Chicago Sky Training Camp Week 1
The Sky kicked off training camp for the 2015 WNBA season on Sunday, May 17th in Deerfield, IL. Of the 16 players at camp, nine players were on the Sky roster last season and the other seven are new faces. Returning players include WNBA All-Stars Elena Delle Donne and Jessica Breeland, WNBA Sixth Woman of the Year Allie Quigley as well as Courtney Clements, Jamierra Faulkner, Markeisha Gatling, Sasha Goodlett, Courtney Vandersloot and Tamera Young. The seven new faces that started training camp include former WNBA Champion and All-Star Cappie Pondexter, Clarissa dos Santos, Jacki Gemelos and Victoria Macaulay as well as Chicago’s 2015 WNBA draft picks Cheyenne Parker, Betnijah Laney and Aleighsa Welch. Here are some insights based on the first week of practice.
- The team is extremely deep and versatile in the post. Of the 16 players on the training camp roster in week one, 10 are listed as either a forward or center and 12 are listed as at least six-feet tall. The Sky’s size and strength down low is going to be hard for most teams to handle. Rookie Cheyenne Parker is coming into her own and will only continue to get better by battling with Gatling, Goodlett and Delle Donne all season. Look for Chicago’s bigs to be extremely effective this season, both on the offensive and defensive ends.
- Cappie Pondexter is the veteran leader that the Sky need. Pondexter’s resume is almost unparalleled in the WNBA. Not only is she a proven scorer, distributer and defender but she is also a proven winner and two-time WNBA Champion. In practice, her leadership abilities have been on full display as she constantly encourages her teammates but also makes sure they are giving 100% in every drill. Pondexter might just be the missing piece the Sky needed in order to not only reach the WNBA Finals again but to win a WNBA championship.
- Elena Delle Donne looks healthier than ever and is poised to have her best season yet. After only playing 16 games in the 2014 regular season, Delle Donne looks ready to not only play the entire regular season but deep into the postseason as well. Even though she played a limited regular season schedule in 2014 due to illness, Delle Donne was dominant in the postseason and led the Sky to their first ever WNBA Finals. After being in the MVP race the past two seasons, look for Delle Donne to become a legitimate contender for the trophy this season.
Check back next week for more insights and analysis from week 2 of Chicago Sky training camp!