.7)
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(7.7)
| D. Canty
Dominique Canty
Dominique Danyell Canty is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.-High School and College:...
(4.1)
| 74.3 vs 76.8
| 34.3 vs 36.0
| .406 vs .429
|-
| 2008
2008 Chicago Sky season
The 2008 WNBA season was the third season for the Chicago Sky. The Sky were not able to have their first winning season.-Expansion Draft:The following player was lost in the Atlanta Dream expansion draft:* Carla Thomas-WNBA Draft:-Transactions:...
| J. Perkins
Jia Perkins
Jia Dorene Perkins is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the WNBA.-WNBA career:...
(17.0)
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(7.9)
| D. Canty
Dominique Canty
Dominique Danyell Canty is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.-High School and College:...
(4.1)
| 72.7 vs 73.8
| 33.1 vs 34.1
| .428 vs .416
|-
| 2009
2009 Chicago Sky season
The 2009 WNBA season is the 4th for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Sky were unable to qualify for the WNBA Playoffs for the first time in franchise history.-Dispersal Draft:...
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(16.7)
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(7.9)
| D. Canty
Dominique Canty
Dominique Danyell Canty is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.-High School and College:...
(3.2)
| 75.7 vs 79.2
| 31.9 vs 34.0
| .435 vs .442
|}
|
The Chicago Sky is a professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team based in Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont, Illinois
Rosemont is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States located immediately northwest of Chicago. The village was incorporated in 1956, though it had been settled long before that...
, playing in the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
in the Women's National Basketball Association
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
(WNBA). The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
began. The team is owned by Michael J. Alter (principle owner) and Margaret Stender (minority owner). Like some other WNBA teams, the Sky has the distinction of not being affiliated with an NBA counterpart, although an NBA team, the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
, also plays in the same city.
The Sky has missed the WNBA Playoffs
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
in each of its five years in Chicago. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as Rutgers standout Epiphanny Prince
Epiphanny Prince
Epiphanny Prince is an American basketball player for Rutgers University Women's team and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey. She is best known for scoring 113 points for Murry Bergtraum in a high school game in 2006, breaking a girls' national prep record previously held by Hall of Famer Cheryl...
, imposing center Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
, and young point guard Courtney Vandersloot
Courtney Vandersloot
Courtney Vandersloot is an American basketball player, currently a point guard with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA and Beşiktaş in the Turkish Women's Basketball League...
.
Franchise origin
In February 2005, NBA Commissioner David SternDavid Stern
David Joel Stern is the commissioner of the National Basketball Association. He started with the Association in 1966 as an outside counsel, joined the NBA in 1978 as General Counsel, and became the league's Executive Vice President in 1980. He became Commissioner in 1984 succeeding Larry O'Brien...
announced that Chicago had been awarded with a new WNBA franchise. The franchise was temporarily named WNBA Chicago. On May 27, 2005, former NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player and coach Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
was announced as the team's first head coach and general manager. The team home would be the UIC Pavilion
UIC Pavilion
The UIC Pavilion is a 6,958-seat multi-purpose arena, located at 525 S. Racine Street on the West Side in Chicago, Illinois, USA, which opened in 1982. It is home to the University of Illinois at Chicago Flames basketball team and the former home of the Chicago Sky WNBA team...
.
The team name and logo for the Chicago Sky were formally debuted on September 20, 2005, at the Adler Planetarium
Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum in Chicago, Illinois was the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere and is the oldest in existence today. Adler was founded and built in 1930 by the philanthropist Max Adler, with the assistance of the first director of the planetarium, Philip Fox...
. Team President and CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
Margaret Stender
Margaret Stender
Margaret Stender is business woman and former college basketball player. She spent 21 years in the corporate business world, including being president of the ready-to-eat cereal division at Quaker Oats Company; senior vice-president and general manager of consumer travel solutions for Rand McNally...
claimed the team colors of yellow and blue represent "A beautiful day in Chicago between the blue sky
Sky
The sky is the part of the atmosphere or outer space visible from the surface of any astronomical object. It is difficult to define precisely for several reasons. During daylight, the sky of Earth has the appearance of a pale blue surface because the air scatters the sunlight. The sky is sometimes...
and bright sunlight
Sunlight
Sunlight, in the broad sense, is the total frequency spectrum of electromagnetic radiation given off by the Sun. On Earth, sunlight is filtered through the Earth's atmosphere, and solar radiation is obvious as daylight when the Sun is above the horizon.When the direct solar radiation is not blocked...
to highlight the spectacular skyline."
