Know All About Chicago Sky: Roster, Players, Owner, Coach, Jersey,Records and More

The Chicago Sky is among the most exciting and competitive teams in the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA). It was founded in 2006, and since then, the franchise has steadily built a reputation for excellence. Sky has featured some of the league’s top talents over the years. The team reached its pinnacle in 2021 when it secured its first-ever WNBA Championship, where it was led by star players like Candace Parker, Kahleah Copper, and Courtney Vandersloot.

The Sky entered a rebuild in 2023, losing key veterans like Vandersloot, Quigley, Stevens, and Parker. With Copper leading a retooled roster, the team went 18–22 and exited early in the playoffs. James Wade resigned midseason, with Emre Vatansever stepping in. In 2024, Chicago added rookies Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese but traded Copper and Mabrey. They finished 13–27, missing the playoffs. Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, hired in 2023, was fired after just one season.

The Chicago Sky team has consistently been a playoff contender, attracting a loyal fanbase and making its mark in women’s basketball history. The following article takes a closer look at the reason behind the franchise’s success and other aspects.

Chicago Sky Profile

The 2021 WNBA Championship-winning team has a rich history and has showcased it in every aspect of the game. It has always remained a key part of WNBA’s growth and success. The Chicago Sky’s rise from expansion team to WNBA champions wasn’t overnight, it was earned. They drafted well, developed their core, and made smart moves in free agency. That’s how you build real contenders. But here’s the thing it wasn’t just about winning. Their success gave women’s basketball a louder voice in Chicago, a city already packed with sports history. And now, thanks to the Sky, it’s a place where WNBA hoops get real attention too. Here are the details about Chicago Sky:

Chicago Sky History

Chicago’s journey in the WNBA began in 2005, when the league awarded the city an expansion team. The franchise revealed its name and colors later that year, embracing yellow and blue to reflect a sunny Chicago skyline. They built their initial roster through an expansion draft, pulling in names like Stacey Dales and Brooke Wyckoff. Dave Cowens served as the first coach and GM.
Their debut season in 2006 ended in disappointment with just five wins. After Cowens left, Bo Overton took over, helping the team improve slightly. Though they added future stars like Sylvia Fowles and Kristi Toliver in the next few drafts, wins and playoff spots remained elusive. Pokey Chatman later stepped in as head coach, shifting momentum.
The turning point came in 2013 when they drafted Elena Delle Donne. Her presence, alongside Fowles, elevated the Sky to a 24–10 record and their first playoff appearance. In 2014, they made it to the Finals for the first time, and by 2021, hometown hero Candace Parker helped bring home the team’s first WNBA title. Since then, the Sky have seen consistent changes, coaching shifts, trades, and rebuilds. After missing the playoffs in 2024, Tyler Marsh was brought in to lead the next chapter.

Chicago Sky Stats

Chicago’s season is off to a rough ride, again. Sitting at 3–10 and 11th in the standings, the Sky haven’t found their rhythm. Despite a major offseason shakeup, they’re still stuck in the mud. After a forgettable 13–27 finish last year and a late-season collapse, Chicago hit reset. They booted Teresa Weatherspoon, brought in Tyler Marsh from the Aces, and reloaded the roster. Courtney Vandersloot made her return, and the Sky added Ariel Atkins to help groom young stars like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. But that momentum took a hit fast, Vandersloot’s season ended with a knee injury.
On the floor, it’s been ugly. They opened the year with four straight Ls and have already been run off the court twice by the Fever. That opener got spicy, Caitlin Clark went off for a triple-double and decked Reese with a hard foul that got folks talking. Their only wins? Two over a struggling Dallas squad, and one of those came without Paige Bueckers. Offense looks choppy, the defense leaks like crazy, and turnovers are piling up like it’s a giveaway night. There’s potential, but right now, this squad looks more like a rebuild than a playoff threat. Take a look at Chicago Sky's stats below:

Chicago Sky Famous Players

Since its inception in 2006, a lot of players have donned the iconic blue for the Chicago Sky, but there have been some who have etched their name in team history. Chicago has had its share of ballers who didn’t just fill up the stat sheet, they turned the tide for the Sky. Whether it was a young gun making noise from day one or a seasoned vet taking over the league, these players weren’t just good, they were game-changers. They brought the heat, earned silverware, and gave fans something to believe in. Every era had its star, and each one helped build the culture this team stands on today. So, if you’re talking about Sky legends, you’re talking about the names that redefined what it meant to wear Chicago across their chest.

