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.
Transactions
WNBA draft The Sky made the following selections in the 2021 WNBA draft on December 4, 2020. RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country18Shyla HealTownsville Fire 216Natasha MackOklahoma State
Trades and Roster Changes DateTrade or Roster Change January 7, 2021 Waived F Kiah Gillespie January 9, 2021 Full-Season suspend G María Conde January 13, 2021 Extended Qualifying Offer to F Alexis Prince February 1, 2021 Signed F Candace Parker February 9, 2021 Acquired the 16th Pick in the 2021 WNBA draft from Dallas in exchange for Chicago's Second Round Pick in the 2022 WNBA draft. Signed G Brittany Boyd-Jones to a training camp contract February 17, 2021 Signed F Azurá Stevens to a Contract Extension March 7, 2021 Waived F Stephanie Mavunga March 8, 2021 Signed F Astou Ndour April 13, 2021 Signed F Alexis Prince and G Jessica January to Training Camp Contracts April 17, 2021 Signed G Shyla Heal, G Petra Holešínská, F Natasha Mack, F Sierra Campisano, and G Sparkle Taylor April 20, 2021 Signed G Lexie Brown May 6, 2021 Full-Seasons Suspended F Gabby Williams May 7, 2021 Waived G Petra HolešínskáMay 9, 2021Traded Gabby Williams to Los Angeles in exchange for Stephanie Watts and the rights to Leonie Fiebich May 10, 2021 Waived G Jessica January, G Sparkle Taylor, and F Sierra Campisano May 13, 2021 Waived G Brittany Boyd-Jones, G Lexie Brown, F Alexis Prince and F Natasha Mack, and F Kobi Thornton Temporarily Suspend G Shyla Heal May 15, 2021 Signed G Brittany Boyd-Jones to Hardship Contract May 17, 2021 Temporarily Suspend C Stefanie Dolson May 18, 2021 Signed F Natasha Mack to Hardship Contract May 20, 2021 Released G Brittany Boyd from Hardship Contract May 21, 2021 Activated G Shyla Heal from Temporarily Suspension List May 22, 2021 Released F Natasha Mack from Hardship Contract May 23, 2021 Signed F Natasha Mack to Hardship Contract May 30, 2021 Released F Natasha Mack from Hardship Contract June 1, 2021 Signed G Lexie Brown to Hardship Contract June 2, 2021 Traded 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 Waived G Stephanie Watts Activate C Stefanie Dolson from Temporary Suspension List Released G Lexie Brown from Hardship Contract June 7, 2021 Signed F Sierra Campisano June 8, 2021 Waived F Sierra Campisano Temporarily Suspend F Astou Ndour due to Overseas Commitments June 9, 2021 Signed F Natasha Mack June 10, 2021 Waived F Natasha Mack June 14, 2021 Signed G Lexie Brown June 30, 2021 Activate F Astou Ndour from Temporary Suspension
Roster
Game log
Preseason
| 1 | May 9 | @ Indiana | L 65–82 | Kahleah Copper (14) | Boyd-JonesMack (6) | Brittany Boyd-Jones (3) | Bankers Life FieldhouseNo Fans | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 11 | Indiana | W 83–70 | Astou Ndour-Fall (13) | Candace Parker (6) | Brittany Boyd-Jones (5) | Wintrust ArenaNo Fans | 1–1
Regular season
| 1 | May 15 | @ Washington | W 70–56 | Kahleah Copper (19) | ParkerCopper (8) | Diamond DeShields (5) | Entertainment and Sports Arena1,050 | 1–0 |- | 2 | May 19 | @ Atlanta | W 85–77 | Kahleah Copper (23) | Astou Ndour-Fall (11) | Courtney Vandersloot (8) | Gateway Center Arena689 | 2–0 |- | 3 | May 23 | New York | L 85–93 | Diamond DeShields (22) | Ruthy Hebard (10) | Courtney Vandersloot (16) | Wintrust Arena1,332 | 2–1 |- | 4 | May 25 | Atlanta | L 83–90 | Kahleah Copper (21) | DeShieldsNdour-Fall (9) | Courtney Vandersloot (6) | Wintrust Arena1,004 | 2–2 |- | 5 | May 28 | Los Angeles | L 61–76 | Diamond DeShields (14) | Astou Ndour-Fall (9) | Courtney Vandersloot (6) | Wintrust Arena1,124 | 2–3 |- | 6 | May 30 | Los Angeles | L 79–82 | Courtney Vandersloot (28) | Astou Ndour-Fall (12) | Courtney Vandersloot (7) | Wintrust Arena1,124 | 2–4