The team's introduction in Chicago was highlighted by the appearance of several WNBA star players, including 2004 WNBA Rookie of the Year
WNBA Rookie of the Year Award
The Women's National Basketball Association's Rookie of the Year Award is an annual Women's National Basketball Association award given since the 1998 WNBA season, to the top rookie of the regular season. The winner is selected by a panel of sportswriters throughout the United States, each of whom...
Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi
Diana Lorena Taurasi is a professional basketball player who plays for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA and Galatasaray Medical Park from Turkey...
, 2005 WNBA Rookie of the Year Temeka Johnson
Temeka Johnson
Temeka Rochelle Johnson is an American professional basketball player for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. Her primary position is point guard.-College years:...
, 2002 WNBA Rookie of the Year Sue Bird
Sue Bird
Suzanne Brigit "Sue" Bird is an American professional women's basketball player for the Seattle Storm and WBC Spartak Moscow Region....
and 2003 WNBA Champion
WNBA Finals
The WNBA Finals is the championship series of the Women's National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the sport's postseason each fall. The series was named the WNBA Championship until 2002....
Ruth Riley
Ruth Riley
Ruth Ellen Riley is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the Women's National Basketball Association . Her Notre Dame team won the NCAA women's championship in 2001, and her Detroit Shock team won the WNBA championship in 2003 and 2006...
.
In November 2005, the team held an expansion draft
Expansion draft
An expansion draft, in professional sports, occurs when a sports league decides to create one or more new expansion teams or franchises. This occurs mainly in North American sports. One of the ways of stocking the new team or teams is an expansion draft...
to help build its roster of players. Among the notable selections were Brooke Wyckoff from the Connecticut Sun
Connecticut Sun
The Connecticut Sun is a professional basketball team based in Uncasville, Connecticut, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Orlando, Florida before the 1999 season began; the team moved to Connecticut before the 2003 season...
, Bernadette Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa is a professional women's basketball center with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Ngoyisa is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2006 WNBA Expansion draft by the Sky from the San Antonio Silver Stars, where she played in 2005...
from the San Antonio Silver Stars
San Antonio Silver Stars
The San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio...
, Elaine Powell
Elaine Powell
Elaine Powell is a professional basketball player. A point guard, she played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2008.-College career:In two years at LSU, Powell averaged 19.1 points per game...
from the Detroit Shock
Detroit Shock
The Detroit Shock was a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. They were the 2003, 2006 and 2008 WNBA champion...
and Stacey Dales
Stacey Dales
Stacey Dales, is a former Canadian basketball player and a current host on the NFL Network.-Basketball:...
(who had retired prior to the 2005 season) from the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
.
On February 28, 2006, the team announced that two of the minority shareholders of the team are Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams (singer)
Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
, from the vocal group Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
and Matthew Knowles, father of Destiny's Child lead singer Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
.
Reaching for the Sky (2006–2008)
The Sky posted a 5-29 record in its first season2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
, and finished last in the Eastern Conference.
After the season, Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
resigned from the Sky to join the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
. University of Missouri-Kansas City women's head basketball coach Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
was named the Chicago Sky's new head coach and general manager on December 12, 2006.
Their WNBA-worst 2006 record of 5-29 gave them the best chance of drawing the top pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft
2007 WNBA Draft
The 2007 WNBA Draft was the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league....
. However, the Sky would not draw either of the top two picks, and ended up with the third overall pick, which they used to select Armintie Price
Armintie Price
Armintie Ada Price is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream. Price, who played collegiately at the University of Mississippi, was drafted third overall by the Chicago Sky in the 2007 WNBA Draft...
. They would get the first pick in the dispersal draft of the Charlotte Sting
Charlotte Sting
The Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
which they used to select Monique Currie
Monique Currie
Monique Currie is a WNBA basketball player who plays for the Washington Mystics.Currie was traded from the Chicago Sky during the 2007 season in exchange for Chasity Melvin...
.
In 2007, the Sky would field a vastly improved team. The core group of players from 2006 along with some new additions helped make the team competitive. The Sky would be in the Eastern Conference
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
playoff picture all year long, even holding the #4 seed for part of the season. But the Sky finished with a 14-20 record, two games behind the fourth and final playoff spot. Guard Armintie Price was named the 2007 WNBA Rookie of the Year after the season.
