The 2023 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 18th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their fifth season under head coach James Wade. In the offseason, the team saw the departures of several key players in free agency including Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, and Azurá Stevens.
On July 1, 2023, Wade stepped down as the head coach of the Sky to become an assistant coach of the Toronto Raptors in the NBA, so he was replaced by Emre Vatansever for the rest of the season.
The Women’s National Basketball Association announced that the first WNBA Canada Game would feature the Minnesota Lynx and the Sky on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, ON. It was the first-ever WNBA preseason game in Canada.
The Sky started the season well, winning their first two games. However, they lost two of their last three in May to finish the month 3–2. The Sky won two of their first three games in June before going on a six-game losing streak. They defeated Los Angeles twice to finish the month and ended June with a 4–7 record. July began with a win before the team lost four straight games. Wins book-ended two losses to finish the month and the Sky finished with a 3–6 record in July. August started with two back-to-back wins in Dallas, but then the Sky lost five straight games. They finished the month winning three of their last five games to finish August with a 5–6 record. The Sky were battling with Los Angeles for the eighth and final playoff spot entering September. The Sky lost their first game of September, but won the last three to clinch the eighth seed on September 8, after defeating Minnesota.
As the eighth seed in the 2023 WNBA Playoffs, the Sky faced off against the first seed Las Vegas Aces in the First Round. The Sky lost the first game in Las Vegas 59–87. Needing a win in the second game, the Sky lost 70–92 in the second game and were eliminated from the playoffs. Their .450 winning percentage was the worst since 2018 and this was their fifth straight year qualifying for the playoffs.
Transactions
WNBA draft
Round Pick Player Nationality School/Team/Country 2 23 Kayana Traylor Virginia Tech 3 35 Kseniya Malashka Middle Tennessee
Transactions DateTransaction January 11, 2023 Extended a Qualifying Offer to Rebekah Gardner February 3, 2023 Signed Elizabeth Williams February 4, 2023 Signed Courtney Williams February 5, 2023 Signed Isabelle Harrison Signed Feyonda Fitzgerald and Robyn Parks to Training Camp Contracts February 7, 2023 Signed Astou Ndour-Fall to a 1-Year Deal February 11, 2023 Acquired Marina Mabrey and a 2024 Second-Round Pick (from Phoenix) in a 4-Team Trade involving the Dallas Wings, Phoenix Mercury, and the New York Liberty February 13, 2023 Signed Rebekah Gardner to a Reserved Qualifying Offers February 14, 2023 Signed Alanna Smith to a 1-Year Deal Suspended the contract of Julie Allemand for the full season due to her commitments with the Belgium National Team this summer February 16, 2023 Signed Anneli Maley to a Training Camp Contract February 21, 2023 Claimed Kristine Anigwe off of Waivers April 12, 2023 Suspend the contract of Astou Ndour-Fall for the full season due to a personal decision Signed Angel Baker to a Training Camp Contract April 17, 2023 Signed Morgan Bertsch to a Training Camp Contract April 29, 2023 Signed Kayana Traylor to a Rookie Scale Deal May 10, 2023 Waived Angel Baker May 14, 2023 Exercised 4th-Year Team Option on Dana Evans May 17, 2023 Waived Feyonda Fitzgerald and Kayana Traylor May 18, 2023 Suspended the contract of Li Yueru for the Full-Season due to Non-WNBA Injury Claimed Sika Koné off Waivers Waived Anneli Maley Placed Ruthy Hebard on the Inactive List due to Pregnancy/Child-Birth June 5, 2023 Temporarily suspend the contract of Kristine Anigwe due to Overseas Commitments June 9, 2023 Signed Khaalia Hillsman and Taylor Soule to Hardship Contracts June 17, 2023 Released Khaalia Hillsman from the Hardship Contract June 22, 2023 Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Kristine Anigwe due to Overseas Commitments July 1, 2023 Head coach James Wade resigned as Head Coach and GM to take an Assistant Coach position with the Toronto Raptors Promoted Assistant Coach Emre Vatansever to Interim Head Coach/GM July 3, 2023 Activated Ruthy Hebard from the Inactive List due to Pregnancy/Maternity Leave Waived Kristine Anigwe July 27, 2023 Temporarily suspend the contract of Sika Koné due to Overseas Commitments August 8, 2023 Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Sika Koné due to Overseas Commitments September 10, 2023 Signed Kahleah Copper to a Contract Extension October 12, 2023 Hired Teresa Weatherspoon as Head Coach
Roster changes
Additions
PersonnelSigned/TradeFormer team Elizabeth Williams Free Agency Washington Mystics Courtney Williams Free Agency Connecticut Sun Isabelle Harrison Free Agency Dallas Wings Marina Mabrey Trade Dallas Wings Alanna Smith Free Agency - Morgan Bertsch Free Agency - Robyn Parks Free Agency - Sika Koné Waiver Claim New York Liberty Taylor Soule Free Agency Minnesota Lynx
Subtractions PersonnelReasonNew team Candace Parker Free agency Las Vegas Aces Courtney Vandersloot Free agency New York Liberty Allie Quigley Free agency Sitting out 2023 season Azurá Stevens Free agency Los Angeles Sparks Emma Meesseman Belgium National Team commitment - Julie Allemand Belgium National Team commitment - Li Yueru Non-WNBA Injury -
Roster
Depth Pos.StarterBench PG Marina Mabrey Dana Evans SG Courtney Williams Rebekah Gardner SF Kahleah Copper Robyn ParksTaylor Soule PF Alanna Smith Morgan BertschSika KonéIsabelle Harrison C Elizabeth Williams Ruthy Hebard
Schedule
Preseason
| 1 | May 5 | @ Dallas | L 70–75 | Kahleah Copper (16) | Rebekah Gardner (7) | Dana Evans (3) | College Park Center2,004 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 7 | Indiana | W 81–56 | Isabelle Harrison (15) | Rebekah Gardner (5) | Courtney Williams (4) | Wintrust Arena2,024 | 1–1 |- | 3 | May 13 | vs. Minnesota | W 82–74 | Kahleah Copper (18) | Kahleah Copper (9) | Dana Evans (5) | Scotiabank Arena19,800 | 2–1
Regular season
| 1 | May 19 | @ Minnesota | W 77–66 | Kahleah Copper (20) | CopperC. Williams (7) | Kahleah Copper (5) | Target Center8,024 | 1–0 |- | 2 | May 21 | @ Phoenix | W 75–69 | Kahleah Copper (15) | Elizabeth Williams (8) | Courtney Williams (7) | Footprint Center14,040 | 2–0 |- | 3 | May 26 | Washington | L 69–71 | Marina Mabrey (19) | Courtney Williams (9) | Courtney Williams (5) | Wintrust Arena7,304 | 2–1 |- | 4 | May 28 | Dallas | W 94–88 | Marina Mabrey (23) | Alanna Smith (12) | Marina Mabrey (8) | Wintrust Arena6,042 | 3–1 |- | 5 | May 30 | @ Atlanta | L 65–83 | Dana Evans (11) | Sika Koné (8) | Dana Evans (5) | Gateway Center Arena2,562 | 3–2
| 6 | June 2 | New York | L 76–77 | Kahleah Copper (20) | Kahleah Copper (9) | Courtney Williams (7) | Wintrust Arena7,188 | 3–3 |- | 7 | June 4 | @ New York | W 86–82 | Kahleah Copper (27) | Courtney Williams (9) | Courtney Williams (6) | Barclays Center7,225 | 4–3 |- | 8 | June 6 | Indiana | W 108–103 (OT) | Marina Mabrey (28) | Elizabeth Williams (7) | Dana Evans (7) | Wintrust Arena5,201 | 5–3 |- | 9 | June 9 | @ Los Angeles | L 62–77 | Alanna Smith (19) | Alanna Smith (9) | Marina Mabrey (4) | Crypto.com Arena5,431 | 5–4 |- | 10 | June 11 | @ Las Vegas | L 80–93 | Marina Mabrey (20) | Alanna Smith (8) | Dana Evans (8) | Michelob Ultra Arena9,786 | 5–5 |- | 11 | June 15 | Indiana | L 90–92 | Marina Mabrey (36) | Alanna Smith (11) | Courtney Williams (10) | Wintrust Arena6,323 | 5–6 |- | 12 | June 18 | @ Washington | L 69–77 | Morgan Bertsch (16) | Alanna Smith (13) | Courtney Williams (6) | Entertainment and Sports Arena4,009 | 5–7 |- | 13 | June 22 | Washington | L 59–80 | Alanna Smith (13) | Alanna Smith (8) | Courtney Williams (9) | Wintrust Arena6,158 | 5–8 |- | 14 | June 25 | @ Connecticut | L 72–96 | Kahleah Copper (29) | Kahleah Copper (7) | EvansMabreyC. Williams (5) | Mohegan Sun Arena6,517 | 5–9 |- | 15 | June 28 | Los Angeles | W 80–63 | Courtney Williams (21) | Courtney Williams (9) | Marina Mabrey (4) | Wintrust Arena8,810 | 6–9 |- | 16 | June 30 | Los Angeles | W 86–78 | Alanna Smith (18) | Courtney Williams (11) | Courtney Williams (13) | Wintrust Arena7,272 | 7–9
