2016 Chicago Sky season

Last updated

2016 Chicago Sky season
Coach Pokey Chatman
Arena Allstate Arena
Attendance7,009 per game
Results
Record18–16 (.529)
Place2nd (Eastern)
Playoff finishFourth Seed, Lost in Semifinals to Los Angeles 3–1
Team Leaders
Points Elena Delle Donne – 21.5
Rebounds Elena Delle Donne – 7.0
Assists Courtney Vandersloot – 4.0
Media
Television WMEU-CD
ESPN
ESPN2
NBA TV

The 2016 Chicago Sky season was the franchise's 11th season in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). The season began on May 14th, at home against the Connecticut Sun.

Contents

The Sky began the season with a win, but could not sustain that momentum and lost their next four games. They finished May with a win and extended their streak with three wins to start June. However, they only won one of their final five games in June to finish the first two months of the season with a 6–9 record. The Sky split a home and away matchup with Washington to begin July and lost two of their next three. The won three of their last four to end the month with a 5–4 record. The Sky came out of the Olypmic break strongly, winning both their games in August and their first two in September. They lost their next two, before winning three in a row. They could not overcome Seattle on the final day of the season and finished with an 18–16 regular season record.

Their record was good enough for second place in the Eastern Conference and the fourth overall seed in the 2016 WNBA Playoffs. They earned a bye into the Second Round where they defeated sixth-seed Atlanta 108–98 and advanced to the Semfinals. There they matched-up against the Los Angeles Sparks. The Sparks defeated the Sky 3 games to 1 and would go on to finish as WNBA Champions.

Transactions

WNBA draft

RoundPickPlayerNationalitySchool/team/country
110 Imani Boyette Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Texas
334 Jordan Jones Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Texas A&M

Trades and Roster Changes

DateTransaction
January 7, 2016Extended Qualifying Offers to Jessica Breland, Clarissa dos Santos, and Jacki Gemelos
Exercised 4th-Year Team Option on Jamierra Faulkner
February 9, 2016Signed Jessica Breland [1]
February 11, 2016Signed Clarissa dos Santos to a training-camp contract [2]
March 7, 2016Signed Yvonne Turner, Jacki Gemelos, and Shanece McKinney to training-camp contracts [3]
April 21, 2016Signed Imani McGee-Stafford and Jordan Jones to rookie-scale contracts
Signed Maggie Lyon to a training-camp contract [4]
April 28, 2016Waived Maggie Lyon
May 6, 2016Waived Jacki Gemelos and Jordan Jones [5]
May 11, 2016Waived Shanece McKinney [6]
May 12, 2016Waived Yvonne Turner

Roster

2016 Chicago Sky Roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#Nat.NameHt.Wt.From
C 34 Flag of the United States.svg Boyette, Imani 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)195 lb (88 kg) (1994-10-11)October 11, 1994 (aged 21) Texas
F 51 Flag of the United States.svg Breland, Jessica 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)170 lb (77 kg) (1988-02-23)February 23, 1988 (aged 28) North Carolina
F/C 41 Flag of Brazil.svg de Souza, Érika 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)190 lb (86 kg) (1982-03-03)March 3, 1982 (aged 34) Brazil
G/F 11 Flag of the United States.svg Delle Donne, Elena 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)188 lb (85 kg) (1989-09-05)September 5, 1989 (aged 26) Delaware
C 8 Flag of Brazil.svg dos Santos, Clarissa 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)196 lb (89 kg) (1988-03-10)March 10, 1988 (aged 28) Brazil
G 21 Flag of the United States.svg Faulkner, Jamierra 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m)141 lb (64 kg) (1992-03-09)March 9, 1992 (aged 24) Southern Miss
G/F 44 Flag of the United States.svg Laney, Betnijah 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)160 lb (73 kg) (1993-10-29)October 29, 1993 (aged 22) Rutgers
F 32 Flag of the United States.svg Parker, Cheyenne 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)190 lb (86 kg) (1992-08-22)August 22, 1992 (aged 23) Middle Tennessee
G 23 Flag of the United States.svg Pondexter, Cappie 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)160 lb (73 kg) (1983-01-07)January 7, 1983 (aged 33) Rutgers
G 14 Flag of the United States.svg Quigley, Allie 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)140 lb (64 kg) (1986-06-20)June 20, 1986 (aged 29) DePaul
G 22 Flag of the United States.svg Vandersloot, Courtney 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)145 lb (66 kg) (1989-02-08)February 8, 1989 (aged 27) Gonzaga
F 1 Flag of the United States.svg Young, Tamera 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg) (1986-10-30)October 30, 1986 (aged 29) James Madison
Head coach
Flag of the United States.svg Pokey Chatman (LSU)
Assistant coaches
Flag of the United States.svg Jonah Herscu (Lake Forest College)
Flag of the United States.svg Christie Sides (Louisiana Tech)
Athletic trainer
Flag of the United States.svg Heidi Wlezien
Strength and conditioning coach
Flag of the United States.svg Ann Crosby (Western Michigan)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (IN) Inactive
  • (S) Suspended
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured
Notes
  • Age of player is as of the start of the regular season.

