Steve Key is convinced 2009 will be the best season in the Chicago Sky's brief history.
Jia Perkins. Photo from the Chicago Sky
"I keep hearing people say that we could be the surprise team this season," said Key, in his second season as the team's head coach.
The Sky, founded in 2006, finished 12-22 in 2008—and is preparing for the 2009 season-opener on Saturday, June 6, at Minnesota. Chicago's home opener at the UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine, is Friday, June 12, against the Atlanta Dream, followed two nights later by a home game against the Seattle Storm.
"We have everything here. We have all of the components to be more than just a playoff team. I think we can compete once we get in the playoffs," Key said. "I think we have the talent to do so and also are backing it up with experience. We lost 11 games last year by anywhere from 1 to 6 points. The positive thing [ about those losses ] is, we're right there; we just need to learn how to win; we need to come up with more discipline throughout the game to put us in a better position to turn the corner [ and win those close games. ] This is a big year for us to try to step up and do that.
"I definitely think this could be one of the best Sky teams ever."
The Sky struggled miserably in its 2006 WNBA debut season, finishing with a 5-29 record under head coach Dave Cowens, himself a basketball Hall of Famer. Chicago went 14-20 in 2007.
So will 2009 be the Sky's season?
"I'm more optimistic for this season than in the past," Key said. "None of us are satisfied where we ended up last year. None of us are using or making excuses.
"I think there will be a noticeable difference in our togetherness, our team cohesiveness and how, win or lose, we'll always stick together and it will be a hard-fought effort for anyone to beat us, at home or on the road."
The Sky is led by Jia Perkins, Candice Dupree and Sylvia Fowles, all of whom averaged in double digits in scoring in 2008. Dupree was the team's top rebounder ( 270 in 34 games ) , while Perkins had 137 and Fowles grabbed 127 in only 17 games.
"I think Jia Perkins can be a breakout player—for everyone else around the league to finally acknowledge what we already know about her and her play," Key said. "I think she had an All-Star year in a year with no All-Star Game. I think she's going to continue doing what she's been doing for the past two years."
And this season, Perkins has solid, experienced newcomers as teammates, namely guard Erin Thorn, who has six years of experience in the WNBA, and forward Shyra Ely, who has been in the league for four years and hails from collegiate powerhouse Tennessee.
"We're going to rely on Erin's experience and her outside shooting," Key said. "Shyra Ely … I think her time has come. This is her fifth year in the league and she's going to get the opportunity to play more minutes this season than she has in her entire WNBA career combined. We're going to look to her for big things, be it as a starter or reserve. Her experience being on two championship-caliber teams in San Antonio and Seattle will pay huge dividends for us to help the younger players turn the corner."
Key Sky players also include Dominique Canty ( who played at Chicago's Whitney Young High School ) , Brooke Wyckoff and Armintie Price.
"We were last in the league is scoring and points per game [ last season ] , but we were fourth in field goal percentage, which tells me that we need to get more possessions so we can use that [ high field goal percentage ] to our favor," Key said.
Key tagged the defending WNBA Champion Detroit Shock as the team to beat once again, but he certainly isn't afraid to face his Eastern Conference foe.
"Detroit hasn't changed its roster in, oh, about five years, which is quite evident by the fact they've won three of the last six championships," Key said. "But it's encouraging to us because we defeated them two or three times last year."
And in a 2008 game against Detroit, the Sky overcame a 23-point halftime deficit and ultimately only lost by three points. "I think that game was a great indicator that we're right there, that we can play on a championship level," Key said.
San Antonio, which lost to Detroit in the 2008 finals, is the cream of the crop in the Western Conference, Key said, especially with a roster featuring guard Shanna Crossley, center Bernadette Ngoyisa and forward Belinda Snell.
The Sky has one home preseason game: Friday, May 22, against Detroit.
" [ The preseason ] is a good chance to evaluate talent, to find out which combinations might work, see who plays well together," Key said. "We don't care too much about wins and losses in a preseason."
See www.wnba.com/sky.
