2021 Chicago Sky season explained

The 2021 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 16th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and its third season under head coach James Wade. In the postseason, the Sky won their first WNBA championship.

The offseason was marked by two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker joining the team. The Sky started the season with two wins but followed with a seven-game losing streak through mid-June. However, they went on a seven-game winning streak that included back-to-back wins over eventual top seed Connecticut. They entered the mid-season Olympic break with a 10–10 record. After the break, they recorded a 4–3 record in August, including back-to-back road wins in Seattle. In September, they began with a road loss and closed out the season with a four game home-stand that they split 2–2, finishing the season 16–16.

The Sky entered the playoffs as the sixth seed. They hosted the Dallas Wings in the First Round, and won in dominating fashion, 81–64. They faced the Minnesota Lynx on the road in the Second Round, winning the game 89–76. Facing the first-seeded Connecticut Sun in a best-of-three semifinals series, they won the Game 1 in double overtime but lost Game 2 on the road. The series returned home to Chicago, where the Sky won both games to win the series 3–1.

The Sky reached the Finals for the first time since 2014. They were only the third team to reach the finals with a record of .500 or below, and the lowest seed to do so since the new playoff format was introduced in 2016. In the WNBA Finals, the Sky defeated the Phoenix Mercury in four games to win their first WNBA championship. Their only loss came in overtime in Game 2.[1] [2]

Transactions

WNBA draft

See also: 2021 WNBA draft. The Sky made the following selections in the 2021 WNBA draft on December 4, 2020.

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
18Shyla Heal
216Natasha MackOklahoma State

Trades and Roster Changes

DateTrade or Roster Change
January 7, 2021Waived F Kiah Gillespie[3]
January 9, 2021Full-Season suspend G Maria Conde
January 13, 2021Extended Qualifying Offer to F Alexis Prince
February 1, 2021Signed F Candace Parker[4]
February 9, 2021Acquired the 16th Pick in the 2021 WNBA draft from Dallas in exchange for Chicago's Second Round Pick in the 2022 WNBA draft.[5]
Signed G Brittany Boyd-Jones to a training camp contract[6]
February 17, 2021Signed F Azurá Stevens to a Contract Extension[7]
March 7, 2021Waived F Stephanie Mavunga[8]
March 8, 2021Signed F Astou Ndour[9]
April 13, 2021Signed F Alexis Prince and G Jessica January to Training Camp Contracts[10]
April 17, 2021Signed G Shyla Heal, G Petra Holešínská, F Natasha Mack, F Sierra Campisano, and G Sparkle Taylor[11]
April 20, 2021Signed G Lexie Brown[12]
May 6, 2021Full-Seasons Suspended F Gabby Williams[13]
May 7, 2021Waived G Petra Holešínská[14]
May 9, 2021Traded Gabby Williams to Los Angeles in exchange for Stephanie Watts and the rights to Leonie Fiebich[15]
May 10, 2021Waived G Jessica January, G Sparkle Taylor, and F Sierra Campisano[16]
May 13, 2021Waived G Brittany Boyd-Jones, G Lexie Brown, F Alexis Prince and F Natasha Mack, and F Kobi Thornton[17]
Temporarily Suspend G Shyla Heal[18]
May 15, 2021Signed G Brittany Boyd-Jones to Hardship Contract[19]
May 17, 2021Temporarily Suspend C Stefanie Dolson[20]
May 18, 2021Signed F Natasha Mack to Hardship Contract[21]
May 20, 2021Released G Brittany Boyd from Hardship Contract[22]
May 21, 2021Activated G Shyla Heal from Temporarily Suspension List[23]
May 22, 2021Released F Natasha Mack from Hardship Contract[24]
May 23, 2021Signed F Natasha Mack to Hardship Contract[25]
May 30, 2021Released F Natasha Mack from Hardship Contract[26]
June 1, 2021Signed G Lexie Brown to Hardship Contract[27]
June 2, 2021Traded G Shyla Heal, a 2022 3rd Round Pick, and the option to swap 1st Round Picks in 2022 to the Dallas Wings in exchange for G Dana Evans[28]
Waived G Stephanie Watts
Activate C Stefanie Dolson from Temporary Suspension List[29]
Released G Lexie Brown from Hardship Contract
June 7, 2021Signed F Sierra Campisano[30]
June 8, 2021Waived F Sierra Campisano[31]
Temporarily Suspend F Astou Ndour due to Overseas Commitments
June 9, 2021Signed F Natasha Mack[32]
June 10, 2021Waived F Natasha Mack[33]
June 14, 2021Signed G Lexie Brown[34]
June 30, 2021Activate F Astou Ndour from Temporary Suspension[35]