On March 12, 2008 the Sky announced that Head Coach Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
resigned his position of coach/general manager. Assistant coach Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
was named head coach/general manager of the Sky.
The Sky selected Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
with the second overall pick of the 2008 WNBA Draft
2008 WNBA Draft
The 2008 WNBA Draft is the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league. The draft was held on April 9, 2008....
.
In the 2008 season, the Sky would once again fail to make the playoffs, posting a 12-22 record, finishing 5th in the East. The Sky's number one pick in the draft Sylvia Fowles was injured for most of the season.
In the off season Chicago Sky rookie center Sylvia Fowles was selected to play on the United States Olympic team. In the Beijing Olympics she averaged 13.4 ppg and 8.4 rbg leading her team to a perfect record in the Olympics and a gold medal.
Sky's the Limit (2009–present)
In the 2009 WNBA Draft2009 WNBA Draft
The 2009 WNBA Draft is the league's annual process for determining which teams receive the rights to negotiate with players entering the league. The draft was held on April 9, 2009. The first round was shown on ESPN2 at 3:00pm ET, while the second and third rounds were shown on ESPNU and NBA TV at...
, the Chicago Sky selected point guard Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver is a former basketball player for the University of Maryland at College Park. She is from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and has an older sister, Carli. She is the daughter of former NBA referee, George Toliver, and Peggy Toliver.-High school:Attended Harrisonburg High School and...
with the 3rd pick. A standout player from the University of Maryland, Toliver was known for her impressive shooting ability and propensity to produce in clutch situations. Never was this more evident than in the 2006 National Championship game when Toliver, then a freshman, hit a game-tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime against Duke, eventually leading to a win and Maryland's first National Championship. In her debut season she averaged 7.6 ppg, 1.4 rbg and 1.9 apg.
In the 2009 season, the team had high hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time. The Sky would be in the their Conference playoff picture all year long, even holding the number two seed for a small portion of their season. Unfortunately, despite with a franchise record of 16-18, the Sky were again eliminated from playoff contention after being involved in a three-team tiebreaker, with the Washington Mystics
Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'...
winning the breaker, and the Sky finished 5th in the Eastern Conference.
On August 17, 2009, the Sky announced that the team's new home would be Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena
Allstate Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Rosemont, Illinois.It is home to the Chicago Rush, of the Arena Football League, DePaul University's men's basketball team, the Chicago Wolves, of the AHL, and the Chicago Sky, of the WNBA.It is located near the intersection of Mannheim Road and...
. This change would go into effect beginning with the 2010 WNBA season
2010 WNBA season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star...
. The Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach signed a two year contract extension on September 25, 2009. On September 23, 2009 USA Basketball announced to the public that Dupree is one of 14 athletes who were invited to attend the fall training camp of the U.S. women's national team at American University in Washington. She joined her Sky teammate center Sylvia Fowles, who is anticipated to make the Olympic roster for the 2012 Games in London.
Entering the 2010 season, the Sky made some offseason moves. The Sky traded Candice Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
to the Phoenix Mercury
Phoenix Mercury
The Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises...
, and acquired Shameka Christon
Shameka Christon
Shameka Delynn Christon is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA....
and Cathrine Kraayeveld
Cathrine Kraayeveld
Cathrine Helene Kraayeveld is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. Her father, Dave, played football for the Seattle Seahawks in 1978.-High school and college:...
from the New York Liberty
New York Liberty
The New York Liberty is a professional basketball team based in New York City, playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was one of the eight original franchises of the league...
. Then, they traded Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver
Kristi Toliver is a former basketball player for the University of Maryland at College Park. She is from Harrisonburg, Virginia, and has an older sister, Carli. She is the daughter of former NBA referee, George Toliver, and Peggy Toliver.-High school:Attended Harrisonburg High School and...
to the Los Angeles Sparks
Los Angeles Sparks
The Los Angeles Sparks is a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began...
.
When the regular season began, they opened the season losing their first four games. At one point during the season, they were at .500, just a few games back for the final playoff spot. However, the Sky ended up losing eight of their final ten games of the season, eliminating the Sky from playoff contention for the fifth consecutive season. They finished 14-20, sixth in the Eastern Conference.