Elena Delle Donne

Elena Delle Donne made her WNBA debut with the Chicago Sky as the second overall pick in 2013. She wasted no time proving herself, dropping 22 points and 8 boards in her first game, setting a rookie record for the franchise. That season, she averaged 18.1 points, topped the league in free throw percentage (92.9%), and swept all Rookie of the Month honors before being named Rookie of the Year.
Despite battling Lyme disease in 2014, she returned strong in the playoffs, notching 34 points in a historic comeback against Atlanta. By 2015, she was on a tear, scoring 45 in a game, breaking free-throw records, and averaging a league-best 23.3 points. For her exploits, she was named the 2015 MVP. Delle Donne reached 1,000 points faster than nearly anyone in league history and was a three-time All-Star by then. With her elite scoring, efficiency, and clutch gene, Sky fans have rightfully crowned her the greatest player in franchise history.

Sylvia Fowles

Sylvia Fowles didn’t just hold it down for the Chicago Sky, she owned the paint from 2008 through 2014. Drafted second overall out of LSU, she hit the ground running with a WNBA All-Rookie nod and never really slowed down. By her third season, she was putting up 17.8 points, 9.9 boards, and blocking everything in sight, racking up 88 blocks that year, ninth-best in league history.
In 2011, Fowles leveled up big time. She averaged 20 and 10, only the second player in WNBA history to hit both in a season and snatched the Defensive Player of the Year award. That same year, she broke the Sky’s single-season points and double-double records, and even led the league in field goal percentage. She wasn't just stuffing stats either; she pulled the Sky into their first-ever playoff run and then to the Finals in 2014. By the time she bounced, Fowles had three All-Star selections, two DPOY awards, and basically rewrote Chicago’s entire record book.

Courtney Vandersloot

Courtney Vandersloot didn’t waste time making noise after going third overall in 2011. Fresh off a historic college run over 2,000 points and 1,000 assists, she stepped in as Chicago’s lead guard. That rookie year? She dropped 220 points, 124 dimes (a Sky rookie record), and snagged a spot on the All-Star squad.
The next season, she leveled up. Vandersloot finished fourth in the league with 157 assists and hit five threes in a single game. In 2013, she started all 33 games and beat her own assist record again with 162, dishing 10 dimes in a key win over Atlanta. That same year, she led all WNBA guards in blocks with 28.
Though 2014 was cut short by injury, she still tied Diana Taurasi for league-best 5.6 assists per game and set a franchise record with 13 in one outing. By 2015, Vandersloot crossed the 1,000-point mark and posted another double-double. Her vision, playmaking, and consistency made her a Sky legend.

Chicago Sky Roster

Chicago’s front office didn’t waste time fixing last year’s issues. First move? Snagging Hailey Van Lith, who played with Angel Reese at LSU before transferring to TCU. She’s a crafty guard who can score, dish, and lead. The Sky clearly want vets guiding this young core—enter Courtney Vandersloot and Ariel Atkins. Both are proven winners ready to mentor and hoop. And don’t forget Elizabeth Williams, back healthy and holding down the paint.
Last season, Chicago leaned on players still getting their WNBA legs. This year? Total switch-up. They brought in experience with Kia Nurse, Rebecca Allen, Michaela Onyenwere, Rachel Banham, and Moriah Jefferson. The idea’s simple: balance youth and savvy. That new spacing’s no accident either. Atkins and Allen are both career 36%+ shooters from deep, which forces defenders out of the paint. That gives Reese and Cardoso space to work and breathe.
Coach Tyler Marsh isn’t boxing Reese into the post anymore. He’s expanding her game. Expect to see her in pick-and-rolls, short rolls, and even stretching the floor on occasion. She might trail in transition or act as a point forward. Bottom line? The Sky rebuilt with purpose and they’re giving Reese the keys to take the wheel. Let's take a look at Chicago Sky's roster.

Chicago Sky Head Coach

As of January 2025, the Head coach of Chicago Sky is Tyler Marsh, appointed on 3 November 2024. Marsh succeeds Teresa Weatherspoon, who was dismissed after the 2024 season. She had a 13–27 record, due to which the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Marsh has been the Assistant and development coach of various teams before joining Chicago Sky. He played a key role in A’ja Wilson and Jackie Young’s glow-up. He’s bringing it to Chicago.
Instead of keeping Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso stuck on the block, Marsh wants them moving, popping out, rolling, and scoring from different spots. No more just living in the paint. Reese, for one, is buying in. She’s still snatching boards, but she’s adding new tricks to her arsenal.
What really sets Marsh apart isn’t just the Xs and Os, it’s how he’s approaching the rebuild. He’s not after some quick-fix magic. He’s building brick by brick, focusing on daily improvement that actually sticks.
Long story short: The Chicago Sky coach Marsh, is trying to turn this squad from scrappy to scary. And if the Sky’s young core catches on fast, don’t be surprised if they start turning heads before anyone expects it.

