2022 Chicago Sky season

2022 Chicago Sky season
CoachJames Wade
ArenaWintrust Arena
Attendance7,180 per game
Results
Record26–10 (.722)
Place1st (Eastern)
Playoff finish2nd seed; Lost in Semifinals to Connecticut Sun
Team Leaders
PointsKahleah Copper – 15.7 ppg
ReboundsCandace Parker – 8.6 rpg
AssistsCourtney Vandersloot – 6.5 apg

The 2022 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 17th season in the Women's National Basketball Association, and their fourth season under head coach James Wade. They were the defending league champions after defeating the Phoenix Mercury in the 2021 WNBA Finals.

Entering the offseason, the Sky only had four players from the previous season under contract.[1] The team re-signed Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, and Kahleah Copper and added Emma Meesseman via free agency.[2][3][4] Free agent Stefanie Dolson departed the team and signed with the New York Liberty.[5] In a sign-and-trade deal, free agent Diamond DeShields was traded to the Phoenix Mercury and the Sky added Julie Allemand.[6][7]

The defending champions lost the first game of the season, in overtime. However, they recovered and won their next two games. They finished the month winning three of five and with a 5–3 overall record. The Sky started June strongly, winning five of their first six, before losing to Indiana, on June 19. On June 21, the Sky broke the record for largest comeback win in WNBA history in a 104–95 win over the Las Vegas Aces after being down by 28 points.[8] They used that momentum to win their next three games and finish the month with a 9–2 record. In July the team kept the hot streak going, winning six games in a row from July 7 to July 22. Four players were named to the All-Star Game: Candace Parker, Vandersloot, Copper, and Meesseman.[9] They hosted the Commissioner's Cup, but lost to the Aces. The finished the month 9–2 and secured a playoff berth on July 20. After having secured the berth, their momentum slowed and they finished August with a 3–3 record. Their overall record of 26–10 was a franchise-best. They ended as the second seed in the playoffs.

As the second seed in the playoffs, they hosted a First Round series against the New York Liberty. They lost Game One of the series at home 91–98. They followed that up with a dominant 38 point win at home in Game Two. They Sky had to travel to New York for Game Three, and won by eighteen points to advance to the Semifinals. There, they faced off against the third seed Connecticut Sun. As the higher seed, they again had home court advantage in the series. As in the first round, they lost the first game at home. The Sky followed that up with a home win and a road win. They lost Game Four on the road by 24-points and could not finish the series at home in Game Five, losing 63–72 to end their season.

  1. ^ Kay, James (January 13, 2022). "5 predictions for the Chicago Sky as WNBA free agency opens, including Allie Quigley and Diamond DeShields moving on". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "Chicago Sky Sign WNBA Champion, WNBA All-Star, 2019 WNBA Finals MVP Emma Meesseman". Chicago Sky. Retrieved February 18, 2022.
  5. ^ Ward, Zack (January 31, 2022). "Stefanie Dolson heading home to New York". Swish Appeal. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Merchant, Sabreena (February 3, 2022). "Three-team trade sends Diamond DeShields to Phoenix". Swish Appeal. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "Chicago Sky acquire Julie Allemand in three-team trade". Chicago Sky. February 3, 2022. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Sky make WNBA-record 28-point comeback in win over Las Vegas; Rebekah Gardner braces for LA homecoming". Chicago Sun-Times. June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  9. ^ Pickman, Ben (June 28, 2022). "2022 No. 1 Pick Rhyne Howard Among 12 WNBA ASG Reserves". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 28, 2022.