Uniforms
- 2006–2010: At home, white with light blue on the sides. Collar is light blue. On the road, light blue with gold on the sides. Collar is gold.
- 2011–present: At home, white with light blue stripes on the sides. Color is light blue. On the road, light blue with gold stripes on the sides. Collar is gold. In addition, both the home and away uniforms feature the team nickname and numbers in gold.
Season-by-season records
{|class="navbox wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align: center; width: 85%;"|-
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 10%;"| Season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 8%;" | Team
!rowspan="2" colspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 12%;" | Conference
!colspan="3" style="background:#eee; width: 15%;"| Regular season
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 30%;"| Playoff
WNBA Playoffs
The WNBA Playoffs is a best-of-three elimination tournament between eight teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association , ultimately deciding the final two teams who will play in the WNBA Finals....
Results
!rowspan="2" style="background:#eee; width: 13%;"| Head coach
|-
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|W
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|L
!style="background:#eee; width: 5%;"|PCT
|-
|colspan="9" align=center bgcolor="#6495ED" | Chicago Sky
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2006
2006 WNBA season
-External links:*******...
| 2006
2006 Chicago Sky season
The 2006 WNBA season was the first for the Chicago Sky.-Expansion Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 7th
| 5
| 29
| .147
| Did not qualify
| Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2007
2007 WNBA season
-External links:* * * * * * * *...
| 2007
2007 Chicago Sky season
The 2007 Chicago Sky season was the 2nd season in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky.-Season schedule:-References:...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 6th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2008
2008 WNBA season
-Season Highlights:*Candace Parker becomes the second and third player in WNBA history to dunk in a regular season game.*A fight breaks out between the Los Angeles Sparks and the Detroit Shock resulting in four ejections and ten suspensions....
| 2008
2008 Chicago Sky season
The 2008 WNBA season was the third season for the Chicago Sky. The Sky were not able to have their first winning season.-Expansion Draft:The following player was lost in the Atlanta Dream expansion draft:* Carla Thomas-WNBA Draft:-Transactions:...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 5th
| 12
| 22
| .353
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2009
2009 WNBA season
The 2009 WNBA Season is the 13th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. It is the first WNBA season ever without a Houston franchise, the Comets having folded in December 2008...
| 2009
2009 Chicago Sky season
The 2009 WNBA season is the 4th for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Sky were unable to qualify for the WNBA Playoffs for the first time in franchise history.-Dispersal Draft:...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 5th
| 16
| 18
| .471
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2010
2010 WNBA season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 14th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began with a televised meeting between the defending champion Phoenix Mercury and the Los Angeles Sparks in Phoenix, Arizona on May 15. The Connecticut Sun hosted the 10th Annual All-Star...
| 2010
2010 Chicago Sky season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 5th season for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association.-Dispersal draft:Based on the Sky's 2009 record, they would pick 4th in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 6th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
|-align="center"
!style="background:#eee;"| 2011
2011 WNBA season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 15th season of the Women's National Basketball Association. The regular season began on June 3 with the Los Angeles Sparks hosting the Minnesota Lynx, featuring 2011 WNBA Draft top pick Maya Moore, in a game televised on NBA TV...
| 2011
2011 Chicago Sky season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 6th season for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association. Sky center Sylvia Fowles finished the season as only the second player in WNBA history to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.-WNBA Draft:...
| style="width: 10%"|East
Eastern Conference (WNBA)
The Eastern Conference of the Women's National Basketball Association is made up of six teams.The Eastern Conference playoffs is divided into two playoff rounds, The Conference Semi-Finals and The Conference Finals with the winner of the Conference Championship facing the Western Conference...
| 5th
| 14
| 20
| .412
| Did not qualify
| Pokey Chatman
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Regular season
|style="background:#eee;"| 75
|style="background:#eee;"| 129
|style="background:#eee;"| .368
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 0 Conference Championships
|-
!colspan="4" style="background:#eee;"|Playoffs
|style="background:#eee;"| 0
|style="background:#eee;"| 0
|style="background:#eee;"| .000
|colspan="2" style="background:#eee;"| 0 WNBA Championships
|}
Former players
- Shameka ChristonShameka ChristonShameka Delynn Christon is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA....
(2010) - Monique CurrieMonique CurrieMonique Currie is a WNBA basketball player who plays for the Washington Mystics.Currie was traded from the Chicago Sky during the 2007 season in exchange for Chasity Melvin...
