CHICAGO (April 21, 2021) –The Chicago Sky has announced its 20-player roster for 2021 training camp, which begins this Sunday, April 25 at the team’s practice facility in Deerfield.
Among those returning from the Sky’s 2020 roster is back-to-back WNBA All-First Team recipient Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper, Diamond DeShields, Stefanie Dolson, Ruthy Hebard, Allie Quigley, Azurá Stevens and Gabby Williams. Chicagoland native and two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker will make her official debut with the team when camp starts on April 25. Five-time FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup Champion Astou Ndour makes her return to the Sky following one season with the Dallas Wings.
The Sky’s 2021 first round draft choice, Shyla Heal, joins as the youngest player to make the roster at the age of 19. She is one of seven rookies to earn an invite to training camp, including 2021 WBCA Defensive Player of the Year Natasha Mack, who was selected by the Sky with the 16th overall pick in the 2021 WNBA Draft from Oklahoma State.
In addition, the Chicago Sky signed eight players to training camp contracts. Brittany Boyd, Lexie Brown, Sierra Campisano, Petra Holesinska, Jessica January, Alexis Prince, Sparkle Taylor and Kobi Thornton will join Chicago for its 2021 season preparations.
|
# |
PLAYER |
POSITION |
HEIGHT |
BIRTHDATE |
YRS PRO |
COLLEGE |
|
83 |
Brittany Boyd |
G |
5-9 |
6-11-93 |
5 |
California/USA |
|
7 |
Lexie Brown |
G |
5-9 |
10-27-94 |
3 |
Duke/USA |
|
52 |
Sierra Campisano |
F |
6-3 |
12-28-97 |
R |
Cal Poly-Obispo/USA |
|
2 |
Kahleah Copper |
G-F |
6-1 |
8-28-94 |
5 |
Rutgers/USA |
|
1 |
Diamond DeShields |
G |
6-1 |
3-5-95 |
3 |
Tennessee/USA |
|
31 |
Stefanie Dolson |
C |
6-5 |
1-8-92 |
7 |
Connecticut/USA |
|
4 |
Shyla Heal |
G |
5-6 |
9-19-01 |
R |
Australia/Australia |
|
24 |
Ruthy Hebard |
F |
6-4 |
4-28-98 |
1 |
Oregon/USA |
|
13 |
Petra Holesinska |
G |
5-10 |
3-12-97 |
R |
North Carolina/USA |
|
0 |
Jessica January |
G |
5-7 |
1-14-95 |
R |
DePaul/USA |
|
8 |
Natasha Mack |
F |
6-4 |
11-3-97 |
R |
Oklahoma State/USA |
|
45 |
Astou Ndour |
C-F |
6-5 |
8-22-94 |
5 |
Gran Canaria/Spain |
|
3 |
Candace Parker |
F-C |
6-4 |
4-19-86 |
13 |
Tennessee/USA |
|
23 |
Alexis Prince |
F |
6-2 |
2-5-94 |
3 |
Baylor/USA |
|
14 |
Allie Quigley |
G |
5-10 |
6-20-86 |
12 |
DePaul/USA |
|
30 |
Azurá Stevens |
F-C |
6-6 |
2-1-96 |
3 |
Connecticut/USA |
|
12 |
Sparkle Taylor |
G |
5-10 |
7-28-95 |
R |
Texas El-Paso/ USA |
|
44 |
Kobi Thornton |
F |
6-2 |
4-3-98 |
R |
Clemson/USA |
|
22 |
Courtney Vandersloot |
G |
5-8 |
2-8-89 |
10 |
Gonzaga/USA |
|
15 |
Gabby Williams |
F |
5-11 |
9-9-96 |
3 |
Connecticut/USA |
General Manager & Head Coach: James Wade
Assistant Coaches: Olaf Lange, Emre Vatansever, Tonya Edwards
Director of Basketball Ops / Strength & Conditioning: Ann Crosby
Video Coordinator: Yoann Cabioc’h
The 2021 WNBA pre-season will begin on May 1 and run through May 11. The Chicago Sky’s pre-season schedule is to be determined. Throughout the course of the pre-season, the Sky will trim its roster down to 12 players by no later than 4:00 p.m. CT on May 13.
Chicago begins its 2021 campaign with a trip to Washington, D.C. to take on the Washington Mystics on May 15 at noon CT. The 2021 WNBA season will feature 32 games instead of the initially planned 36-game schedule due to the ongoing pandemic and Olympic break.