A year ago, as the 2022 WNBA season approached, the 2021 championship-winning Chicago Sky were enjoying a delightful offseason.
Fresh off of the first title in franchise history, Chicago dished out some money to a couple of Finals MVPs. They retained their own, Kahleah Copper (2021), and scooped up the 2019 Finals MVP, Emma Meesseman, along the way, providing the reigning champs a huge talent boost. Once Courtney Vandersloot re-signed later on in the offseason, the Sky were about as good a bet as any to repeat as WNBA champion before them.
One year later, no one would dare wager any significant amount of money on a Chicago Sky championship futures bet, which is currently +3500 at FanDuel Sportsbook—the third-worst in a 12-team league.
What happened? Losses, losses, and more losses.
Sky lose role players Azura Stevens and Allie Quigley
Let’s begin with the smaller but still unfortunate news, which is the departures of Azura Stevens and Allie Quigley. Stevens, a relatively young, but established versatile forward has chosen to leave Chicago in free agency and head to Hollywood to play for Curt Miller and the Los Angeles Sparks. In a reserve role behind Candace Parker, Stevens provided size, rim protection, athleticism and shooting.
Speaking of shooting, there aren’t many (if any) better than Allie Quigley, who reportedly will sit out this upcoming WNBA season. It goes without saying that the Sky will miss the services of a four-time 3-point contest winner and the Sky’s all-time leader in total points and 3-pointers made. Without her, halfcourt offense becomes even tougher.
Starting point guard Courtney Vandersloot heads East
If Quigley isn’t around, you could probably piece together that her wife, Courtney Vandersloot, isn’t either.
On Thursday, the franchise’s greatest point guard, all-time assists and steals leader announced via social media that she’ll be heading to the Big Apple to team up with Breanna Stewart, Jonquel Jones and Sabrina Ionescu to form a terrifying super team on the New York Liberty.
This one is going to sting quite a bit. Even entering her 13th season, there’s an argument to be made that Vandersloot is still the best point guard in the W. There isn’t a better floor general than her. Even as recently as last season, she proved to be one of the more clutch players in the league. There’s no Sloot replacement out there for the Sky to get.
WNBA legend Candace Parker leaves home
So far, I’ve mentioned super teams, irreplaceable players and versatile bigs, which makes for a perfect transition in what will undoubtedly be the biggest blow to the Chicago Sky this season — Candace Parker’s exit.
Parker left Los Angeles after the 2020 season to join her hometown team, the Chicago Sky, with hopes of bringing the franchise its first championship. A year into her two-year contract — mission accomplished. But now, after Year 2 in Chicago, Parker is heading back to the West Coast to play with the Las Vegas Aces.
There’s really no proper way to describe how big of a loss this is for the Sky. Parker, while not in her prime anymore, is still one of the W’s very best. Between her leadership, IQ, charisma, and unique ability to impact the game as a defender, scorer and passer, she’ll leave behind a hole that won’t be filled by any single player that’ll rep the Sky this season.
Where the Sky currently stand
It’s not all doom and gloom for the Sky, even if it may feel that way.
Former Finals MVP Kahleah Copper, the team’s leading scorer from a season ago, is still around and might be ready to take another step forward given the potential increase in opportunities she’ll see. Courtney Williams, who will join Chicago for the 2022 season, should add a scoring punch that the team will likely need. Emma Meesseman’s free agency decision hangs in the balance and could indicate what the Sky could look like in 2023.
The free agency madness is just getting underway but with so many big pieces exiting Chicago and few left to bring in, there’s no denying that their path to another championship will be challenging. Even with James Wade still at the helm and Copper leading the way, the Chicago Sky may not surprise many teams.
How the team decides to rebuild from here will be one of the more intriguing storylines this season. Especially considering how fast a roster capable of winning multiple titles fell apart so fast.