(2007), now a member of the Washington MysticsWashington MysticsThe Washington Mystics is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., playing in the Eastern Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded prior to the 1998 season. The team is owned by Monumental Sports & Entertainment , who also owns the Mystics'... - Stacey DalesStacey DalesStacey Dales, is a former Canadian basketball player and a current host on the NFL Network.-Basketball:...
(2006–2007) - Candice DupreeCandice Dupree-External links:**...
(2006–2009), now a member of the Phoenix MercuryPhoenix MercuryThe Phoenix Mercury is a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; it is one of the eight original franchises... - Stacey Lovelace-TolbertStacey Lovelace-TolbertStacey Lovelace-Tolbert is an American professional basketball player in the WNBA, who played in the WNBA.Lovelace-Tolbert attended college at Purdue University and graduated in 1996. On May 2, 2000 she was assigned with the Indiana Fever later in 2000 Lovelace-Tolbert played with the Seattle Storm...
(2006) - Nikki McCrayNikki McCrayNikki McCray is a former American professional basketball player. She played in the Women's National Basketball Association for eight seasons....
(2006) - Chasity MelvinChasity MelvinChasity Melvin is an American professional basketball player originally from Roseboro, North Carolina.A 6'3" forward, Melvin has played in the WNBA since 1999, competing for the Cleveland Rockers, the Washington Mystics, and the Chicago Sky. Through twelve seasons in the league, she holds career...
(2006–2008) - Bernadette NgoyisaBernadette NgoyisaBernadette Ngoyisa is a professional women's basketball center with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Ngoyisa is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2006 WNBA Expansion draft by the Sky from the San Antonio Silver Stars, where she played in 2005...
(2006–2007) - Chelsea NewtonChelsea NewtonChelsea Newton was born February 17, 1983 in Monroe, Louisiana. She is a former WNBA player, who last played for the Sacramento Monarchs. She signed with the Seattle Storm, but later retired before even playing a game with them....
(2006) - Jia PerkinsJia PerkinsJia Dorene Perkins is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the WNBA.-WNBA career:...
(2006–2010), now a member of the San Antonio Silver StarsSan Antonio Silver StarsThe San Antonio Silver Stars are a professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded in Salt Lake City, Utah before the league's inaugural 1997 season began; the team moved to San Antonio... - Elaine PowellElaine PowellElaine Powell is a professional basketball player. A point guard, she played in the WNBA from 1999 to 2008.-College career:In two years at LSU, Powell averaged 19.1 points per game...
(2006) - Ashley Robinson (2006), now a member of the Seattle StormSeattle StormThe Seattle Storm is a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the Western Conference in the Women's National Basketball Association . The team was founded before the 2000 season began...
- Brooke WyckoffBrooke WyckoffBrooke Wyckoff is an American former professional basketball player.A 6'1" forward from Florida State University, Wyckoff played in the WNBA from 2001 to 2009, competing for the Orlando Miracle, the Connecticut Sun, and the Chicago Sky...
(2006–2009)
Head coaches
{| class="toccolours" width=90% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky head coaches
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="15%" rowspan="2" | Name
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | Start
! width="10%" rowspan="2" | End
! width="5%" rowspan="2" | Seasons
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Regular season
! width="20%" colspan="4" | Playoffs
|-
! W !! L !! PCT !! G !! W !! L !! PCT !! G
|-
| Dave Cowens
Dave Cowens
David William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
|| May 25, 2005 || September 12, 2006 || 1 || width="5%"|5 || width="5%"|29 || width="5%"|.147 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Bo Overton
Bo Overton
Bo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
|| December 12, 2006 || March 12, 2008 || 1 || width="5%"|14 || width="5%"|20 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Steven Key
Steven Key
Steven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
|| March 12, 2008 || September 10, 2010 || 3 || width="5%"|42 || width="5%"|60 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|102 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|-
| Pokey Chatman || October 29, 2010 || Current || 1 || width="5%"|14 || width="5%"|20 || width="5%"|.412 || width="5%"|34 ||width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|0 || width="5%"|.000 || width="5%"|0
|}
General managers
- Dave CowensDave CowensDavid William Cowens is a retired American professional basketball player and NBA head coach. At 6'9", he played the center and occasionally the power forward position. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991...