Game log

Preseason

|- style="background:#fcc;"| 1| May 9| @ Indiana| L 65–82| Kahleah Copper (14)| Boyd-Jones
Mack (6)| Brittany Boyd-Jones (3)| Bankers Life Fieldhouse
No Fans| 0–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| May 11| Indiana| W 83–70| Astou Ndour-Fall (13)| Candace Parker (6)| Brittany Boyd-Jones (5)| Wintrust Arena
No Fans| 1–1

Regular season

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| May 15| @ Washington| W 70–56| Kahleah Copper (19)| Parker
Copper (8)| Diamond DeShields (5)| Entertainment and Sports Arena
1,050| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 2| May 19| @ Atlanta| W 85–77| Kahleah Copper (23)| Astou Ndour-Fall (11)| Courtney Vandersloot (8)| Gateway Center Arena
689| 2–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 3| May 23| New York| L 85–93| Diamond DeShields (22)| Ruthy Hebard (10)| Courtney Vandersloot (16)| Wintrust Arena
1,332| 2–1|- style="background:#fcc;"| 4| May 25| Atlanta| L 83–90| Kahleah Copper (21)| DeShields
Ndour-Fall (9)| Courtney Vandersloot (6)| Wintrust Arena
1,004| 2–2|- style="background:#fcc;"| 5| May 28| Los Angeles| L 61–76| Diamond DeShields (14)| Astou Ndour-Fall (9)| Courtney Vandersloot (6)| Wintrust Arena
1,124| 2–3|- style="background:#fcc;"| 6| May 30| Los Angeles| L 79–82| Courtney Vandersloot (28)| Astou Ndour-Fall (12)| Courtney Vandersloot (7)| Wintrust Arena
1,124| 2–4|- style="background:#fcc;"| 7| June 1| Phoenix| L 83–84| Diamond DeShields (26)| Ruthy Hebard (9)| Courtney Vandersloot (10)| Wintrust Arena
1,217| 2–5|- style="background:#fcc;"| 8| June 3| @ Phoenix| L 74–77| Kahleah Copper (14)| Kahleah Copper (8)| Courtney Vandersloot (9)| Phoenix Suns Arena
3,819| 2–6|- style="background:#fcc;"| 9| June 5| @ Los Angeles| L 63–68| Kahleah Copper (15)| Ruthy Hebard (10)| Courtney Vandersloot (5)| Los Angeles Convention Center
430| 2–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 10| June 9| Indiana| W 92–76| Courtney Vandersloot (17)| Ruthy Hebard (9)| Courtney Vandersloot (9)| Wintrust Arena
1,090| 3–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 11| June 12| @ Indiana| W 83–79| Candace Parker (20)| Candace Parker (14)| Courtney Vandersloot (5)| Indiana Farmers Coliseum
No Fans| 4–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 12| June 15| @ Minnesota| W 105–89| Allie Quigley (23)| Candace Parker (7)| Courtney Vandersloot (13)| Target Center
2,024| 5–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 13| June 17| Connecticut| W 81–75| Kahleah Copper (18)| Copper
Parker (8)| Courtney Vandersloot (10)| Wintrust Arena
1,293| 6–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 14| June 19| Connecticut| W 91–81| Courtney Vandersloot (18)| Kahleah Copper (9)| Courtney Vandersloot (11)| Wintrust Arena
1,293| 7–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 15| June 22| @ New York| W 92–72| Candace Parker (23)| Candace Parker (12)| Courtney Vandersloot (10)| Barclays Center
1,419| 8–7|- style="background:#cfc;"| 16| June 24| @ New York| W 91–68| Copper
DeShields (18)| Candace Parker (11)| Courtney Vandersloot (9)| Barclays Center
2,148| 9–7|- style="background:#fcc;"| 17| June 27| @ Connecticut| L 58–74| Copper
Quigley (11)| DeShields
Dolson (6)| Courtney Vandersloot (7)| Mohegan Sun Arena
2,014| 9–8|- style="background:#cfc;"| 18| June 30| @ Dallas| W 91–81| Kahleah Copper (17)| Candace Parker (10)| Courtney Vandersloot (12)| College Park Center
1,778| 10–8|- style="background:#fcc;"| 19| July 2| @ Dallas| L 91–100| Candace Parker (22)| Candace Parker (7)| Courtney Vandersloot (9)| College Park Center
2,187| 10–9|- style="background:#fcc;"| 20| July 10| Washington| L 85–89 (OT)| Stefanie Dolson (20)| Candace Parker (13)| Courtney Vandersloot (15)| Wintrust Arena
8,331| 10–10|- style="background:#cfc;"| 21| August 15| Seattle| W 87–85| Kahleah Copper (19)| Candace Parker (9)| Courtney Vandersloot (11)| Wintrust Arena
6,231| 11–10|- style="background:#fcc;"| 22| August 17| Dallas| L 76–80| Allie Quigley (27)| Dolson
Parker (6)| Courtney Vandersloot (12)| Wintrust Arena
3,902| 11–11|- style="background:#fcc;"| 23| August 21| Minnesota| L 95–101| Quigley
Vandersloot (27)| Allie Quigley (5)| Courtney Vandersloot (8)| Wintrust Arena
5,036| 11–12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 24| August 24| @ Atlanta| W 86–79| Allie Quigley (21)| Candace Parker (9)| Courtney Vandersloot (10)| Gateway Center Arena
1,292| 12–12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 25| August 27| @ Seattle| W 73–69| Kahleah Copper (26)| Azurá Stevens (10)| Courtney Vandersloot (8)| Angel of the Winds Arena
3,650| 13–12|- style="background:#cfc;"| 26| August 29| @ Seattle| W 107–75| Candace Parker (25)| Parker
Stevens (9)| Courtney Vandersloot (10)| Angel of the Winds Arena
3,750| 14–12|- style="background:#fcc;"| 27| August 31| @ Phoenix| L 83–103| Kahleah Copper (18)| Azurá Stevens (9)| Parker
Vandersloot (4)| Phoenix Suns Arena
5,838| 14–13|- style="background:#fcc;"| 28| September 2| @ Las Vegas| L 83–90| Candace Parker (30)| Candace Parker (14)| Courtney Vandersloot (8)| Michelob Ultra Arena
5,150| 14–14|- style="background:#cfc;"| 29| September 5| Las Vegas| W 92–84| Allie Quigley (22)| Candace Parker (13)| Candace Parker (8)| Wintrust Arena
5,210| 15–14|- style="background:#fcc;"| 30| September 12| Washington| L 71–79| Azurá Stevens (18)| Candace Parker (11)| Courtney Vandersloot (6)| Wintrust Arena
4,707| 15–15|- style="background:#fcc;"| 31| September 17| Las Vegas| L 70–103| Candace Parker (20)| Azurá Stevens (6)| Courtney Vandersloot (6)| Wintrust Arena
4,911| 15–16|- style="background:#cfc;"| 32| September 19| Indiana| W 98–87| Diamond DeShields (30)| Allie Quigley (8)| Diamond DeShields (6)| Wintrust Arena
N/A| 16–16

