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2023 Chicago Sky season

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.

2023 Chicago Sky season
CoachJames Wade (until July 1)
Emre Vatansever (after July 1)
ArenaWintrust Arena
Attendance7,242 per game
Results
Record18–22 (.450)
Place5th (Eastern)
Playoff finish8th seed; Lost 1st Round 0–2 to Las Vegas
Team Leaders
PointsKahleah Copper – 18.7 ppg
ReboundsAlanna Smith – 6.6 rpg
AssistsCourtney Williams – 6.3 apg

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. [1]

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.[2]

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

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/Team/Country
223Kayana Traylor  United StatesVirginia Tech
335Kseniya Malashka  BelarusMiddle Tennessee

Transactions

DateTransaction
January 11, 2023Extended a Qualifying Offer to Rebekah Gardner[3]
February 3, 2023Signed Elizabeth Williams[4]
February 4, 2023Signed Courtney Williams[5]
February 5, 2023Signed Isabelle Harrison[6]
Signed Feyonda Fitzgerald and Robyn Parks to Training Camp Contracts[7]
February 7, 2023Signed Astou Ndour-Fall to a 1-Year Deal[8]
February 11, 2023Acquired 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[9]
February 13, 2023Signed Rebekah Gardner to a Reserved Qualifying Offers[10]
February 14, 2023Signed Alanna Smith to a 1-Year Deal[11]
Suspended the contract of Julie Allemand for the full season due to her commitments with the Belgium National Team this summer[12]
February 16, 2023Signed Anneli Maley to a Training Camp Contract
February 21, 2023Claimed Kristine Anigwe off of Waivers
April 12, 2023Suspend the contract of Astou Ndour-Fall for the full season due to a personal decision[13]
Signed Angel Baker to a Training Camp Contract[14]
April 17, 2023Signed Morgan Bertsch to a Training Camp Contract[15]
April 29, 2023Signed Kayana Traylor to a Rookie Scale Deal
May 10, 2023Waived Angel Baker[16]
May 14, 2023Exercised 4th-Year Team Option on Dana Evans
May 17, 2023Waived Feyonda Fitzgerald and Kayana Traylor
May 18, 2023Suspended the contract of Li Yueru for the Full-Season due to Non-WNBA Injury
Claimed Sika Koné off Waivers[17]
Waived Anneli Maley[17]
Placed Ruthy Hebard on the Inactive List due to Pregnancy/Child-Birth[17]
June 5, 2023Temporarily suspend the contract of Kristine Anigwe due to Overseas Commitments
June 9, 2023Signed Khaalia Hillsman and Taylor Soule to Hardship Contracts[18]
June 17, 2023Released Khaalia Hillsman from the Hardship Contract[19]
June 22, 2023Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Kristine Anigwe due to Overseas Commitments
July 1, 2023Head Coach James Wade resigned as Head Coach and GM to take an Assistant Coach position with the Toronto Raptors[20]
Promoted Assistant Coach Emre Vatansever to Interim Head Coach/GM[20]
July 3, 2023Activated Ruthy Hebard from the Inactive List due to Pregnancy/Maternity Leave[21]
Waived Kristine Anigwe
July 27, 2023Temporarily suspend the contract of Sika Koné due to Overseas Commitments
August 8, 2023Activated the temporarily suspended contract of Sika Koné due to Overseas Commitments
September 10, 2023Signed Kahleah Copper to a Contract Extension[22]
October 12, 2023Hired Teresa Weatherspoon as Head Coach[23]

Roster Changes

Subtractions

PersonnelReasonNew Team
Candace Parker[24]Free agencyLas Vegas Aces
Courtney Vandersloot[25]Free agencyNew York Liberty
Allie Quigley[26]Free agencySitting out 2023 season
Azurá Stevens[27]Free agencyLos Angeles Sparks
Emma MeessemanBelgium National Team commitment-
Julie AllemandBelgium National Team commitment-
Li YueruNon-WNBA Injury-