Chicago Sky Owner

The Chicago Sky’s ownership group is led by Principal Owner Michael Alter, who has been with the team since the start. In 2023, new Co-Owner and Operating Chairman Nadia Rawlinson was included. Additionally, in July 2023, NBA legend Dwyane Wade joined became one of the Chicago Sky's owners. This Addition further strengthened the franchise’s leadership.

In June 2023, the Sky sold a 10% stake to a group of eight investors which include Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts and Foot Locker CEO Mary Dillon, at an $85 million valuation. Fresh investment in 2023 gave the Sky a real boost, letting them revamp everything from staffing to player perks and marketing. Upgrades to the practice facility? On the list, too. This experienced ownership team is committed to the growth and success of the Chicago Sky in the WNBA.

Chicago Sky Worth

Before Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso became Chicago Sky players, the Sky were already making noise financially. In 2024, the Chicago Sky’s worth was calculated at $95 million valuation, big-time numbers for a team still building its next chapter. But when compared to teams like the Liberty and Indiana Fever they fall short by a lot. The Liberty is now valued at a massive $400 million and the Fever is right behind at $370 million. There is no information available on the Chicago-based franchise's latest valuation, but with Reese and Cardoso in the mix now, Chicago Sky’s worth is only expected to rise.
Plus the WNBA locked in a game-changing national media deal last summer—$2.2 billion over 11 years. Do the math, and that’s $200 million a year, nearly 6x what the league was making before. And that’s just the base. Insiders say by 2029, that payout might rise even more. Plus, the league still has room to stack extra cash from TV deals.
Teams that were barely breaking even could finally start seeing green. With ESPN, Prime Video, and NBC set to roll out coverage in 2025, the Sky and the whole league are gearing up for a whole new era. The bag is here, and it’s only getting heavier.

Chicago Sky Stadium

Wintrust Arena isn’t just another gym, it's where the Sky runs the show, it is Chicago Sky's stadium. Since opening in 2017, this 10,387-seat spot has been the home base for DePaul University's basketball teams and a hotbed for major events. But everything changed in 2017 when the Sky packed up from Allstate Arena and officially made Wintrust their house.
It didn’t take long for the energy to spike. The arena's first big crowd came in 2017 with a Bob Dylan and Mavis Staples concert. But the real moment? October 2021. That’s when Wintrust turned electric. The Sky hosted Games 3 and 4 of the WNBA Finals, both sellouts, and clutched their first-ever title on home court, taking down the Mercury. It was loud, it was packed, and it was legendary. If you’re talking Chicago basketball history, Wintrust’s already carved out its spot.

Chicago Sky Championships

The 2021 Chicago Sky didn’t just show up, they showed out. Entering their 16th WNBA season and third under James Wade, they scraped into the playoffs as the sixth seed with a .500 record. But once the postseason tipped off, they flipped the script.
They kicked things off in the playoffs by steamrolling the Dallas Wings 81–64. Next up, they rolled into Minnesota and took down the Lynx 89–76. Things got wild in the semifinals. Facing the top-seeded Connecticut Sun, the Sky snagged Game 1 in double OT, dropped Game 2 on the road, then returned home and iced the series 3–1 with two straight dubs.
The Sky became just the third squad ever to reach the Finals without a winning record, and the lowest seed to do it under the new format. In the championship series, they handled the Phoenix Mercury in four games to grab their first title ever.
Vandersloot ran the offense like a seasoned floor general, 50 assists in four games, nearly pulling triple-doubles along the way. But the real breakout? Kahleah Copper, who averaged 17.7 points a night and snatched Finals MVP. The Chicago Sky championship for now is limited to only one.

Chicago Sky Records

The Chicago Sky have made serious noise since entering the WNBA in 2006. Their best regular-season record came in 2022, when they went 26–10, finishing with a franchise-high .722 win percentage. Back in 2013, they also hit 24 wins, a benchmark year at the time. The Chicago Sky's records for longest win streak sits at six straight games, a run they pulled off during the summer of 2022.
When it comes to playoff pedigree, the Sky have made the postseason nine times, beginning with their first appearance in 2013. They’ve made it to the WNBA Finals twice and clinched their first and only title in 2021. That postseason was historic, with Chicago becoming the lowest-seeded team under the current format to win it all. They even dropped the Liberty by 38 points in one of the most lopsided playoff wins in league history. Along the way, they’ve also earned two Eastern Conference crowns in 2014 and 2021.