The Chicago Sky’s title defending season tips off on Friday against the Los Angeles Sparks but not before the team hosted media day at Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield on Tuesday.
Sky coach/GM James Wade and his team fielded questions all day about what it will take to run it back and bring another championship to Chicago. Despite the seriousness of the impending season and the line of questioning that came with it, Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley and the rest of the Sky’s roster seemed to enjoy the afternoon of media.
Masseny Kaba poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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(Clockwise from bottom left) Candace Parker, Allie Quigley, head coach James Wade, Azurá Stevens, Emma Meesseman and Courtney Vandersloot pose for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Candace Parker poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Courtney Vandersloot jumps on Azurá Stevens’ back for a piggyback ride during media day at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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(Clockwise from bottom left) Courtney Vandersloot, Candace Parker, Azurá Stevens, Ruthy Hebard, Allie Quigley and Dana Evans pose for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Courtney Vandersloot poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Allie Quigley, left, and Courtney Vandersloot, center, react as Candace Parker spins a ball on her finger during media day at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Azurá Stevens poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Allie Quigley and Azurá Stevens chat during a photo shoot on media day at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Kaela Davis poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Allie Quigley, left, and Courtney Vandersloot spin balls on their fingers for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Candace Parker poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Allie Quigley poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Courtney Vandersloot poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Emmanuelle Tahane, left, and Masseny Kaba chat with a reporter during media day at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Candace Parker, left, and Azurá Stevens pose for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ruthy Hebard poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Masseny Kaba poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Courtney Vandersloot chats with people during media day at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Sparkle Taylor poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Anneli Maley poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Dana Evans poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Candace Parker poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Kathleen Doyle poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Ruthy Hebard chats with a reporter during media day at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Tina Krajisnik poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Candace Parker chats with a reporter during media day at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Emma Meesseman poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Head coach James Wade poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Allie Quigley poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Emmanuelle Tahane poses for a portrait at the Chicago Sky’s practice facility, the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield, Tuesday afternoon, May 3, 2022.
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Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
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Friday’s game marks the first time Parker will play against her former Sparks team since she departed Los Angeles for Chicago last February. It will also be 2019 WNBA Finals MVP Emma Meesseman’s Sky debut.
Wade still has roster cuts to make ahead of the WNBA’s May 5 roster deadline date. The Sky’s roster currently has 14 players listed after Wade waived Kaela Davis, Tina Krasjisnik, Anneli Maley, Sparkle Taylor and Kysre Gondrezick on Wednesday.
It’s likely that Wade re-signs certain players to replacement contracts after qualifying for the emergency hardship exception. Without Kahleah Copper, Julie Allemand and Li Yueru here for the start of the 2022 season, the Sky will drop below the league required 10 available players making them eligible for this hardship exception.
Once Copper, Allemand and Yueru arrive in Chicago, players who do sign replacement contracts will need to be waived.
