The Sky would be in the Eastern Conference playoff picture all year long, even holding the #4 seed for part of the season. The core group of players from 2006 along with some new additions helped make the team competitive. In 2007, the Sky would field a vastly improved team. They would get the first pick in the dispersal draft of the Charlotte Sting which they used to select Monique Currie. 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. Their WNBA-worst 2006 record of 5-29 gave them the best chance of drawing the top pick in the 2007 WNBA Draft. 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. The Sky posted a 5-29 record in its first season, and finished last in the Eastern Conference.Īfter the season, Dave Cowens resigned from the Sky to join the coaching staff of the Detroit Pistons. 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. 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. In November 2005, the team held an expansion draft to help build its roster of players. 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. 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 name and logo for the Chicago Sky were formally debuted on September 20, 2005, at the Adler Planetarium. On May 27, 2005, former NBA player and coach Dave Cowens was announced as the team's first head coach and general manager. The franchise was temporarily named WNBA Chicago. In February 2005, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that Chicago had been awarded with a new WNBA franchise. The Sky won its first WNBA championship in 2021, defeating the Phoenix Mercury in four games. The franchise has been home to many high-quality players such as Rutgers standout Epiphanny Prince, imposing center Sylvia Fowles, young point guard Courtney Vandersloot, and center/power forward Candace Parker. The Sky has missed the WNBA Playoffs in each of its five years in Chicago. 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. Alter (principle owner) and Margaret Stender (minority owner). The team was founded before the 2006 WNBA season began. The Sky do not have any picks in the 2022 WNBA Draft, having traded their second- and third-round picks to the Dallas Wings and their first round pick to the Indiana Fever.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). They hosted the Commissioner's Cup, but lost to the Aces. Four players were named to the All-Star Game: Candace Parker, Vandersloot, Copper, and Meesseman. On June 21, the Sky broke the record for largest comeback win in WNBA history in a 104-95 win over the Las Vegas Aces after being down by 28 points. In a sign-and-trade deal, free agent Diamond DeShields was traded to the Phoenix Mercury and the Sky added Julie Allemand. Free agent Stefanie Dolson departed the team and signed with the New York Liberty. The team re-signed Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, and Kahleah Copper and added Emma Meesseman via free agency. They are the defending league champions after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in the 2021 WNBA Finals.Įntering the offseason, the Sky only had four players from the previous season under contract. The 2022 Chicago Sky season will be the franchise's 17th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their fourth season under head coach James Wade.
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