After splitting the season-opening homestand, the Chicago Sky have proved they can contend with any team in the WNBA once their full roster is available.
The Sky committed 25 turnovers and shot 31.8% on 3-pointers and still were in the driver’s seat against the Los Angeles Sparks in the opener. If it wasn’t for a phantom foul at the end of regulation, the Sky very well could be at the top of the standings after blowing out the New York Liberty by 33 points Wednesday.
Here are some takeaways from how the Sky have played so far.
1. The league needs to find an answer for the Sky’s ‘big three.’
When Emma Meesseman landed in Chicago, it was unclear how coach and general manager James Wade would ensure she and last year’s starters got enough minutes. With Allie Quigley not practicing full court in training camp and Kahleah Copper finishing her overseas season in Spain, Wade has experimented with a lineup featuring Azurá Stevens, Meesseman and Candace Parker — all of whom are 6-foot-4 or taller.
The early results with that frontcourt have been superb.
In a 28-minute sample size, the trio has outscored opponents by 19 while limiting them to 31.9% from the field. The fluidity the three have displayed by stretching the floor and creating opportunities for teammates is something the rest of the league will have to figure out.
A good example came against the Liberty when Courtney Vandersloot found Meesseman at half court in transition. Meesseman drove to the free-throw line, attracted the attention of two defenders and found a trailing Stevens, who hit an open 3. Bigs typically don’t have that type of malleability in their roles, yet the Sky have three of them.
“I’ve played against Emma for years and it sucks guarding her,” Parker said. “The way in which she reads, the pace that she plays with and her IQ is going to make our chemistry continue to get better.”
2. Depth will alleviate veterans’ workload.
The Sky could be 2-0 if two of their top-six players were available. Quigley has been hampered with a knee injury that has kept her from practicing extensively until this week. Copper won EuroLeague MVP and is finishing up her commitment overseas. Wade has been forced to lean on his veterans, and playing overtime May 6 didn’t help.
However, reinforcements are on the way. Quigley is expected to make her season debut Saturday. Copper should be back in the United States in the next week. The Sky’s depth will be bolstered by Julie Allemand making her return to the WNBA after a brief hiatus and 6-foot-7 center Li Yueru joins from the Chinese Basketball Association.
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In 2020, Allemand became the first player drafted in the third round to make the All-Rookie team. She was second in the league in assists behind Vandersloot that season and shot 47.5% on 3-pointers. The Sky will rely on Allemand to be a combo guard who can back up Quigley and Vandersloot. The Belgian could turn into the Sky’s point guard of the future, but in the short-term they are going to need Allemand to play 20-25 minutes of efficient basketball every night.
“This is a long season and she’s going to be really good here,” Wade said. “Her playing alongside Dana (Evans), Rebekah (Gardner) and Sloot, she is going to be good. We need as many good players as we can have.”
Yueru has been compared to NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal (some have called her “Female O’Neal”). The Sky’s front court with Meesseman, Parker and Stevens has looked solid, but Yueru will provide insurance against bigger teams. She isn’t a prototypical big for Wade’s offense, but Stefanie Dolson and Astou Ndour-Fall’s physical presence down low last postseason proved to be vital. The Sky could utilize Yueru in a similar role.
3. Rebekah Gardner can provide wing depth.
When the Sky were forced to waive newly acquired forward Crystal Bradford because of an offseason injury, they were left with a void behind Copper. Two games into the season, it appears Wade has found the solution to the problem.
Gardner, 31, made her WNBA debut against the Liberty and looked electric in isolation. She scored 14 points and finished with a plus-20 on the night. There were few available wings on the market at Gardner’s price, and the Sky struck gold after being limited by the salary cap.
“I know the league is small and there aren’t a lot of opportunities,” Gardner said. “There’s a lot of great players who are not in the WNBA, but I used this opportunity to come out and take it.”
Gardner went undrafted out of UCLA in 2012 but kept playing overseas. Wade lives in southern France and saw her play against WNBA talent, proving herself against Copper, Diamond DeShields, Arike Ogunbowale and Gabby Williams.
Even though Gardner didn’t make it to training camp, Wade felt he knew what he had in Gardner to keep her on the roster. She has answered her first call and will be an integral part of the second unit.
James Kay is a freelance reporter for the baiduhai.