The 2022 Chicago Sky is the best team in the WNBA with a 23-7 record. Chicago became the first team in the WNBA to secure a playoff spot after a 78-74 win over Seattle.
LA vs. Chicago
The Sky is seeking to become the first team to repeat since the 2002 Los Angeles Sparks. If the playoffs were to start now, Chicago would play the Los Angeles Sparks. Chicago owns the season series against the Sparks 3-1, but anything can take place in the playoffs. The games against Los Angeles haven’t constantly started well for the Sky. In their last bout, Los Angeles was able to hold Candace Parker to 0-11 shooting, and with the new playoff format, they would have a deciding game 3 in Los Angeles. Parker has not shot the ball effectively in the City of Angels. Parker is shooting 4-25 against Los Angeles, and if the Sky wish to get past that first-round bout, they will need better scoring performances by Parker.
Turnovers Are Not Your Friend
Another factor Chicago has to clean up before they launch their journey to repeat is their turnover issue. The Sky average 15 turnovers per game while giving up 21 points off turnovers to the opposing team.
Passing The Rock
So, how has Chicago developed into the best team in the WNBA? Well, let’s first talk about Chicago’s passing capabilities. Chicago leads the WNBA in team assists with 23.9 per game average. Chicago’s capability to move the ball benefits on the offensive end.
The Sky presently has five players who average double digits in scoring. Chicago’s passing has a lot to do with Courtney Vandersloot, who has led the WNBA in assists for the past five years, and the versatile front court of Candace Parker and Emma Meesseman, who combine for seven assists per game.
Come Back Kids
Chicago has continued to demonstrate why they’re the defending champions in a host of comeback wins. Most notably was against the Las Vegas Aces, when the Sky came back from a 28 points deficit to beat the Aces by 9, setting a new WNBA record for the largest comeback.
In their recent game against the Connecticut Sun, Chicago went on a 9-0 run to capture the win in a thrilling overtime victory.
Bench Production and Depth
A bright spot for Chicago is their bench production and the depth of the team. Both Parker and Vandersloot have missed time due to injuries, but players like Azura Stevens and Julie Allemand stepped right into their starting position with composure. Rebekah Gardner is another player who has been a tremendous asset of the Sky’s bench.
Garner, who is a 31-year-old rookie, has transitioned from Euro League basketball to the WNBA with simplicity. She also provides a defensive spark and gives Chicago another scoring punch off the bench. Garner is shooting over 50% from the floor while averaging 9ppg.
Four of the Sky’s remaining games are against the top five teams in the WNBA, with only six games left. Chicago controls their destiny, and if they continue to put together wins, the road to the finals will have to go through the Windy City.
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