(2006) - Bo OvertonBo OvertonBo Overton is the head coach of the Liaoning Hengye women's pro basketball team, a team that plays in the WCBA in China.Overton was the 1979 Oklahoma High School Basketball Player of the Year. In the year 2000, he was named to the Oklahoma High School All-Century Team.Overton played at the...
(2007) - Steven KeySteven KeySteven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
(2008–2010) - Pokey Chatman (2011–present)
Assistant coaches
- Steven KeySteven KeySteven Key was the head coach of the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association . As a player, he played for Boston University, professionally in the Continental Basketball Association , and throughout Europe....
(2006–2007) - Roger Reding (2007)
- Stephanie WhiteStephanie WhiteStephanie White-McCarty was a basketball player in the Women's National Basketball Association. As an intercollegiate athlete, she was named the winner of the Wade Trophy in 1999, which recognizes the top female basketball player in the nation.White was the 1995 Indiana Miss Basketball and was...
(2007–2010) - Michael Mitchell (2008–2010)
- Jeff House (2011–present)
- Christie Sides (2011–present)
Statistics
{| class="toccolours" width=80% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Chicago Sky statistics
|- valign="top"
|
2000s
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
|-
| 2006
2006 Chicago Sky season
The 2006 WNBA season was the first for the Chicago Sky.-Expansion Draft:-WNBA Draft:-Season schedule:-Player stats:-External links:*...
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(13.7)
| B. Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa
Bernadette Ngoyisa is a professional women's basketball center with the Indiana Fever of the WNBA. Ngoyisa is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She was drafted with the 11th pick in the 2006 WNBA Expansion draft by the Sky from the San Antonio Silver Stars, where she played in 2005...
(5.7)
| J. Perkins
Jia Perkins
Jia Dorene Perkins is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the WNBA.-WNBA career:...
(3.2)
| 68.3 vs 79.0
| 30.5 vs 36.4
| .394 vs .452
|-
| 2007
2007 Chicago Sky season
The 2007 Chicago Sky season was the 2nd season in the WNBA for the Chicago Sky.-Season schedule:-References:...
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(16.7)
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(7.7)
| D. Canty
Dominique Canty
Dominique Danyell Canty is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.-High School and College:...
(4.1)
| 74.3 vs 76.8
| 34.3 vs 36.0
| .406 vs .429
|-
| 2008
2008 Chicago Sky season
The 2008 WNBA season was the third season for the Chicago Sky. The Sky were not able to have their first winning season.-Expansion Draft:The following player was lost in the Atlanta Dream expansion draft:* Carla Thomas-WNBA Draft:-Transactions:...
| J. Perkins
Jia Perkins
Jia Dorene Perkins is an American professional basketball player. She currently plays the guard position for the San Antonio Silver Stars in the WNBA.-WNBA career:...
(17.0)
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(7.9)
| D. Canty
Dominique Canty
Dominique Danyell Canty is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.-High School and College:...
(4.1)
| 72.7 vs 73.8
| 33.1 vs 34.1
| .428 vs .416
|-
| 2009
2009 Chicago Sky season
The 2009 WNBA season is the 4th for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association. The Sky were unable to qualify for the WNBA Playoffs for the first time in franchise history.-Dispersal Draft:...
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(16.7)
| C. Dupree
Candice Dupree
-External links:**...
(7.9)
| D. Canty
Dominique Canty
Dominique Danyell Canty is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.-High School and College:...
(3.2)
| 75.7 vs 79.2
| 31.9 vs 34.0
| .435 vs .442
|}
|
2010s
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|-
! width="4%" rowspan="2"| Season
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Individual
! width="16%" colspan="3"| Team vs Opponents
|-
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|APG
! width="8%"|PPG
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
! width="8%"|RPG
! width="8%"|FG%
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
|-
| 2010
2010 Chicago Sky season
The 2010 WNBA season was the 5th season for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association.-Dispersal draft:Based on the Sky's 2009 record, they would pick 4th in the Sacramento Monarchs dispersal draft...
| S. Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
(17.8)
| S. Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
(9.9)
| D. Canty
Dominique Canty
Dominique Danyell Canty is an American professional women's basketball player with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.-High School and College:...