| 7 | June 1 | Phoenix | L 83–84 | Diamond DeShields (26) | Ruthy Hebard (9) | Courtney Vandersloot (10) | Wintrust Arena1,217 | 2–5 |- | 8 | June 3 | @ Phoenix | L 74–77 | Kahleah Copper (14) | Kahleah Copper (8) | Courtney Vandersloot (9) | Phoenix Suns Arena3,819 | 2–6 |- | 9 | June 5 | @ Los Angeles | L 63–68 | Kahleah Copper (15) | Ruthy Hebard (10) | Courtney Vandersloot (5) | Los Angeles Convention Center430 | 2–7 |- | 10 | June 9 | Indiana | W 92–76 | Courtney Vandersloot (17) | Ruthy Hebard (9) | Courtney Vandersloot (9) | Wintrust Arena1,090 | 3–7 |- | 11 | June 12 | @ Indiana | W 83–79 | Candace Parker (20) | Candace Parker (14) | Courtney Vandersloot (5) | Indiana Farmers ColiseumNo Fans | 4–7 |- | 12 | June 15 | @ Minnesota | W 105–89 | Allie Quigley (23) | Candace Parker (7) | Courtney Vandersloot (13) | Target Center2,024 | 5–7 |- | 13 | June 17 | Connecticut | W 81–75 | Kahleah Copper (18) | CopperParker (8) | Courtney Vandersloot (10) | Wintrust Arena1,293 | 6–7 |- | 14 | June 19 | Connecticut | W 91–81 | Courtney Vandersloot (18) | Kahleah Copper (9) | Courtney Vandersloot (11) | Wintrust Arena1,293 | 7–7 |- | 15 | June 22 | @ New York | W 92–72 | Candace Parker (23) | Candace Parker (12) | Courtney Vandersloot (10) | Barclays Center1,419 | 8–7 |- | 16 | June 24 | @ New York | W 91–68 | CopperDeShields (18) | Candace Parker (11) | Courtney Vandersloot (9) | Barclays Center2,148 | 9–7 |- | 17 | June 27 | @ Connecticut | L 58–74 | CopperQuigley (11) | DeShieldsDolson (6) | Courtney Vandersloot (7) | Mohegan Sun Arena2,014 | 9–8 |- | 18 | June 30 | @ Dallas | W 91–81 | Kahleah Copper (17) | Candace Parker (10) | Courtney Vandersloot (12) | College Park Center1,778 | 10–8
| 19 | July 2 | @ Dallas | L 91–100 | Candace Parker (22) | Candace Parker (7) | Courtney Vandersloot (9) | College Park Center2,187 | 10–9 |- | 20 | July 10 | Washington | L 85–89 (OT) | Stefanie Dolson (20) | Candace Parker (13) | Courtney Vandersloot (15) | Wintrust Arena8,331 | 10–10
| 21 | August 15 | Seattle | W 87–85 | Kahleah Copper (19) | Candace Parker (9) | Courtney Vandersloot (11) | Wintrust Arena6,231 | 11–10 |- | 22 | August 17 | Dallas | L 76–80 | Allie Quigley (27) | DolsonParker (6) | Courtney Vandersloot (12) | Wintrust Arena3,902 | 11–11 |- | 23 | August 21 | Minnesota | L 95–101 | QuigleyVandersloot (27) | Allie Quigley (5) | Courtney Vandersloot (8) | Wintrust Arena5,036 | 11–12 |- | 24 | August 24 | @ Atlanta | W 86–79 | Allie Quigley (21) | Candace Parker (9) | Courtney Vandersloot (10) | Gateway Center Arena1,292 | 12–12 |- | 25 | August 27 | @ Seattle | W 73–69 | Kahleah Copper (26) | Azurá Stevens (10) | Courtney Vandersloot (8) | Angel of the Winds Arena3,650 | 13–12 |- | 26 | August 29 | @ Seattle | W 107–75 | Candace Parker (25) | ParkerStevens (9) | Courtney Vandersloot (10) | Angel of the Winds Arena3,750 | 14–12 |- | 27 | August 31 | @ Phoenix | L 83–103 | Kahleah Copper (18) | Azurá Stevens (9) | ParkerVandersloot (4) | Phoenix Suns Arena5,838 | 14–13
