2020 Chicago Sky season

The 2020 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 15th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). This was be the second season under head coach James Wade. The Sky have been seeking to improve on their previous season's record of 20–14.

2020 Chicago Sky season
CoachJames Wade
ArenaOriginally: Wintrust Arena
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida
AttendanceNone per game
Results
Record1210 (.545)
Place1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish6th seed, Lost to Connecticut Sun in First Round
Team Leaders
PointsAllie Quigley – 15.4 ppg
ReboundsCheyenne Parker – 6.4 rpg
AssistsCourtney Vandersloot – 10.0 apg
2021 season 

The season was initially scheduled to feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games, tipping off at the Sky's home Wintrust Arena on May 15, 2020.[1] However, this plan was halted on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3] Under a plan approved on June 15, the league has been holding a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, since July 24.[4][5] Under this plan, the Sky's first game was on July 26, versus the Las Vegas Aces.[6]

The Sky started out the season with success, posting a 10–4 record through 14 games. However, they lost 6 of their last 8 games to finish the season with a 12–10 record. They entered the playoffs as the 6th seed, losing to the 7th-seeded Connecticut Sun. In the offseason, the team added Azurá Stevens and Sydney Colson while losing Katie Lou Samuelson. During the season, they traded away Jantel Lavender and acquired Stephanie Mavunga. They also experienced a number of injuries throughout the season, ending the season without key players including Stevens and Diamond DeShields.

Starting guard Courtney Vandersloot set the all-time WNBA record for assists per game with 10, breaking her own record of 9.1 set in the 2019 season.[7][8]

Transactions

WNBA Draft

The Sky will make the following selections in the 2020 WNBA Draft.

Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country
1 8 Ruthy Hebard  United States Oregon
3 30 Japreece Dean  United States UCLA
3 32 Kiah Gillespie  United States Florida State

Trades and Roster Changes

Date Trade or Roster Change
February 12, 2020 Acquired a first round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft in exchange for C Astou Ndour[9]
February 13, 2020 Signed G Sydney Colson[10]
February 14, 2020 Acquired F Azurá Stevens in exchange for F Katie Lou Samuelson and a first round pick in the 2021 WNBA draft[11]
February 15, 2020 Re-Signed G Kahleah Copper[12]
February 17, 2020 Re-Signed F/C Stefanie Dolson[13]
February 19, 2020 Re-Signed G Allie Quigley[14]
February 25, 2020 Re-Signed G Courtney Vandersloot[15]
June 29, 2020 Signed G Stella Johnson[16]
August 28, 2020 Acquired F Stephanie Mavunga in exchange for C Jantel Lavender and second and third round picks in the 2021 WNBA draft[17]
August 31, 2020 Signed F Alisia Jenkins[18]

Roster

Chicago Sky roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
G 51 Colson, Sydney 5' 8" (1.73m) 140 lb (64kg) 1989-08-06 Texas A&M 6
G/F 2 Copper, Kahleah 6' 1" (1.85m) 155 lb (70kg) 1994-08-28 Rutgers 4
G 1 DeShields, Diamond 6' 1" (1.85m) 163 lb (74kg) 1995-03-05 Tennessee 2
C 31 Dolson, Stefanie 6' 5" (1.96m) 231 lb (105kg) 1992-01-08 Connecticut 6
F 24 Hebard, Ruthy 6' 4" (1.93m) 1998-04-28 Oregon R
F 23 Mavunga, Stephanie 6' 3" (1.91m) 205 lb (93kg) 1995-02-24 Ohio State 2
F 32 Parker, Cheyenne 6' 4" (1.93m) 193 lb (88kg) 1992-08-22 Middle Tennessee 5
F 15 Prince, Alexis 6' 2" (1.88m) 178 lb (81kg) 1994-02-05 Baylor 2
G 14 Quigley, Allie 5' 10" (1.78m) 140 lb (64kg) 1986-06-20 DePaul 11
F/C 30 Stevens, Azurá 6' 6" (1.98m) 180 lb (82kg) 1996-02-01 Connecticut 2
G 22 Vandersloot, Courtney 5' 8" (1.73m) 145 lb (66kg) 1989-02-08 Gonzaga 9
F 15 Williams, Gabby 5' 11" (1.8m) 172 lb (78kg) 1996-09-09 Connecticut 2