| 17 | July 2 | @ Indiana | W 89–87 | Courtney Williams (28) | Elizabeth Williams (9) | Courtney Williams (8) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse4,004 | 8–9 |- | 18 | July 7 | Atlanta | L 68–82 | Kahleah Copper (16) | CopperSmith (6) | Courtney Williams (7) | Wintrust Arena7,911 | 8–10 |- | 19 | July 9 | Atlanta | L 77–88 | Kahleah Copper (28) | Elizabeth Williams (9) | Courtney Williams (7) | Wintrust Arena7,325 | 8–11 |- | 20 | July 12 | Connecticut | L 72–84 | Kahleah Copper (22) | C. WilliamsE. Williams (8) | Courtney Williams (6) | Wintrust Arena9,025 | 8–12 |- | 21 | July 20 | @ Phoenix | L 62–80 | Kahleah Copper (17) | Elizabeth Williams (8) | Elizabeth Williams (5) | Footprint Center11,292 | 8–13 |- | 22 | July 22 | @ Seattle | W 90–75 | Kahleah Copper (29) | Alanna Smith (17) | Marina Mabrey (6) | Climate Pledge Arena8,655 | 9–13 |- | 23 | July 25 | Las Vegas | L 95–107 | Kahleah Copper (37) | Alanna Smith (8) | Courtney Williams (11) | Wintrust Arena9,025 | 9–14 |- | 24 | July 28 | Seattle | L 74–83 | Kahleah Copper (17) | Kahleah Copper (8) | Courtney Williams (5) | Wintrust Arena7,213 | 9–15 |- | 25 | July 30 | Phoenix | W 104–85 | Kahleah Copper (24) | MabreyE. Williams (5) | Courtney Williams (9) | Wintrust Arena8,914 | 10–15
| 26 | August 4 | @ Dallas | W 104–89 | CopperC. Williams (25) | Courtney Williams (6) | Courtney Williams (6) | College Park Center3,762 | 11–15 |- | 27 | August 6 | @ Dallas | W 104–96 | Marina Mabrey (32) | Courtney Williams (8) | Courtney Williams (8) | College Park Center4,057 | 12–15 |- | 28 | August 8 | Minnesota | L 79–88 | Kahleah Copper (23) | Elizabeth Williams (9) | Courtney Williams (6) | Wintrust Arena5,099 | 12–16 |- | 29 | August 11 | New York | 73–89 | Alanna Smith (19) | Courtney Williams (10) | Courtney Williams (6) | Wintrust Arena8,070 | 12–17 |- | 30 | August 13 | @ Washington | L 76–83 | Kahleah Copper (17) | Elizabeth Williams (12) | Courtney Williams (7) | Entertainment and Sports Arena3,796 | 12–18 |- | 31 | August 18 | @ Atlanta | L 67–78 | Dana Evans (18) | Alanna Smith (12) | Elizabeth Williams (5) | Gateway Center Arena2,957 | 12–19 |- | 32 | August 20 | Connecticut | L 73–79 | Kahleah Copper (15) | Alanna Smith (8) | C. WilliamsE. Williams (6) | Wintrust Arena6,901 | 12–20 |- | 33 | August 22 | Seattle | W 102–79 | Dana Evans (23) | Alanna Smith (7) | Dana Evans (8) | Wintrust Arena4,822 | 13–20 |- | 34 | August 24 | Las Vegas | L 87–94 | Marina Mabrey (22) | Elizabeth Williams (9) | Courtney Williams (6) | Wintrust Arena8,084 | 13–21 |- | 35 | August 27 | @ Seattle | W 90–85 | Elizabeth Williams (23) | Kahleah Copper (12) | C. WilliamsEvans (6) | Climate Pledge Arena9,893 | 14–21 |- | 36 | August 29 | @ Los Angeles | W 76–75 | Kahleah Copper (22) | C. WilliamsE. Williams (9) | Courtney Williams (7) | Crypto.com Arena6,041 | 15–21
| 37 | September 3 | New York | L 69–86 | Kahleah Copper (23) | C. WilliamsE. Williams (7) | Courtney Williams (6) | Wintrust Arena8,223 | 15–22 |- | 38 | September 5 | @ Indiana | W 96–69 | Kahleah Copper (25) | Courtney Williams (8) | Marina Mabrey (6) | Gainbridge Fieldhouse2,450 | 16–22 |- | 39 | September 8 | Minnesota | W 92–87 | Kahleah Copper (20) | Sika Koné (10) | Courtney Williams (10) | Wintrust Arena7,994 | 17–22 |- | 40 | September 10 | @ Connecticut | W 102–91 (OT) | Courtney Williams (23) | Courtney Williams (16) | Courtney Williams (13) | Mohegan Sun Arena6,377 | 18–22
Playoffs
| 1 | September 13 | @ Las Vegas | L 59–87 | Kahleah Copper (15) | Courtney Williams (11) | Courtney Williams (6) | T-Mobile Arena 12,927 | 0–1 |- | 2 | September 17 | @ Las Vegas | L 70–92 | Kahleah Copper (25) | CopperE. Williams (10)