Chicago Sky Odds
Chicago Sky Odds
The prospects for Chicago’s WNBA franchise, the Chicago Sky, seem promising as they concluded their 15th season in 2020. With a potential top-tier active point guard in the league, Courtney Vandersloot, and an award-winning coach and general manager, James Wade, the Sky could be on the cusp of achieving championship quality with just a few more additions.
The WNBA is a highly competitive league, featuring less than 200 of the world’s best female basketball players each year. This makes for a thrilling betting experience, given that any team has the potential to win on any given night.
In 2021, the Sky team is set to return to Chicago’s WinTrust Arena to play a full season in front of spectators. With legal sportsbooks now operational in Illinois, fan interest is expected to increase.
All the information you need is in our Chicago Sky betting guide.
Chicago Sky odds for 2021
Betting on Chicago Sky basketball games is available from summer through fall. The best Illinois sportsbooks, such as BetRivers Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook, provide live WNBA odds.
Sky futures odds for the WNBA playoffs, finals
The Sky has made it to the postseason for the last two years. However, on both occasions, they were eliminated before they could reach the semifinal round. In 2021, they are aiming to progress further.
Sky player props and futures
Sports betting apps in Illinois that are legal offer markets on Chicago Sky games. However, you can place bets on much more than just the games when it comes to the Sky and the WNBA. There are other categories such as player and team props. Here are some examples of WNBA prop bets for the Chicago Sky:
- How many points will Allie Quigley score in a quarter?
- Will Azurá Stevens block a shot during the game: yes or no?
- Which team will emerge victorious in the first half?
Betting on in-game events can be enjoyable. Some gamblers also enjoy futures wagers, which are bets placed on events that take an entire season to determine. These bets can be placed on individual athletes or whole teams, such as:
- Who will be the victor of the WNBA Finals?
- Sky regular-season win total.
- Ruthy Hebard point total.
- Who will be the league’s leading rebound player?
2021 Chicago Sky schedule
The schedule for the 2021 Chicago Sky has been released; here are the dates (all times are in CST):
| Date | Opponent | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, May 19 | at Atlanta Dream | 6 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 23 | New York Liberty | Noon |
| Tuesday, May 25 | Atlanta Dream | 7 p.m. |
| Friday, May 28 | Los Angeles Sparks | 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, May 30 | Los Angeles Sparks | 5 p.m. |
| Tuesday, June 1 | Phoenix Mercury | 7 p.m. |
| Thursday, June 3 | at Phoenix Mercury | 9 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 5 | at Los Angeles Sparks | 2 p.m. |
| Wednesday, June 9 | Indiana Fever | 7 p.m. |
| Sunday, June 12 | at Indiana Fever | Noon |
| Tuesday, June 15 | at Minnesota Lynx | 8 p.m. |
| Thursday, June 17 | Connecticut Sun | 7 p.m. |
| Saturday, June 19 | Connecticut Sun | 1 p.m. |
| Tuesday, June 22 | at New York Liberty | 6 p.m. |
| Thursday, June 24 | at New York Liberty | 6 p.m. |
| Sunday, June 27 | at Connecticut Sun | 1 p.m. |
| Wednesday, June 30 | at Dallas Wings | 7 p.m. |
For scheduling reasons, the WNBA is divided into two conferences. Chicago is part of the Eastern Conference, alongside five other teams. A standard regular season consists of 36 games, with an equal distribution of home and away matches.
During the regular season, the Sky will compete against every other team in the league in a home-and-home series. The schedule is completed by adding another home-and-home series with the five teams from the East and another home-and-home series with the two western teams whose previous season’s records were the most similar.
The remaining teams in the Eastern Conference are:
- Atlanta Dream
- Connecticut Sun
- Indiana Fever
- New York Liberty
- Washington Mystics
Sky stats leaders
A look at some key statistics from the last four non-pandemic seasons for the Sky reveals some names that fans would recognize. However, some of these talented players no longer play for Chicago.
| Year | Assists | Points | Rebounds | Steals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Courtney Vandersloot (300) | Diamond DeShields (551) | Cheyenne Parker (197) | Courtney Vandersloot (45) |
| 2018 | Courtney Vandersloot (258) | Allie Quigley (493) | Cheyenne Parker (196) | Gabby Williams (56) |
| 2017 | Courtney Vandersloot (218) | Allie Quigley (509) | Jessica Breland (215) | Courtney Vandersloot, Tamera Young (33) |
| 2016 | Jamierra Faulkner (156) | Elena Delle Donne (601) | Elena Delle Donne (197) | Courtney Vandersloot (41) |
The 2019 WNBA MVP, Delle Donne, is currently with the Washington Mystics. However, the Sky have utilized the draft picks they obtained through her transfer to assemble their present roster of skilled players.
Although Vandersloot is the strongest award contender in the team, DeShields’ potential to clinch a scoring title should not be overlooked, provided the team can manage a decrease in output when Vandersloot is off the field. With some enhancement in defense, the Sky has the capability to score heavily.
Sky recent draft picks
Every year, the WNBA holds a draft permitting teams to select top talent from college ranks to enhance their rosters. Nevertheless, teams also recruit talent globally.
The competition for the 12 active-roster spots in each of the 12 teams is intense. A player’s draft does not necessarily assure them of securing a spot in the roster.
Indeed, it is a common occurrence in the league’s history for teams to draft players with the intention of trading their rights later or to prevent other teams from drafting them. It’s also frequent for a player to be drafted by one team in this league, only to make her WNBA debut with a different team.
