The 2006 WNBA season was the first for the Chicago Sky. On February 8, 2005, the David Stern announced that the WNBA would be expanding to Chicago beginning with the 2006 season. Chicago became the second team in league history to be owned and operated outside of the NBA entity.[1] [2] On September 20, 2005, the Chicago franchise announced their team name to be the Sky.[3]
Dave Cowens was named the first head coach of the Sky.[4] The year was much of a struggle for the Sky, as they went 5–29 in their first season. Rookie Candice Dupree was named to the All-Rookie Team following the season for her solid rookie season.[5] Cowens left the team following the year.
Chicago had the right to acquire one player from each of the 13 WNBA teams. Each team had designated a maximum of six players who would not be available for selection in the expansion draft.[6]
| Player | Nationality | Nationality | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Sting | |||
| Connecticut Sun | |||
| Detroit Shock | |||
| Houston Comets | |||
| Indiana Fever | |||
| Los Angeles Sparks | |||
| Minnesota Lynx | |||
| DeTrina White | New York Liberty | ||
| Phoenix Mercury | |||
| Sacramento Monarchs | |||
| San Antonio Silver Stars | |||
| Francesca Zara | Seattle Storm | ||
| Washington Mystics |
See also: 2006 WNBA draft.
| Round | Pick | Player | Nationality | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Candice Dupree | Temple | |
| 2 | 20 | Jennifer Harris | Washburn | |
| 3 | 34 | Kerri Gardin | Virginia Tech | |
| Date | Transaction | |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2006 | Signed Candice Dupree, Jennifer Harris, and Kerri Gardin to rookie-scale contracts | |
| April 13, 2006 | Signed Mfon Udoka | |
| April 18, 2006 | Signed Missy Traversi to a training-camp contract | |
| April 19, 2006 | Signed Steffanie Blackmon to a training-camp contract | |
| April 30, 2006 | Waived Missy Traversi and Mfon Udoka[7] | |
| May 1, 2006 | Signed Holly Tyler and Julie McBride[8] | |
| Waived Steffanie Blackmon | ||
| May 4, 2006 | Waived Holly Tyler | |
| May 8, 2006 | Signed Tera Bjorklund | |
| May 12, 2006 | Claimed Rita Williams off of waivers | |
| Traded the 14th pick in the 2007 WNBA draft to the Houston Comets in exchange for Liz Moeggenberg and the 21st pick in the 2007 WNBA draft | ||
| May 13, 2006 | Waived Julie McBride | |
| May 16, 2006 | Waived Jennifer Harris and Kerri Gardin | |
| Full-season suspend Francesca Zara due to overseas commitments | ||
| May 18, 2006 | Waived Rita Williams | |
| June 28, 2006 | Nikki McCray announces her retirement from the WNBA[9] | |
| June 29, 2006 | Traded Ashley Robinson to the Seattle Storm in exchange for Cisti Greenwalt and the 20th pick in the 2007 WNBA draft[10] | |
| Waived Cisti Greenwalt | ||
| July 5, 2006 | Signed Katie Cronin to a 7-day contract | |
| July 24, 2006 | Signed Katie Cronin and Coretta Brown | |
| September 13, 2006 | Dave Cowens resigns as head coach[11] |