East: ATLCHICONINDNYWAS | West: DALLVLAMINPHOSEA
Head coach
James Wade (Kennesaw State)
Assistant coaches
Olaf Lange
Emre Vatansever
Athletic trainer
Meghan Lockerby
Strength and conditioning coach
Ann Crosby (Western Michigan)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

WNBA roster page

Season overview

The Sky entered the 2020 season looking to build on dramatic improvements in the previous season, when they reached the playoffs for the first time in three years and were recognized with three All-Star selections and a Coach of the Year Award.

During the free agency period, the Sky made few changes to their roster from the previous year. The team traded away Astou Ndour and 2019 first-round pick Katie Lou Samuelson, acquired third-year player Azurá Stevens via trade, and signed veteran Sydney Colson.[9][10][11] Free agents Allie Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot, and Stefanie Dolson were all re-signed to multi-year deals.[13][14][15] Amid many All-Star players in the league changing teams, the Sky's decision to largely bring back the previous year's team received a grade of B– from SB Nation.[19] On the other hand, women's basketball website Swish Appeal evaluated the Sky's decisions more positively and argued that the team positioned itself to contend for a championship.[20] The WNBA-focused publication Winsidr gave the Sky a B+, rating the retentions of key players and addition of Sydney Colson highly, but criticizing the value of the trade for Stevens.[21]

In the 2020 draft, the Sky selected Ruthy Hebard in the first round and Japreece Dean and Kiah Gillespie in the third round. The Sky received a grade of B in three post-draft evaluations from ESPN, CBS Sports, and SB Nation.[22][23][24]

In March, the WNBA season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jantel Lavender will miss this season due to recovery from surgery on a broken foot,[25] and Sydney Colson missed the beginning of the season due to recovery from COVID-19.[26] Stefanie Dolson was also afflicted with COVID-19, but recovered before the start of the delayed season.[27] On June 29, the Sky signed guard Stella Johnson.[28]

The Sky returned to play for the shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy on July 26. Their first game was a rematch against the Las Vegas Aces, the team who had beaten them in the previous year's playoffs. Despite the Aces leading for most of the game, the Sky won 88-86.[29][30] The Sky ended July with a 2–1 record. On August 1, they notched a narrow win against the Mystics, the last undefeated team in the league, and improved to 3–1. Over the next six games, the Sky alternated wins and losses and held a record of 6–4 after 10 games. During this stretch, on August 10, Courtney Vandersloot was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week.[31] The Sky then won four consecutive games, including blowout wins against the Atlanta Dream and the New York Liberty, to improve to 10–4. Vandersloot was again named Eastern Conference Player of the Week following this run of games.[32] However, they proceeded to lose the next two games against the lowest-seeded Liberty and the top-seeded Seattle Storm.

On August 28, the Sky traded two draft picks and Jantel Lavender, who had been out for the season due to injury, in exchange for Stephanie Mavunga.[33] On August 29, two key players for the Sky, Diamond DeShields and Azurá Stevens, exited the IMG Academy bubble. Stevens left due to an injury that would require her to miss the remainder of the season and DeShields left for personal reasons. Both players had missed the previous two games due to injuries.[34] On August 31, the Sky signed forward Alisia Jenkins to a seven-day contract.[35]

On August 31, the Sky rebounded from their two-game losing streak with a win against the Indiana Fever. Courtney Vandersloot recorded 18 assists in the game, breaking the all-time WNBA record for assists in a single game (16) previously held by Ticha Penicheiro. Vandersloot's record-breaking 17th and 18th assists came in passes to her wife, Allie Quigley.[36][37]

