Amber Stocks
College – University of Cincinnati
Amber Stocks enters her second season as the GM & Head Coach for the Chicago Sky.
With Stocks’ leadership, the 2017 team achieved many notable milestones and accomplishments. This stellar passing and shooting Sky team set a single season record with the Most Team Assists in WNBA history and finished the season ranked first in the league in team assists and 3PT FG%. The team oriented style-of-play that Stocks implemented in her inaugural season also set the stage for point guard Courtney Vandersloot to set a WNBA record with the highest single-season assist average in WNBA history. Injecting Allie Quigley into the staring lineup spurred a career best season for the guard, which included setting a Chicago Sky record for the most 3PT Field Goals Made in a season. For the first time in franchise history, the Sky produced 2 WNBA All-Stars in the same season with Quigley and Stefanie Dolson both earning All-Star status.
Stocks began by revamping the roster with a blockbuster trade that brought Dolson, Kahleah Copper and Alaina Coates (via acquisition of the 2017 #2 draft pick) to Chicago. Stocks continued to make bold roster moves that brought the Sky sharp-shooter Jordan Hooper and an additional 2018 first-round draft pick. For the first time in franchise history, the Sky will have two lottery picks in the 2018 WNBA draft.
A veteran coach and experienced player of over 20 years, Stocks came to the Sky after two successful seasons as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks. During her time with the Sparks, Stocks helped turn around a franchise that went 14-20 in 2015 to 26-8 in 2016. Stocks was key in scouting and game preparation, spurring the Sparks’ run to 2016 WNBA Champions. In addition to her essential role in strategy preparation, Stocks was also responsible for coaching the LA frontcourt, which included the 2016 WNBA MVP, the 2016 6th Woman and the 2016 Finals MVP.
A long time collegiate women’s basketball coach, Stocks has also taken her coaching expertise to television, appearing as a color analyst on ESPN 3, the Big East Digital Network and FoxSports. As a transition out of collegiate coaching, Stocks worked as the Program Director and Head Coach for the Tucson HEAT Basketball Association (2009-13) in Arizona.
Stocks spent seven seasons as an assistant coach at Xavier University (2002-06, 2007-09). During her tenure with the Musketeers, she assisted Kevin McGuff in putting together five 20-win seasons and six national post-season appearances. Prior to joining Xavier, Stocks spent two seasons on staff at the University of Tennessee (2000-2002), working closely with then Lady Vols head coach Pat Summitt. While at Tennessee, she was part of two regular season SEC Championships, the 2002 Final Four, and worked with an array of decorated Lady Vols and future WNBA standouts.
A four-year women’s basketball letter winner at University of Cincinnati, Stocks was a four-time Bearcat Scholar honoree, three-time Defensive Player Award recipient and helped lead the Bearcats to a Conference USA Championship. She played 116 games in her career, making 99 starts from 1995-99, and finished her career in the record books for multiple categories including top five rankings in games played and three-point shots made. Also while at UC, Stocks was an All-Conference track athlete, earning two letters in track and field and setting two school records. Stocks earned a bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Exercise and Sport Science from the University of Cincinnati in 1999.
Stocks worked at the University of Notre Dame from 1999-2000 as a strength and conditioning coach. She also served as a student assistant strength and conditioning coach at Cincinnati and Xavier during her undergraduate career.
A midwest native, Stocks is a mother of two sons, LJ (10) and Spencer (7).