Depth

Pos.StarterBench
C Erika de Souza Imani McGee-Stafford
Clarissa dos Santos
PF Elena Delle Donne Jessica Breland
Cheyenne Parker
SF Tamera Young Betnijah Laney
SG Cappie Pondexter Allie Quigley
PG Courtney Vandersloot Jamierra Faulkner

Schedule

Preseason

2016 pre-season game log
May: 2–1 (Home: 2–0; Road: 0–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 1 New York W 93–59 Elena Delle Donne (17) Betnijah Laney (7) Courtney Vandersloot (4) Bob Carpenter Center
3,432		1–0
2May 4 Connecticut L 84–81 Elena Delle Donne (13) Jessica Breland (6) Jamierra Faulkner (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,207		1–1
3May 5 Atlanta W 95–75 Betnijah Laney (14) Cheyenne Parker (5) Courtney Vandersloot (6) Mohegan Sun Arena
4,025		2–1
2016 pre-season schedule

Regular Season

2016 game log
Total: 18–16 (Home: 11–6; Road: 7–10)
May: 2–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 1–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
1May 14 Connecticut W 93–70 Vandersloot (14) Breland (9)Vandersloot (7) Allstate Arena
6,719		1–0
2May 18 Minnesota L 80–97 Delle Donne (28)Delle Donne
Young (6)		Vandersloot (11) Allstate Arena
5,034		1–1
3May 22@ Atlanta L 81–87 Pondexter (17)Breland (10)Pondexter (5) Philips Arena
6,152		1–2
4May 24 Los Angeles W 80–93 Faulkner 17Breland
Young (9)		Faulkner (10) Allstate Arena
5,554		1–3
5May 27@ San Antonio L 78–79 Delle Donne (27) de Souza
Delle Donne (9)		Faulkner (11) AT&T Center
5,210		1–4
6May 29@ Dallas W 92–87 Pondexter (18) Boyette (8)Faulkner (9) College Park Center
5,297		2–4
June: 4–5 (Home: 2–1; Road: 2–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
7June 1
6:00 PM [lower-alpha 1] 		@ Washington W 86–78 Delle Donne (18)Delle Donne (9) Vandersloot (8) Verizon Center
5,649		3–4
8June 3
7:30 PM		 Washington W 98–72 Delle Donne (18) de Souza (7) Faulkner (9) Allstate Arena
5,489		4–4
9June 10
6:00 PM		@ Indiana W 73–64 Boyette (16)Boyette (12)Vandersloot (6) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
7,533		5–4
10June 12
5:00 PM		@ Phoenix L 80–86 Delle Donne (18)de Souza (7)de Souza, Faulkner (3) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,055		5–5
11June 14
9:30 PM		@ Los Angeles L 85–98 Pondexter (20)de Souza (12)Pondexter (5) Staples Center
7,348		5–6
12June 17
6:30 PM		@ Atlanta L 97–101 OT Delle Donne (26)de Souza (8)Vandersloot, Pondexter, Faulkner (5) Philips Arena
4,560		5–7
13June 21
7:00 PM		 San Antonio W 81–75 Delle Donne (23) Young (9)Faulkner, Young, Delle Donne (3) Allstate Arena
5,744		6–7
14June 24
6:30 PM		@ New York L79–80 Delle Donne (31)Delle Donne (8)Vandersloot (5) Madison Square Garden
10,120		6–8
15June 29
11:30 AM		 Indiana L 83–95 Delle Donne (21)Delle Donne (6)Pondexter (6) Allstate Arena
11,892		6–9
July: 5–4 (Home: 3–3; Road: 2–1)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
16July 1
6:00 PM [lower-alpha 1] 		Washington W 86–84 OT Delle Donne (28)Delle Donne (11) Vandersloot (5) Allstate Arena
5,320		7–9
17July 5