Playoffs

|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| September 23| Dallas| W 81–64| Kahleah Copper (23)| Candace Parker (15)| Candace Parker (7)| Wintrust Arena
4,672| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| September 26| @ Minnesota| W 89–76| Courtney Vandersloot (19)| Kahleah Copper (10)| Courtney Vandersloot (5)| Target Center
4,334| 1–0|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| September 28| @ Connecticut| W 101–95 (2OT)| Candace Parker (22)| Courtney Vandersloot (10)| Courtney Vandersloot (18)| Mohegan Sun Arena
4,720| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| September 30| @ Connecticut| L 68–79| Kahleah Copper (13)| Candace Parker (7)| Courtney Vandersloot (6)| Mohegan Sun Arena
6,088| 1–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3| October 3| Connecticut| W 86–83| Kahleah Copper (26)| Azurá Stevens (11)| Courtney Vandersloot (13)| Wintrust Arena
7,421| 2–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| October 6| Connecticut| W 79–69| Courtney Vandersloot (19)| Candace Parker (9)| Candace Parker (7)| Wintrust Arena| 3-1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 1| October 10| @ Phoenix| W 91–77| Kahleah Copper (21)| Kahleah Copper (10)| Courtney Vandersloot (11)| Footprint Center
10,191| 1–0|- style="background:#fcc;"| 2| October 13| @ Phoenix| L 86–91 (OT)| Courtney Vandersloot (20)| Copper
Parker
Stevens (9)| Courtney Vandersloot (14)| Footprint Center
13,685| 1–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 3| October 15| Phoenix| W 86–50| Kahleah Copper (22)| Azurá Stevens (6)| Courtney Vandersloot (10)| Wintrust Arena
10,378| 2–1|- style="background:#cfc;"| 4| October 17| Phoenix| W 80–74| Allie Quigley (26)| Candace Parker (13)| Courtney Vandersloot (15)| Wintrust Arena
10,378| 3–1

Statistics

Source:[36]

Regular Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Kahleah Copper323230.845.930.681.84.21.80.90.314.4
Candace Parker232326.745.832.979.48.44.00.71.213.3
Allie Quigley261124.444.845.495.92.72.30.50.313.2
Diamond DeShields322226.939.330.082.03.52.31.20.411.3
Courtney Vandersloot323230.543.334.685.73.48.61.70.410.5
Stefanie Dolson241520.048.640.494.73.51.30.30.87.5
Azurá Stevens301119.650.033.381.34.60.80.80.77.4
Astou Ndour-Fall20817.139.723.594.14.80.40.40.86.6
Ruthy Hebard30616.852.90.079.44.40.80.70.75.8
Dana Evans2308.635.640.587.50.51.20.20.03.9
Lexie Brown1709.526.324.20.00.71.10.40.01.6

