2020 Chicago Sky season

2020 Chicago Sky season
CoachJames Wade
ArenaOriginally: Wintrust Arena
Rescheduled to: IMG Academy gymnasiums, Bradenton, Florida
AttendanceNone per game
Results
Record12–10 (.545)
Place1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish6th seed, Lost to Connecticut Sun in First Round
Team Leaders
PointsAllie Quigley – 15.4 ppg
ReboundsCheyenne Parker – 6.4 rpg
AssistsCourtney Vandersloot – 10.0 apg

The 2020 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 15th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). This was the second season under head coach James Wade. The Sky did not improve on their previous season's record of 20–14, but entered the playoffs for the second consecutive season.

The season was initially scheduled to feature an all-time high 36 regular-season games, tipping off at the Sky's home Wintrust Arena on May 15, 2020.[1] However, this plan was halted on April 3, when the WNBA postponed its season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2][3] Under a plan approved on June 15, the league has been holding a shortened 22-game regular season at IMG Academy, without fans present, since July 24.[4][5] Under this plan, the Sky's first game was on July 26, versus the Las Vegas Aces.[6]

The Sky started out the season with success, posting a 10–4 record through 14 games. However, they lost 6 of their last 8 games to finish the season with a 12–10 record. They entered the playoffs as the 6th seed, losing to the 7th-seeded Connecticut Sun. In the offseason, the team added Azurá Stevens and Sydney Colson while losing Katie Lou Samuelson. During the season, they traded away Jantel Lavender and acquired Stephanie Mavunga. They also experienced a number of injuries throughout the season, ending the season without key players including Stevens and Diamond DeShields.

Starting guard Courtney Vandersloot set the all-time WNBA record for assists per game with 10, breaking her own record of 9.1 set in the 2019 season.[7][8]

  1. ^ "Atlanta Dream Announce 2020 Schedule - Atlanta Dream". dream.wnba.com. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  2. ^ "05/15/20: Minnesota Lynx @ Chicago Sky". WNBA.com - Official Site of the WNBA. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  3. ^ "WNBA Statement Regarding the Start of the 2020 Regular Season". April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  4. ^ "WNBA Announces Plan To Tip Off 2020 Season". WNBA. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  5. ^ "WNBA announces plans for 2020 season to start late July in Florida". NBC Sports Washington. June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  6. ^ "2020 Chicago Sky Schedule". sky.wnba.com. Chicago Sky. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  7. ^ "Assisting an assist: Vandersloot aided in reaching 10 a game". The Seattle Times. September 14, 2020. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "WNBA Single Season Leaders and Records for Assists Per Game". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 16, 2020.