The Chicago Sky are just a little past the halfway point of the 2024 WNBA season. In Teresa Weatherspoon’s first year as the head coach, the Sky have prioritized rebounding, their defense, and balanced scoring throughout the roster. Here’s a deep dive at the Sky’s trends through 22 games.
Trends Defining the Chicago Sky
1. Rebounding
It all starts with Angel Reese: as she is only a rookie, however, she is the cornerstone of the Sky’s biggest and most valuable weapon thus far — offensive rebounding.
The Sky have been relentlessly attacking the boards through the halfway point of the season; they lead the league in offensive rebounds per game (11.3) and total rebounds per game (36.6).
Angel Reese is one of the most pivotal pieces the Sky has in this regard. Reese leads the entire league in offensive boards at 4.7 per game. Reese is currently on a tear with a WNBA record 15 consecutive double-doubles. Reese utilizes her strength and athleticism to create space and move her defenders around in the paint to grab offensive rebounds. Most importantly, Reese’s nonstop motor and competitiveness separates her from her peers and it’s a trait that cannot be taught — it’s one of basketball’s most overlooked and under-appreciated skills.
Offensive rebounding and Reese have become a huge staple, but don’t forget about the Sky’s other frontcourt contributors.
Through her first nine games of the season, Elizabeth Williams grabbed 2.8 offensive boards per game, which was third in the league at the time before tearing her meniscus. Williams has good timing and has a nose for the ball like Reese. Although she’s out for the remainder of the season with a torn meniscus, she set the tone and helped propel the Sky to the top of the league in rebounding.
Kamilla Cardoso missed the beginning portion of the season, but as the season continues she’s starting to break through.
In only 25.4 minutes per game, Cardoso ranks second in the league in offensive rebounding with 3.3 per game. Reese is already a handful to deal with on the glass, opponents also have to deal with the presence of Cardoso — standing at 6’7 which is a whole other issue to deal with.
Even though injuries have prevented a tandem of Reese, Cardoso, and Williams on the glass, the Sky have three of the best rebounders in the league.
2. Balanced Scoring
Instead of relying on one player to lead them in scoring every game, the Sky have multiple players who are threats at different areas of the court.
It starts with Chennedy Carter, who leads the team in scoring at 16.9 points per game — through 22 games. Began the season In a bench role, Carter took advantage of the opportunity she was given and has made the most of it and has developed herself into one of the most exciting players in the league.
Carter is so dynamic with the ball in her hands; no defender can stay in front of her one-on-one. Has a unique combination of speed, strength, and explosiveness. Add in her tight handles and feel for the game. Along with the fact, she’s a walking paint touch — with the way she relentlessly attacks the rim and has become one of the best and most dangerous drivers in the league.
Now she’s deservedly earned a starting role and is averaging 21.6 points since starting. She’s also shooting 51.9% during that stretch.
Then there’s Marina Mabrey, who’s another bucket-getter and shot-creator for the Sky. Mabrey is averaging 13.6 points and a team-high 4.5 assists per game. She’s the team’s best three-point shooter and provides elite three-point shooting — which this team desperately needs. She had a quick release and she can shoot off the catch and off the dribble. She can also be used in multiple ways and all over the court which is great value for this Sky team. Mabrey’s ability to space the floor opens up driving lanes for her teammates when she isn’t on the ball.
There are interior forces in Angel Reese who’s averaging (13.8 points & 11.8 rebounds per game), Elizabeth Williams who averaged (10 points & 7 rebounds per game) before her injury, and Kamilla Cardoso who’s averaging (8.3 points & 7.9 rebounds per game). While they aren’t shooters, they’re absolute forces in the paint.
Meanwhile, there’s the ascension of Lindsay Allen — who’s taken over the starting point guard role. She’s continuing to thrive as a veteran lead guard — as she provides stability and calmness to the team. Since being implemented in the starting lineup, Allen is averaging 5.4 points and 4.5 assists per game. Allen has been much more impactful than what the numbers indicate.
To round out the remaining contributors to this balance offensive attack include — Isabelle Harrison who’s continuing to get better as she works her way back from injury. Diamond DeShields is in the same category — she’s working her way back from an injury. Michaela Onyenwere who makes an impact whenever she’s on the court. And Dana Evans — who’s an offensive initiator in the backcourt off the bench for the Sky.
3. Three-Point and Free-Throw Struggles
There are glaring flaws which the Sky will need to address and improve on moving forward.
The most notable flaws for the Sky are their three-point and free-throw shooting.
The Sky generates a lot of rim pressure; they lead the league in paint touches and shots attempted at the rim per game, which indicates that the Sky have multiple players who generate rim pressure at will.
While the Sky leads the league in shot attempts at the rim per game, they’re last in free-throw percentage (74.3%) and second to last in three-point percentage (30.7%).
This is a personnel issue with the way the roster is constructed. Shots aren’t just falling at a rate you want it to. However, the fact that the Sky are getting to the rim at a high rate is very encouraging. Shots will eventually fall and with the development of Reese and Cardoso — the future of the Sky looks promising.
With the roster going through a major overhaul. Under the leadership of Teresa Weatherspoon, the Sky have so far exceeded expectations they’d coming into the season as they’ve been competitive as their record is currently 9-13 (No. 7 seed). The blueprint and recipe for success are there for the Sky.
Main Image: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