7:30 PM		@ Washington L 82–87 Delle Donne (38)Delle Donne (10) Faulkner (7) Target Center
7,433		7–10
18July 8
7:30 PM		 New York L 85–88 Quigley (29)Delle Donne (7)Faulkner (5) Allstate Arena
5,633		7–11
19July 10
6:00 PM		 Phoenix W 100–95 Quigley (21) Boyette (13)Vandersloot, Faulkner (7) Allstate Arena
7,021		8–11
20July 13
5:00 PM		 Los Angeles L 67–77 Delle Donne (15)Boyette (7)Vandersloot, Faulkner (5) Allstate Arena
16,444		8–12
21July 14
9:30 PM		 Los Angeles W 84–77 Delle Donne (24)Boyette (8)Faulkner (6) Allstate Arena
6,012		9–12
22July 17
6:30 PM		@ Seattle W 91–88 Delle Donne (35)Delle Donne (11)Faulkner (4) KeyArena 10–12
23July 19
7:00 PM		@ Phoenix L 77–79 Delle Donne (18)Boyette (10)Vandersloot (3) Talking Stick Resort Arena
9,318		11–12
24July 22
6:30 PM		 Connecticut L 89–94 Delle Donne (20)Breland (8)Vandersloot (6) Allstate Arena
6,893		11–13
August: 2–0 (Home: 1–0; Road: 1–0)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
25August 26
11:30 AM		 Atlanta W 90–82 Delle Donne (34) Boyette (9)Delle Donne, Pondexter (5) Allstate Arena
6,016		12–13
26August 28
11:30 AM		@ Dallas W 92–85 Delle Donne (18)Delle Donne (9) Vandersloot (9) College Park Center
5,651		13–13
September: 5–3 (Home: 4–0; Road: 1–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Record
27September 2
11:30 AM		 Seattle W 92–88 Young (24) Breland (10) Vandersloot, Pondexter (5) Allstate Arena
5,997		14–13
28September 4
11:30 AM		 San Antonio W 97–73 Delle Donne (35) Boyette (7)Vandersloot, Pondexter 5 Allstate Arena
6,034		15–13
29September 7
6:00 PM		@ Washington L 81–118 Vandersloot (17)Boyette (7)Vandersloot (8) Verizon Center
5,373		15–14
30September 9
5:00 PM		@ Los Angeles L 88–95 Pondexter (22)Breland (9)Vandersloot (4) Bankers Life Fieldhouse
10,533		15–15
31September 11
9:30 PM		@ Los Angeles W 96–86 Pondexter (24)Breland (10)Pondexter (5) Mohegan Sun Arena
6,620		16–15
32September 13
6:30 PM		 Minnesota W 98–97 OT Pondexter (24) de Souza (11)Pondexter (4) Allstate Arena
6,050		17–15
33September 16
7:00 PM		 New York W 92–68 Young (22)Young (9) Faulkner (11) Allstate Arena
7,925		18–15
34September 18
6:30 PM		@ Seattle L 75–88 Faulkner, Breland (14)Boyette, de Souza (6)Faulkner (7) KeyArena
12,186		18–16
2016 season schedule

Playoffs

2016 playoff game log
Second Round vs. Atlanta Dream
Won Series: 1–0
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 25 Atlanta W 108–98 Vandersloot (21) Breland (16)Vandersloot (13) Allstate Arena
3,922		1–0
Semifinals vs. Los Angeles Sparks
Lost Series: 1–3
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series
1September 28@ Los Angeles L 75–95 Faulkner (13) Breland (7) Vandersloot (5) Walter Pyramid
3,894		0–1
2September 30@ Los Angeles L 84–99 dos Santos (15)Breland (9) Quigley (5) Staples Center
7,855		0–2
3October 2 Los Angeles W 70–66 Vandersloot (17) McGee-Stafford (11)Faulkner, Vandersloot (5) Allstate Arena
5,018		1–2
4October 4 Los Angeles L 75–95 Pondexter (19)McGee-Stafford (10) Young (6) Allstate Arena
3,841		1–3
2016 playoff schedule