| 28 | September 2 | @ Las Vegas | L 83–90 | Candace Parker (30) | Candace Parker (14) | Courtney Vandersloot (8) | Michelob Ultra Arena5,150 | 14–14 |- | 29 | September 5 | Las Vegas | W 92–84 | Allie Quigley (22) | Candace Parker (13) | Candace Parker (8) | Wintrust Arena5,210 | 15–14 |- | 30 | September 12 | Washington | L 71–79 | Azurá Stevens (18) | Candace Parker (11) | Courtney Vandersloot (6) | Wintrust Arena4,707 | 15–15 |- | 31 | September 17 | Las Vegas | L 70–103 | Candace Parker (20) | Azurá Stevens (6) | Courtney Vandersloot (6) | Wintrust Arena4,911 | 15–16 |- | 32 | September 19 | Indiana | W 98–87 | Diamond DeShields (30) | Allie Quigley (8) | Diamond DeShields (6) | Wintrust ArenaN/A | 16–16
Playoffs
| 1 | September 23 | Dallas | W 81–64 | Kahleah Copper (23) | Candace Parker (15) | Candace Parker (7) | Wintrust Arena4,672 | 1–0
| 1 | September 26 | @ Minnesota | W 89–76 | Courtney Vandersloot (19) | Kahleah Copper (10) | Courtney Vandersloot (5) | Target Center4,334 | 1–0
| 1 | September 28 | @ Connecticut | W 101–95 (2OT) | Candace Parker (22) | Courtney Vandersloot (10) | Courtney Vandersloot (18) | Mohegan Sun Arena4,720 | 1–0 |- | 2 | September 30 | @ Connecticut | L 68–79 | Kahleah Copper (13) | Candace Parker (7) | Courtney Vandersloot (6) | Mohegan Sun Arena6,088 | 1–1 |- | 3 | October 3 | Connecticut | W 86–83 | Kahleah Copper (26) | Azurá Stevens (11) | Courtney Vandersloot (13) | Wintrust Arena7,421 | 2–1 |- | 4 | October 6 | Connecticut | W 79–69 | Courtney Vandersloot (19) | Candace Parker (9) | Candace Parker (7) | Wintrust Arena | 3-1
| 1 | October 10 | @ Phoenix | W 91–77 | Kahleah Copper (21) | Kahleah Copper (10) | Courtney Vandersloot (11) | Footprint Center10,191 | 1–0 |- | 2 | October 13 | @ Phoenix | L 86–91 (OT) | Courtney Vandersloot (20) | CopperParkerStevens (9) | Courtney Vandersloot (14) | Footprint Center13,685 | 1–1 |- | 3 | October 15 | Phoenix | W 86–50 | Kahleah Copper (22) | Azurá Stevens (6) | Courtney Vandersloot (10) | Wintrust Arena10,378 | 2–1 |- | 4 | October 17 | Phoenix | W 80–74 | Allie Quigley (26) | Candace Parker (13) | Courtney Vandersloot (15) | Wintrust Arena10,378 | 3–1
Standings
Playoffs
Statistics
Source:
Regular season Player GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG Kahleah Copper 32 32 30.8 45.9 30.6 81.8 4.2 1.8 0.9 0.3 14.4 Candace Parker 23 23 26.7 45.8 32.9 79.4 8.4 4.0 0.7 1.2 13.3 Allie Quigley 26 11 24.4 44.8 45.4 95.9 2.7 2.3 0.5 0.3 13.2 Diamond DeShields 32 22 26.9 39.3 30.0 82.0 3.5 2.3 1.2 0.4 11.3 Courtney Vandersloot 32 32 30.5 43.3 34.6 85.7 3.4 8.6 1.7 0.4 10.5 Stefanie Dolson 24 15 20.0 48.6 40.4 94.7 3.5 1.3 0.3 0.8 7.5 Azurá Stevens 30 11 19.6 50.0 33.3 81.3 4.6 0.8 0.8 0.7 7.4 Astou Ndour-Fall 20 8 17.1 39.7 23.5 94.1 4.8 0.4 0.4 0.8 6.6 Ruthy Hebard 30 6 16.8 52.9 0.0 79.4 4.4 0.8 0.7 0.7 5.8 Dana Evans 23 0 8.6 35.6 40.5 87.5 0.5 1.2 0.2 0.0 3.9 Lexie Brown 17 0 9.5 26.3 24.2 0.0 0.7 1.1 0.4 0.0 1.6
Awards and honors RecipientAwardDate awardedRef. Courtney Vandersloot Eastern Conference Player of the Week June 21 Kahleah Copper WNBA All-Star Selection June 30 Courtney Vandersloot Candace Parker James Wade Coach of the Month – June July 1 Courtney Vandersloot Peak Performer: Assists September 20 Dana Evans WNBA All-Rookie Team October 5 Courtney Vandersloot All-WNBA Second Team October 15 Kahleah Copper WNBA Finals MVP October 17
References
External links
Official website of the Chicago Sky