Roster

2023 Chicago Sky roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHeightWeightDOBFromYrs
F25 Bertsch, Morgan6' 4" (1.93m)173 lb (78kg)04-20-1997UC DavisR
G/F2 Copper, Kahleah6' 1" (1.85m)165 lb (75kg)1994-08-28Rutgers7
G11 Evans, Dana5' 6" (1.68m)145 lb (66kg)08-01-1998Louisville2
G35 Gardner, Rebekah  6' 1" (1.85m)130 lb (59kg)1990-07-09UCLA1
F20 Harrison, Isabelle  6' 3" (1.91m)183 lb (83kg)1993-09-27Tennessee6
F24 Hebard, Ruthy6' 4" (1.93m)190 lb (86kg)1998-04-28Oregon3
F23 Koné, Sika (S)6' 4" (1.93m)180 lb (82kg)2002-07-13MaliR
G4 Mabrey, Marina5' 11" (1.8m)170 lb (77kg)1996-09-14Notre Dame4
F21 Parks, Robyn6' 1" (1.85m)170 lb (77kg)07-19-1992VCUR
F8 Smith, Alanna6' 4" (1.93m)180 lb (82kg)09-10-1996Stanford4
F7 Soule, Taylor5' 11" (1.8m)186 lb (84kg)01-05-2000Virginia TechR
G10 Williams, Courtney5' 8" (1.73m)133 lb (60kg)1994-05-11South Florida7
C1 Williams, Elizabeth6' 3" (1.91m)200 lb (91kg)1993-06-23Duke8
Head coach
Emre Vatansever (Marmara University)
Assistant coaches
Tonya Edwards (Tennessee)
Ann Wauters
Yoann Cabioc'h
Athletic trainer
Meghan Lockerby
Strength and conditioning coach
Ann Crosby (Western Michigan)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Injured

Depth

Pos.StarterBench
PGMarina MabreyDana Evans
SGCourtney WilliamsRebekah Gardner
SFKahleah CopperRobyn Parks
Taylor Soule
PFAlanna SmithMorgan Bertsch
Sika Koné
Isabelle Harrison
CElizabeth WilliamsRuthy Hebard

Schedule

Preseason

2023 game log
Total: 2–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–1)
May: 2–1 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 5@ DallasL 70–75Kahleah Copper (16)Rebekah Gardner (7)Dana Evans (3)College Park Center
2,004		0–1
2May 7IndianaW 81–56Isabelle Harrison (15)Rebekah Gardner (5)Courtney Williams (4)Wintrust Arena
2,024		1–1
3May 13vs. MinnesotaW 82–74Kahleah Copper (18)Kahleah Copper (9)Dana Evans (5)Scotiabank Arena
19,800		2–1
2023 season schedule