Standings

Eastern Conference
W L PCT GB Home Road Conf.
3 - New York Liberty 2113.618-10-711-611-5
4 - Chicago Sky 1816.529311-67-108-8
5 - Indiana Fever 1717.50048-99-88-8
6 - Atlanta Dream 1717.500411-66–119-7
e - Connecticut Sun 1420.41278-96-114-12
e - Washington Mystics 1321.38285-128-98-8

Notes

# – Playoff seed
e – Eliminated from playoffs

Playoffs

The Sky's 18–16 regular season record was good for second in the Eastern Conference and fourth overall in the WNBA. This standing led to Chicago being seeded fourth and being granted an automatic bye from the first of two single elimination rounds. In the second single elimination round, the Sky drew sixth-seeded Atlanta, defeating the Dream 108–98 and advancing to the best-of-five semifinal round. The Sky fell to second-seeded Los Angeles in the semifinals, losing in four games.

First round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 21)		Second round:
Single elimination
(Sept. 24 and 25)		Semifinals:
Best-of-five
(Sept. 28 – Oct. 6)		 WNBA Finals:
Best-of-five
(Oct. 9 – 20)
1 Minnesota Lynx 1139682
3 New York Liberty 948 Phoenix Mercury 958667
5 Indiana Fever 788 Phoenix Mercury 1011 Minnesota Lynx 7679758576
8 Phoenix Mercury 892 Los Angeles Sparks 7860927977
2 Los Angeles Sparks 95996695
4 Chicago Sky 1084 Chicago Sky 75847075
6 Atlanta Dream 946 Atlanta Dream 98
7 Seattle Storm 85

Note: Teams re-seeded after second round and semi-finals.

Statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game RPG  Rebounds per game
 APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage TO  Turnovers per game
 PF  Fouls per gameTeam leaderLeague leader

Regular season

PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
Elena Delle Donne 282833.148.5%42.6%93.5%7.01.90.61.521.5
Cappie Pondexter 332927.442.9%36.2%88.2%2.82.70.90.112.9
Tamera Young 322025.845.0%0.0%79.0%4.51.40.80.18.5
Courtney Vandersloot 302124.341.9%35.1%90.4%2.74.71.40.19.5
Jamierra Faulkner 341419.342.5%33.3%76.9%1.54.61.10.17.8
Imani McGee-Stafford 311618.955.4%—66.0%5.60.60.61.46.7
Allie Quigley 34017.847.1%36.6%89.5%0.91.60.50.19.5
Jessica Breland 341617.249.4%—79.5%4.40.70.51.16.0
Érika de Souza 311816.651.7%—75.0%5.20.60.50.75.8
Cheyenne Parker 25712.650.6%0.0%53.1%3.20.20.50.24.0
Clarissa dos Santos 2009.433.9%0.0%85.0%2.20.50.30.22.9
Betnijah Laney 815.316.7%0.0%100%0.60.10.10.01.0

Awards and honors

RecipientAwardDate awarded
Elena Delle Donne Eastern Conference Player of the Week July 18, 2016
September 6, 2016
Imani McGee-Stafford WNBA All-Rookie Team September 2016
Elena Delle Donne WNBA All-WNBA First Team September 2016

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References

Footnotes

  1. 1 2 All times are specified as Central Time.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Chicago sky re-signs forward Jessica Breland". hoopfeed.com. Hoopfeed. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Sky Re-Signs Clarissa Dos Santos". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Sky Adds Turner, McKinney and Gemelos to Training Camp Roster". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Chicago Sky Adds Maggie Lyon to Training Camp Roster". nusports.com. NU Sports. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Sky Waives Gemelos and Jones". sky.wnba.com. WNBA. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Sky waive Shanece McKinney". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
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