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Courtney VanderslootEastern Conference Player of the WeekJune 21[37]
Kahleah CopperWNBA All-Star SelectionJune 30[38]
Courtney Vandersloot
Candace Parker
James WadeCoach of the Month – JuneJuly 1[39]
Courtney VanderslootPeak Performer: AssistsSeptember 20[40]
Dana EvansWNBA All-Rookie TeamOctober 5[41]
Courtney VanderslootAll-WNBA Second TeamOctober 15[42]
Kahleah CopperWNBA Finals MVPOctober 17[43]

References

  1. Web site: 2021 WNBA Finals - Candace Parker's legacy comes full circle as she leads Chicago Sky to first WNBA championship . Mechelle . Voepel . ESPN.com . October 17, 2021.
  2. Web site: Chicago rallies past Phoenix to win first WNBA crown; Sky's Kahleah Copper named MVP. Mechelle . Voepel . ESPN.com . October 17, 2021.
  3. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. January 7, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  4. Web site: Chicago Sky Make Historic Signing to Bring 2x WNBA MVP Candace Parker Home. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. February 1, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  5. Web site: Sky Acquire 2021 Second-Round Draft Pick. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. February 9, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  6. Web site: Chicago Sky Tweet. twitter.com. Twitter. February 9, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  7. Web site: Sky Signs Azurá Stevens to Contract Extension. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. February 17, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  8. Web site: Rachel Galligan Tweet. twitter.com. Twitter. March 7, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  9. Web site: Astou Ndour returns to Sky on 1-year deal. chicago.suntimes.com. Sun Times. March 8, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  10. Web site: Sky Sign Alexis Prince & Jessica January to Training Camp Contracts. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. April 13, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  11. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. April 17, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  12. Web site: WNBA Transactions. wnba.com. WNBA. April 20, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  13. Web site: Sky's Gabby Williams Placed on Full-Season Suspended List While Playing Overseas. bleacherreport.com. Bleacher Report. May 6, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  14. Web site: Chicago Sky Waive Petra Holešínská. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. May 7, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  15. Web site: After suspending Gabby Williams for the season, Sky trade her to Sparks for Stephanie Watts. CBS Sports. May 9, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  16. Web site: Chicago Sky Waive Jessica January, Sparkle Taylor and Sierra Campisano. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. May 10, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  17. Web site: Chicago Sky Waive Brittany Boyd-Jones, Alexis Prince, Lexie Brown, Kobi Thornton and Natasha Mack. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. May 13, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  18. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 13, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  19. Web site: Chicago Sky Sign Brittany Boyd-Jones. oursportscewntral.com. Our Sports Central. May 15, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  20. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 17, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  21. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 18, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  22. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 20, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  23. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 21, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  24. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 22, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  25. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 23, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  26. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. May 30, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  27. Web site: Sky Re-Sign Lexie Brown. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. June 1, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  28. Web site: Chicago Sky Acquire Dana Evans From Dallas. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. June 2, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  29. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. June 2, 2021. June 3, 2021.
  30. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. June 7, 2021. June 10, 2021.
  31. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. June 8, 2021. June 10, 2021.
  32. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. June 9, 2021. June 10, 2021.
  33. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. June 10, 2021. June 12, 2021.
  34. Web site: Sky Bring Back Lexie Brown for Remainder of 2021 WNBA Season. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. June 14, 2021. June 17, 2021.
  35. Web site: Transactions - Player Movement. acrossthetimeline.com. Across the Timeline. June 30, 2021. July 6, 2021.
  36. Web site: Stats - Chicago Sky. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. October 20, 2021.
  37. Web site: Courtney Vandersloot, Breanna Stewart Named Week 5 Players Of Week. wnba.com. WNBA. June 21, 2021. June 21, 2021.
  38. Web site: Rosters Set for AT&T WNBA All-Star 2021 on July 14. wnba.com. WNBA. June 30, 2020. July 1, 2021.
  39. Web site: James Wade Named Coach Of The Month. wnba.com. WNBA. July 1, 2021. July 1, 2021.
  40. Web site: 2021 WNBA Peak Performers: Tina Charles, Jonquel Jones, and Courtney Vandersloot. wnba.com. WNBA. September 20, 2021. September 22, 2021.
  41. Web site: Sky Guard Dana Evans Named to 2021 WNBA All-Rookie Team. sky.wnba.com. WNBA. October 5, 2021. October 16, 2021.
  42. Web site: The 2021 All-WNBA First & Second Team Announced. wnba.com. WNBA. October 15, 2021. October 15, 2021.
  43. Web site: Kahleah Copper Wins WNBA Finals MVP!. wnba.com. WNBA. October 17, 2021. October 18, 2021.

External links

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