Regular Season

2023 game log
Total: 18–22 (Home: 7–13; Road: 11–9)
May: 3–2 (Home: 1–1; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 19@ MinnesotaW 77–66Kahleah Copper (20)Copper
C. Williams (7)		Kahleah Copper (5)Target Center
8,024		1–0
2May 21@ PhoenixW 75–69Kahleah Copper (15)Elizabeth Williams (8)Courtney Williams (7)Footprint Center
14,040		2–0
3May 26WashingtonL 69–71Marina Mabrey (19)Courtney Williams (9)Courtney Williams (5)Wintrust Arena
7,304		2–1
4May 28DallasW 94–88Marina Mabrey (23)Alanna Smith (12)Marina Mabrey (8)Wintrust Arena
6,042		3–1
5May 30@ AtlantaL 65–83Dana Evans (11)Sika Koné (8)Dana Evans (5)Gateway Center Arena
2,562		3–2
June: 4–7 (Home: 3–3; Road: 1–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
6June 2New YorkL 76–77Kahleah Copper (20)Kahleah Copper (9)Courtney Williams (7)Wintrust Arena
7,188		3–3
7June 4@ New YorkW 86–82Kahleah Copper (27)Courtney Williams (9)Courtney Williams (6)Barclays Center
7,225		4–3
8June 6IndianaW 108–103 (OT)Marina Mabrey (28)Elizabeth Williams (7)Dana Evans (7)Wintrust Arena
5,201		5–3
9June 9@ Los AngelesL 62–77Alanna Smith (19)Alanna Smith (9)Marina Mabrey (4)Crypto.com Arena
5,431		5–4
10June 11@ Las VegasL 80–93Marina Mabrey (20)Alanna Smith (8)Dana Evans (8)Michelob Ultra Arena
9,786		5–5
11June 15IndianaL 90–92Marina Mabrey (36)Alanna Smith (11)Courtney Williams (10)Wintrust Arena
6,323		5–6
12June 18@ WashingtonL 69–77Morgan Bertsch (16)Alanna Smith (13)Courtney Williams (6)Entertainment and Sports Arena
4,009		5–7
13June 22WashingtonL 59–80Alanna Smith (13)Alanna Smith (8)Courtney Williams (9)Wintrust Arena
6,158		5–8
14June 25@ ConnecticutL 72–96Kahleah Copper (29)Kahleah Copper (7)Evans
Mabrey
C. Williams (5)		Mohegan Sun Arena
6,517		5–9
15June 28Los AngelesW 80–63Courtney Williams (21)Courtney Williams (9)Marina Mabrey (4)Wintrust Arena
8,810		6–9
16June 30Los AngelesW 86–78Alanna Smith (18)Courtney Williams (11)Courtney Williams (13)Wintrust Arena
7,272		7–9
July: 3–6 (Home: 1–5; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
17July 2@ IndianaW 89–87Courtney Williams (28)Elizabeth Williams (9)Courtney Williams (8)Gainbridge Fieldhouse
4,004		8–9
18July 7AtlantaL 68–82Kahleah Copper (16)Copper
Smith (6)		Courtney Williams (7)Wintrust Arena
7,911		8–10
19July 9AtlantaL 77–88Kahleah Copper (28)Elizabeth Williams (9)Courtney Williams (7)Wintrust Arena
7,325		8–11
20July 12ConnecticutL 72–84Kahleah Copper (22)C. Williams
E. Williams (8)		Courtney Williams (6)Wintrust Arena
9,025		8–12
21July 20@ PhoenixL 62–80Kahleah Copper (17)Elizabeth Williams (8)Elizabeth Williams (5)Footprint Center
11,292		8–13
22July 22@ SeattleW 90–75Kahleah Copper (29)Alanna Smith (17)Marina Mabrey (6)Climate Pledge Arena
8,655		9–13
23July 25Las VegasL 95–107Kahleah Copper (37)Alanna Smith (8)Courtney Williams (11)Wintrust Arena
9,025		9–14
24July 28SeattleL 74–83Kahleah Copper (17)Kahleah Copper (8)Courtney Williams (5)Wintrust Arena
7,213		9–15
25July 30PhoenixW 104–85Kahleah Copper (24)Mabrey
E. Williams (5)		Courtney Williams (9)Wintrust Arena
8,914		10–15
August: 5–6 (Home: 1–3; Road: 4–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
26August 4@ DallasW 104–89Copper
C. Williams (25)		Courtney Williams (6)Courtney Williams (6)College Park Center
3,762		11–15
27August 6@ DallasW 104–96Marina Mabrey (32)Courtney Williams (8)Courtney Williams (8)College Park Center
4,057		12–15
28August 8MinnesotaL 79–88Kahleah Copper (23)Elizabeth Williams (9)Courtney Williams (6)Wintrust Arena
5,099		12–16
29August 11New York73–89Alanna Smith (19)Courtney Williams (10)Courtney Williams (6)Wintrust Arena
8,070		12–17
30August 13@ WashingtonL 76–83Kahleah Copper (17)Elizabeth Williams (12)Courtney Williams (7)Entertainment and Sports Arena
3,796		12–18
31August 18@ AtlantaL 67–78Dana Evans (18)Alanna Smith (12)Elizabeth Williams (5)Gateway Center Arena
2,957		12–19
32August 20ConnecticutL 73–79Kahleah Copper (15)Alanna Smith (8)C. Williams
E. Williams (6)		Wintrust Arena
6,901		12–20
33August 22SeattleW 102–79Dana Evans (23)Alanna Smith (7)Dana Evans (8)Wintrust Arena
4,822		13–20
34August 24Las VegasL 87–94Marina Mabrey (22)Elizabeth Williams (9)Courtney Williams (6)Wintrust Arena
8,084		13–21
35August 27@ SeattleW 90–85Elizabeth Williams (23)Kahleah Copper (12)C. Williams
Evans (6)		Climate Pledge Arena
9,893		14–21
36August 29@ Los AngelesW 76–75Kahleah Copper (22)C. Williams
E. Williams (9)		Courtney Williams (7)Crypto.com Arena
6,041		15–21
September: 3–1 (Home: 1–1; Road: 2–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
37September 3New YorkL 69–86Kahleah Copper (23)C. Williams
E. Williams (7)		Courtney Williams (6)Wintrust Arena
8,223		15–22
38September 5@ IndianaW 96–69Kahleah Copper (25)Courtney Williams (8)Marina Mabrey (6)Gainbridge Fieldhouse
2,450		16–22
39September 8MinnesotaW 92–87Kahleah Copper (20)Sika Koné (10)Courtney Williams (10)Wintrust Arena
7,994		17–22
40September 10@ ConnecticutW 102–91 (OT)Courtney Williams (23)Courtney Williams (16)Courtney Williams (13)Mohegan Sun Arena
6,377		18–22
2023 season schedule