On April 21, 2020, the Sky participated in a four-team trade during the draft, resulting in three selections. The selections were:
| Pick | Name | College | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1, No. 8 overall | Ruthy Hebard | Oregon | Forward |
| Round 3, No. 30 overall | Japreece Dean | UCLA | Guard |
| Round 3, No. 32 overall | Kiah Gillespie | Florida State | Forward |
Dean failed to secure a spot on the Sky roster for the abbreviated 2020 season. Hebard started several games towards the season’s conclusion, but this was partly because other front-court players were injured. Gillespie managed to maintain a roster position, but her playtime was minimal.
Sky head coach/assistant coaches
Considering all the factors, James Wade, the general manager and head coach, performed commendably during the 2020 “wubble” season. His performance in his brief time with the Sky appears to have solidified his role within the franchise. The following are his staff members:
- Assistant Coach: Olaf Lang
- Assistant Coach: Emre Vatansever
- Ann Crosby: Director of Basketball Operations and Strength & Conditioning Coach.
Wade is set to lead the Sky into his third season as head coach in 2021. He is the sixth individual to occupy the position in the franchise’s history, succeeding a series of predecessors with varied tenures. He earned the title of Coach of the Year in 2019.
| Name | Tenure |
|---|---|
| Dave Cowens | 2006 |
| Bo Overton | 2007 |
| Steven Key | 2008-10 |
| Pokey Chatman | 2011-16 |
| Amber Stocks | 2017-18 |
| James Wade | 2019-present |
Where is WinTrust Arena?
The Chicago Sky has called WinTrust Arena home since 2017, thanks to a five-year lease agreement. Prior to this, they spent their inaugural eight seasons at Allstate Arena. Here are the details you should be aware of regarding the Sky’s residence for at least the upcoming season:
- Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority: Owner and Operator
- Capacity: 10,387
- Date of Opening: October 14, 2017
- Construction Cost: $173 million
- Hosts Also: DePaul Blue Demons men’s and women’s basketball, concerts.
How to watch, live stream Chicago Sky games
The WNBA has secured a national broadcast agreement with CBS and Disney. As a result, some Sky games could be featured on ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, and ESPN2 during the season.
Locally, other games will be accessible on WCIU. You can locate your provider’s channel here.
If you’re outside WCIU’s broadcast area and the game you’re interested in isn’t being aired on any national channels, you can still watch it via the WNBA’s own streaming service, the WNBA League Pass. Additionally, games airing on CBS and Disney properties might be available for live streaming on CBS All-Access or ESPN+, provided you have the necessary provider credentials.
Chicago Sky team history
The Sky have enjoyed a fair share of success in their fifteen years of existence. However, they have not yet managed to secure a championship. They were incredibly close to achieving this feat in one particular season.
Since 2006, Michael Alter has served as the principal owner of an expansion franchise that he helped bring about. Among the minority owners is Matthew Knowles, father of Beyonce Knowles.
The initial seasons were challenging, but the situation began to improve with the recruitment of Sylvia Fowles, the WNBA all-time rebounds leader, in 2008, and Elena Delle Donne in 2013. The Sky reached the playoffs for the first time during Delle Donne’s debut season.
In 2014, under the leadership of head coach Pokey Chatman, the Sky saw an unprecedented rise, making it to the Finals for the first time. However, they were swept by the Phoenix Mercury. This was the pinnacle of the team’s success during Chatman’s tenure.
Under Amber Stocks’ leadership, the franchise underwent two rebuilding seasons, during which they traded Delle Donne to the Washington Mystics. The team then used the gained draft picks to recruit players such as Diamond DeShields and Gabby Williams.
In the only season that Wade coached without the interruption of a pandemic, the Sky secured 20 victories and nearly advanced to the WNBA semifinals. Their progress was halted by a last-second half-court buzzer-beater shot from Dearica Hamby, a forward for the Las Vegas Aces. The 2021 roster retains the core from that season, including all three 2019 All-Stars – Allie Quigley, her spouse Vandersloot, and DeShields.
- WNBA Finals Wins: Zero
- One appearance in WNBA Finals, 2014.
- WNBA Playoff Appearances: Six times, in the years 2013-16, 2019-20.
Vandersloot holds the record for the most assists in a single WNBA game (19) and the most assists in a single season (300) among active Sky players. Quigley, on the other hand, holds the Sky franchise’s all-time scoring record with 2,974 points.
Fowles, currently part of Minnesota Lynx, continues to hold the all-time (1,832) and single-season (369) rebound records for the Sky. Essentially, the Sky rookie record book is dominated by Delle Donne.
Chicago Sky FAQ
Indeed. You can legally wager on Sky games if you meet the following conditions: you are 21 years old or above, physically present within the state, and using a sportsbook licensed by the Illinois Gaming Board. Some of the apps you can use for WNBA betting on Sky games are DraftKings, FanDuel, and Caesars.
The principal owner is Michael Alter, while the minority ownership group comprises of Michelle Williams, a former member of the music group Destiny’s Child, and Mathew Knowles, the father of Beyonce Knowles.
However, they did make it to the finals in 2014.
In Illinois, the law permits retail sportsbooks within stadiums. However, WinTrust Arena’s capacity does not meet the requisite size to qualify for this. Nevertheless, this does not prevent the Sky from collaborating with a sportsbook for promotional activities during games.
The conversation must involve a few players. This includes Elena Delle Donne, Candace Dupree, and Sylvia Fowles, who are all currently playing for different teams. From the existing roster, Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley have managed to enter the discussion. The debate is entirely subjective, so enjoy it.