Game log

Regular season

2020 game log
Total: 12–10
2020 season schedule

Playoffs

2020 playoff game log
Total: 0–1
2020 playoff schedule

Standings

# Team W L PCT GB Conf.
1 xLas Vegas Aces184.8188–2
2 xSeattle Storm184.8188–2
3 xLos Angeles Sparks157.68235–5
4 xMinnesota Lynx148.63644–6
5 xPhoenix Mercury139.59154–6
6 xChicago Sky1210.54566–4
7 xConnecticut Sun1012.45587–3
8 xWashington Mystics913.40996–4
9 eDallas Wings814.364101–9
10 eAtlanta Dream715.318115–5
11 eIndiana Fever616.273124–6
12 eNew York Liberty220.091162–8

Notes

x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from playoffs
Home and Away records not shown, as all games played at a neutral location.
Updated to include results from September 13, 2020
Source

Playoffs

 
First round:
Single elimination
(September 15)
Second round:
Single elimination
(September 17)
Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(September 20–29)
WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(October 2–11)
 
              
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1
Las Vegas Aces
3
 
 
7
Connecticut Sun
2
 
 
 
 
 
4
Minnesota Lynx
80
 
 
 
5
Phoenix Mercury
79
 
5
Phoenix Mercury
85
 
 
 
8
Washington Mystics
84
 
1
Las Vegas Aces
0
 
 
 
2
Seattle Storm
3
 
6
Chicago Sky
81
 
 
 
7
Connecticut Sun
94
 
3
Los Angeles Sparks
59
 
 
7
Connecticut Sun
73
 
 
 
 
 
2
Seattle Storm
3
 
 
4
Minnesota Lynx
0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Note: Teams re-seeded after each round.

Semifinals
Team12345
1
Las Vegas Aces
6283688466
7
Connecticut Sun
8775777563
Team123
2
Seattle Storm
888992
4
Minnesota Lynx
867971
WNBA Finals
Team123
1
Las Vegas Aces
809159
2
Seattle Storm
9310492

Statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game  RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game  BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage  TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per game Team leader League leader

Regular season

Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
Allie Quigley 22 22 28.7 44.8 34.6 91.9 2.9 2.4 0.6 0.3 15.4
Kahleah Copper 22 22 31.3 49.6 34.4 73.2 5.5 2.1 1.0 0.2 14.8
Courtney Vandersloot 22 22 31.5 49.1 39.5 88.9 3.5 10.0 1.2 0.4 13.6
Cheyenne Parker 20 13 24.9 55.4 46.9 85.5 6.4 1.5 1.3 0.9 13.4
Azurá Stevens 13 13 27.3 50.0 38.5 85.0 5.9 1.5 0.9 1.8 11.5
Gabby Williams 22 4 24.8 42.4 28.6 64.0 4.0 2.0 1.3 0.2 11.5
Diamond DeShields 13 0 17.2 43.4 16.7 77.8 1.8 1.5 0.9 0.1 6.8
Stefanie Dolson 15 8 18.2 49.3 37.5 73.7 3.5 1.7 0.4 0.9 6.4
Ruthy Hebard 22 6 14.5 68.2 0 75.0 3.9 0.3 0.5 0.4 5.7
Alexis Prince 2 0 8 60 66.7 0 1.5 0 0 0.5 4.0
Stephanie Mavunga 5 0 7.2 45.5 0 0 2.6 0.4 0.2 0 2.0
Sydney Colson 17 0 6.5 42.9 33.3 87.5 0.4 0.8 0.4 0 1.6

Awards and honors

Recipient Award Date awarded Ref.
Courtney Vandersloot Eastern Conference Player of the Week August 10, 2020 [31]
August 24, 2020 [32]
Eastern Conference Player of the Month – August September 1, 2020 [38]
Peak Performer: Assists September 14, 2020 [39]
All-WNBA First Team October 4, 2020 [40]