(3.4)
| 76.1 vs 76.8
| 31.7 vs 33.4
| .437 vs .444
|-
| 2011
2011 Chicago Sky season
The 2011 WNBA season is the 6th season for the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association. Sky center Sylvia Fowles finished the season as only the second player in WNBA history to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game.-WNBA Draft:...
| S. Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
(20.0)
| S. Fowles
Sylvia Fowles
Sylvia Shaqueria Fowles is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She is 6 ft 6 in tall and weighs 200 lbs .-Personal:...
(10.2)
| C. Vandersloot
Courtney Vandersloot
Courtney Vandersloot is an American basketball player, currently a point guard with the Chicago Sky in the WNBA and Beşiktaş in the Turkish Women's Basketball League...
(3.7)
| 74.2 vs 75.2
| 33.8 vs 32.6
| .438 vs .418
|}
|}
Media coverage
Currently, some Sky games are broadcast on the Comcast NetworkComcast Network
Comcast Network is a cable television station that is shown mostly in parts of Comcast Cable services in the Eastern part of the US. Viewed in four states and 20 television markets from New Jersey to Virginia on Comcast cable systems. The main focus of the network is Philadelphia although they...
(CN100), which is a local television station for the area of Chicago. More often than not, NBA TV
NBA TV
NBA TV is a television specialty channel that is dedicated to showcasing the sport of basketball in the United States. The network is financially backed by the National Basketball Association , which also uses NBA TV as a way of advertising their out of market package NBA League Pass, and partner...
will pick up the feed from the local broadcast, which is shown nationally. Broadcasters for the Sky games are Brent Stover and Patricia Babcock-McGraw.
All games (excluding blackout games, which are available on ESPN3.com) are broadcast to the WNBA LiveAccess game feeds on the league website. Furthermore, some Sky games are broadcast nationally on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, ESPN2 and ABC
ESPN on ABC
ESPN on ABC is the brand used for sports programming on the ABC television network. Officially the broadcast network retains its own sports division; however, for all practical purposes, ABC's sports division has been merged with ESPN, a sports cable network majority-owned by ABC's parent, The...
. The WNBA has reached an eight year agreement with ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
, which will pay right fees to the Sky, as well as other teams in the league.
Regular season attendance
- A sellout for a basketball game at UIC PavilionUIC PavilionThe UIC Pavilion is a 6,958-seat multi-purpose arena, located at 525 S. Racine Street on the West Side in Chicago, Illinois, USA, which opened in 1982. It is home to the University of Illinois at Chicago Flames basketball team and the former home of the Chicago Sky WNBA team...
(2006–2009) is 6,972. - A sellout for a basketball game at Allstate ArenaAllstate ArenaAllstate Arena is a multi-purpose arena, in Rosemont, Illinois.It is home to the Chicago Rush, of the Arena Football League, DePaul University's men's basketball team, the Chicago Wolves, of the AHL, and the Chicago Sky, of the WNBA.It is located near the intersection of Mannheim Road and...
(2010–present) is 17,500.
{| class="toccolours" width=70% style="clear:both; margin:1.5em auto; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2 style="background:#6495ED; color:#FDE910" | Regular season all-time attendance
|- valign="top"
|
{| border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" class="wikitable"
|- align="center" style="background:#eee;color:#000000;"
|width=75 |Year
|width=150|Average
|width=100|High
|width=100|Low
|width=75 |Sellouts
|width=150|Total for year
|width=150|WNBA game average
|- align="center"
| 2006 || 3,390 (14th) || 5,219 || 2,570 || 0 || 57,635 || 7,476
|- align="center"
| 2007 || 3,915 (14th) || 6,972 || 2,505 || 1 || 66,557 || 7,742
|- align="center"
| 2008 || 3,656 (13th) || 6,304 || 2,276 || 0 || 62,146 || 7,948
|- align="center"
| 2009 || 3,933 (13th) || 5,881 || 2,396 || 0 || 66,855 || 8,039
|- align="center"
| 2010 || 4,293 (12th) || 6,950 || 2,408 || 0 || 72,986 || 7,834
|- align="center"
| 2011 || 5,536 (11th) || 13,838 || 2,876 || 0 || 94,116 || 7,954
|}
Draft picks
- 2006 Expansion Draft: Jia Perkins, Brooke Wyckoff, Elaine Powell, Kiesha Brown, Deanna Jackson, Laura Macchi, Stacey Lovelace, DeTrina White, Ashley Robinson, Chelsea Newton, Bernadette Ngoyisa, Francesca Zara, Stacey Dales
- 2006: Candice Dupree (6), Jennifer Harris (20), Kerri Gardin (34)
- 2007 CharlotteCharlotte StingThe Charlotte Sting was a Women's National Basketball Association franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina and it was one of the league's eight original teams. The team folded on January 3, 2007....
