What can you say about this season for the Chicago Sky? They were besieged by uncertainty in every which way imaginable, and yet found a way to maintain a fair standing in the league.
Here’s a look back at what happened and a look ahead to what’s ahead:
A look back at 2023
Chicago came into the 2023 season with an almost entirely new roster that looked radically different from the team that won the title in 2021 and made it to the semifinals in 2022. The only remaining player from both those squads was 2021 Finals MVP, three-time All-Star and team captain Kahleah Copper. The additions of Courtney Williams, Elizabeth Williams, Marina Mabrey and Alanna Smith brought in a unique mixture of experience at the professional level, both in the WNBA and overseas.
The Sky started off decently, hovering around .500. Then, beginning on June 6, they endured a six-game losing streak and had some of their best talent—Rebekah Gardner and Isabelle Harrison—suffer injuries that left them out for the remainder of the season. It was at that moment that the Sky were in a state of disarray. The shaky status of the team then was exacerbated by the abrupt departure of head coach James Wade on July 1. In an official press release, he indicated that he had accepted a job to be an…