References

  1. "Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. "05/15/20: Minnesota Lynx @ Chicago Sky". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved 2020-02-08.
  3. "WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season". 2020-04-03. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  4. "WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season". WNBA. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  5. "WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida". NBC Sports Washington. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  6. "2020 Chicago Sky Schedule". sky.wnba.com. Chicago Sky. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  7. "Assisting an assist: Vandersloot aided in reaching 10 a game". The Seattle Times. 2020-09-14. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  8. "WNBA Single Season Leaders and Records for Assists Per Game". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
  9. "Chicago Sky Acquires First-Round Pick in 2021 WNBA Draft in Exchange for Astou Ndour". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. February 12, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  10. "Chicago Sky Sign Guard Sydney Colson". Chicago Sky. 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2020-02-14.
  11. "Chicago Sky Acquire Azura Stevens, Trade Katie Lou Samuelson to Dallas Wings". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. February 14, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  12. "Kahleah Copper Returns to Chicago, Re-Signs With Sky". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. February 15, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  13. "Chicago Sky Re-Sign Two-Time WNBA All-Star Center Stefanie Dolson". Chicago Sky. February 17, 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  14. "Chicago Sky Re-Sign Three-Time All-Star Allie Quigley". Chicago Sky. February 19, 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  15. "Courtney Vandersloot Re-Signs With Chicago Sky". Chicago Sky. February 25, 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  16. "Chicago Sky Sign Stella Johnson". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. June 29, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  17. "Chicago Acquires Stephanie Mavunga in Trade With Indiana". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. August 28, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
  18. "Chicago Sky Sign Alisia Jenkins". Chicago Sky. August 31, 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  19. Ellentuck, Matt (2020-02-24). "Grading every team in WNBA's chaotic 2020 offseason". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  20. Ariail, Cat (2020-02-25). "With VanderQuigs returning, plus arrival of Azurá Stevens and Sydney Colson, is the Sky the limit for Chicago?". Swish Appeal. Retrieved 2020-02-25.
  21. "WNBA Free Agency Grades [Part 1] » Winsidr". Winsidr. 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  22. "WNBA draft grades: Wings, Lynx score highest marks". ESPN.com. 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  23. "2020 WNBA Draft Tracker: Complete results, grades as Sabrina Ionescu taken with No. 1 pick by New York Liberty". CBSSports.com. 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  24. Merchant, Sabreena (2020-04-17). "Instant grades for every 2020 WNBA Draft first-round pick". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  25. "Sky's Lavender out for season after foot surgery". ESPN.com. 2020-07-01. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  26. Collier, Jamal (2020-07-16). "COVID-19 drained Sydney Colson's energy, taking away her ability to train for the Chicago Sky and limiting her work in the fight for racial justice". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  27. Hendricks, Maggie (2020-07-23). "Chicago's Stefanie Dolson details her experience recovering from coronavirus". The Athletic. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  28. "Chicago Sky Sign Stella Johnson". Chicago Sky. 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  29. Associated Press (2020-07-26). "Sky rally late for 88-86 win over Aces in WNBA season opener". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  30. "Sky: Allie Quigley caps comeback win over rival Aces". NBC Sports Chicago. 2020-07-26. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  31. "Wilson, Vandersloot Earn Players Of The Week Honors For Week 2". WNBA.com. August 10, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  32. "Vandersloot, Parker Garner Players Of The Week Honors For Week 4". wnba.com. WNBA. August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  33. "Chicago Acquires Stephanie Mavunga in Trade With Indiana". Chicago Sky. 2020-08-28. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  34. "UPDATE on Diamond DeShields, Azurá Stevens". Chicago Sky. 2020-08-29. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  35. "Chicago Sky Sign Alisia Jenkins". Chicago Sky. 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  36. Sun-Times wires (2020-08-31). "Courtney Vandersloot sets WNBA record with 18 assists in Sky's victory". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  37. Ward, Zachary (2020-09-01). "Vandersloot sets WNBA record with 18 assists on bucket from Quigley, her wife". Swish Appeal. Retrieved 2020-09-01.
  38. "A'ja Wilson, Courtney Vandersloot Named WNBA Players of the Month". wnba.com. WNBA. September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
  39. "Dallas' Ogunbowale, Los Angeles' Parker And Chicago's Vandersloot Earn 2020 WNBA Peak Performer Awards". wnba.com. WNBA. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  40. "A'ja Wilson And Candace Parker Unanimously Selected To 2020 All-WNBA First Team". wnba.com. WNBA. October 4, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
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