Dispersal Draft: Monique Currie (1) - 2007: Armintie Price (3), Carla Thomas (10), Stephanie Raymond (20), Jessica Dickson (21), Jenna Rubino (27)
- 2008: Sylvia Fowles (2), Quianna Chaney (19), Angela Tisdale (33)
- 2009 HoustonHouston CometsThe Houston Comets were a Women's National Basketball Association team based in Houston, Texas, United States. Formed in 1997, the team was one of the best original eight WNBA teams and won the first four championships of the league's existence. The Comets were the first dynasty of the WNBA and...
Dispersal Draft: Mistie Williams Bass (3) - 2009: Kristi Toliver (3), Danielle Gant (16), Jennifer Risper (29)
- 2010 SacramentoSacramento MonarchsThe Sacramento Monarchs were a basketball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Women's National Basketball Association from 1997 until folding on November 20, 2009...
Dispersal Draft: Courtney Paris (4) - 2010: Epiphanny Prince (4), Abi Olajuwon (28)
- 2011: Courtney Vandersloot (3), Carolyn Swords (15), Angie Bjorklund (17), Amy Jaeschke (27)
Trades
- June 29, 2006: The Sky traded Ashley Robinson to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Cisti Greenwalt and a second-round pick in the 2007 Draft.
- March 23, 2007: The Sky traded Chelsea Newton and the 21st pick in the 2007 Draft to the Sacramento Monarchs for the 10th pick in the 2007 Draft.
- May 24, 2007: The Sky traded Monique Currie to the Washington Mystics in exchange for Chasity Melvin.
- August 12, 2009: The Sky traded Armintie Price to the Atlanta Dream in exchange for Tamera Young.
- March 30, 2010: The Sky traded Candice Dupree to the Phoenix Mercury and a second-round pick in the 2010 Draft to the New York Liberty in exchange for Shameka Christon and Cathrine Kraayeveld from New York. New York also received Cappie Pondexter and Kelly Mazzante from Phoenix.
- May 13, 2010: The Sky traded Kristi Toliver to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2011 Draft.
- April 20, 2011: The Sky traded Jia Perkins to the San Antonio Silver Stars in exchange for Michelle Snow.
- June 1, 2011: The Sky traded a second-round pick in the 2012 Draft to the Los Angeles Sparks in exchange for Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton.
All-Stars
- 2006: Candice Dupree
- 2007: Candice Dupree
- 2008: No All-Star Game
- 2009: Candice Dupree, Sylvia Fowles, Jia Perkins
- 2010: Sylvia Fowles
- 2011: Sylvia Fowles, Epiphanny Prince, Courtney Vandersloot
Honors and awards
- 2006 All-Rookie Team: Candice Dupree
- 2007 All-Rookie Team: Armintie Price
- 2008 All-Defensive Second Team: Sylvia Fowles
- 2008 All-Rookie Team: Sylvia Fowles
- 2010 All-WNBA First Team: Sylvia Fowles
- 2010 All-Defensive First Team: Sylvia Fowles
- 2010 All-Rookie Team: Epiphanny Prince
- 2010 Stars at the Sun Game MVP: Sylvia Fowles
- 2011 All-WNBA Second Team: Sylvia Fowles
- 2011 Defensive Player of the Year: Sylvia Fowles
- 2011 All-Defensive First Team: Sylvia Fowles
- 2011 All-Rookie Team: Courtney Vandersloot
External links
- WNBA Official Website
- Chicago Sky Schedule
- http://www.wnba.com/sky/news/sky_waive_wyckoff_sign_katie__2009_09_01.html
- http://www.wnba.com/sky/news/fowles_returns_team_usa_2009_08_19.html
- http://www.usabasketball.com/seniorwomen/2008/08_test_stats/USA.HTM
- http://www.sportspagemagazine.com/content/bb/wp-bb/ln-wp-bb/chicago-sky-sign-gm-and-head-coach-steven-key-to-n.shtml