Playoffs

2023 playoff game log
First Round vs. Las Vegas
Lost Series: 0-2
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 13@ Las VegasL 59–87Kahleah Copper (15)Courtney Williams (11)Courtney Williams (6)T-Mobile Arena
12,927		0–1
2September 17@ Las VegasL 70–92Kahleah Copper (25)Copper
E. Williams (10)		Elizabeth Williams (5)Michelob Ultra Arena
9,000		0–2
2023 playoff schedule

Standings

#Team
W L PCT GB Conf. Home Road Cup
1x – Las Vegas Aces346.850–18–219–115–59–1
2x – New York Liberty328.800216–415–517–37–3
3x – Connecticut Sun2713.675714–613–714–67–3
4x – Dallas Wings2218.5501211–911–911–96–4
5x – Atlanta Dream1921.4751511–911–98–126–4
6x – Minnesota Lynx1921.4751512–89–1110–105–5
7x – Washington Mystics1921.475159–1112–87–135–5
8x – Chicago Sky1822.450165–157–1311–93–7
9e – Los Angeles Sparks1723.425179–1110–107–135–5
10e – Indiana Fever1327.325215–156–147–132–8
11e – Seattle Storm1129.275238–124–167–134–6
12e – Phoenix Mercury931.225252–188–121–191–9

Notes

(#) – League Standing
x – Clinched playoff berth
e – Eliminated from postseason contention
Source: Overall standings and Commissioner's Cup Standings

Playoffs

Round One:
Best-of-3		Semifinals:
Best-of-5		Finals:
Best-of-5
         
1Las Vegas Aces2
8Chicago Sky0
1Las Vegas Aces3
4Dallas Wings0
4Dallas Wings2
5Atlanta Dream0
1Las Vegas Aces3
2New York Liberty1
2New York Liberty2
7Washington Mystics0
2New York Liberty3
3Connecticut Sun1
3Connecticut Sun2
6Minnesota Lynx1

Bold Series winner

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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 gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular Season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Kahleah Copper383831.2.448.404.7704.42.00.90.318.7
Marina Mabrey393930.0.411.390.8363.73.60.70.515.0
Courtney Williams404030.1.437.443.6006.06.31.00.310.4
Elizabeth Williams404029.7.514.000.6305.82.51.31.59.8
Alanna Smith383526.5.498.294.6796.61.81.31.39.2
Dana Evans39121.5.360.294.8541.23.00.70.19.0
Rebekah Gardner3019.7.429.6001.0003.72.32.00.37.0
Morgan Bertsch28514.2.456.444.7501.70.70.40.34.4
Robyn Parks37213.6.381.3681.0001.60.40.30.13.9
Ruthy Hebard1909.2.585.000.6502.40.40.30.43.9
Sika Koné≠2009.3.532.333.7693.00.50.20.13.6
Kristine Anigwe‡1008.3.455.000.6252.10.40.30.52.5
Taylor Soule≠1503.5.143.000.6250.50.20.00.10.6
Khaalia Hillsman‡101.0.000.000.0000.00.00.00.00.0


‡Waived/Released during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season

Playoffs

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Kahleah Copper2234.5.406.455.7507.51.50.50.020.0
Dana Evans2022.5.417.2501.0000.53.51.50.014.5
Marina Mabrey2232.5.348.2221.0003.51.50.01.59.5
Courtney Williams2232.5.316.286.0008.04.00.51.07.0
Elizabeth Williams2233.0.286.000.00010.03.00.52.04.0
Alanna Smith2218.0.300.0001.0004.50.50.01.04.0
Robyn Parks2013.0.333.333.0002.00.00.00.02.5
Sika Koné204.5.667.000.0000.50.50.00.02.0
Ruthy Hebard207.0.250.000.0001.00.01.00.51.0
Morgan Bertsch105.0.000.000.0000.00.00.00.00.0
Taylor Soule101.0.000.000.0000.00.00.00.00.0

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awardedRef.
Kahleah CopperWNBA All-StarJuly 1[28]
Courtney WilliamsEastern Conference Player of the WeekJuly 5[29]
Elizabeth WilliamsAll-Defensive Second TeamSeptember 22[30]

References

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