Sky Rookies' 2023 Season in Review

Tue, Dec 19, 2023, 5:59 PM

Robyn Parks

BIO:

Height: 6-1

Position: F

Years Pro: R

College/Country: Virginia Commonwealth/United States

Drafted: Undrafted (2014)

2023 SEASON OVERVIEW: Parks joined the Sky for training camp, winning a roster spot and ultimately claiming a key spot off the bench. She finished the year ranked seventh on the team in points, fifth in three-pointers and seventh in minutes.

Parks, 31, played five seasons overseas after concluding her college career in 2014 before coming to Chicago. She averaged 3.9 points in 37 games in her first season in the WNBA, making two starts. The 6-foot forward out of VCU also scored the second-most points of any Sky bench player and shot 36.8% from three on 87 total attempts.

In her first career start in a matchup with the Indiana Fever, Parks put up 13 points, three rebounds, an assist and a block in 27 minutes. She shot 75.0% (3 of 4) from beyond the arc.

At home against Phoenix on July 30, Parks chipped into a 19-point victory, adding 14 points, three rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block while hitting a career-high four three-pointers. In the Sky’s following game, on Aug. 4, Parks put up eight points and four rebounds as the Sky eclipsed 100+ points for the second straight game. Parks’s shooting (2 of 3 from deep) helped the team to a 15-point victory over Dallas.

Parks scored in double figures for the third time in her career on Sept. 3 in a loss to New York, scoring 10 points. She also scored in double figures in the next game, on Sept. 5, putting up 11 points and two assists in a 27-point road win over Indiana.

In the team’s final game of the season, on Sept. 10, Parks made her second career start and put up six points and two rebounds in a victory over Connecticut.

2023 SEASON MILESTONES:

  • May 21 — Made her WNBA debut against Phoenix
  • May 30 — Scored her first career points against Atlanta
  • June 15 — Knocked down a season and career-high five field goals against Indiana
  • June 15 — Drew her first career start against Indiana
  • July 25 — Pulled down a season and career-high six rebounds against Las Vegas
  • July 30 — Scored a season and career-high 14 points against Phoenix
  • July 30 — Knocked down a season and career-high four three-pointers against Phoenix
  • July 30 — Tied a season and career high in three-pointers made against Phoenix

Morgan Bertsch

BIO:

Height: 6-4

Position: F

Years Pro: R

College/From: UC Davis

Drafted: Dallas Wings (No. 29 overall in 2019)

2023 SEASON OVERVIEW: Bertsch played in her first season in the WNBA this year with the Sky, earning a roster spot in training camp and a starting role for opening night. In her first two games, Bertsch averaged 7.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 blocks in two starts.

An injury sidelined Bertsch for several weeks, and she missed eight games between May 28 and June 15. In her first game back from injury, on June 18, Bertsch had career highs of 16 points (6 of 9 FGA) and seven rebounds. 

She had a big game off the bench on Aug. 6, scoring 11 points and five rebounds in a win over the Dallas Wings. Bertsch scored in double figures again on Aug. 29 in a win over the Los Angeles Sparks, delivering 12 points, three rebounds and two steals.

The former UC Davis star finished the year with four starts. Though she dealt with an injury, she finished eighth on the team in minutes and points.

2023 SEASON MILESTONES:

  • May 19 — Made her WNBA debut against Minnesota
  • May 19 — Drew her first career start against Minnesota
  • May 19 — Scored her first career points against Minnesota
  • May 21 — Pulled down a season and career-high seven rebounds against Phoenix
  • June 18 — Scored a season and career-high 16 points against Washington
  • June 18 — Tied a season and career high with seven rebounds against Washington
  • June 18 — Knocked down a season and career-high six field goals against Washington
  • June 18 — Knocked down a season and career-high four three-pointers against Washington

Sika Koné

BIO:

Height: 6-3

Position: F/C

Years Pro: R

College/Country: Spain/Mali

Drafted: New York Liberty (No. 29 overall in 2022)

2023 SEASON OVERVIEW: The Sky claimed Koné off waivers from the New York Liberty and, at 20 years old, she became the second-youngest Sky player in franchise history (following Shyla Heal, 19). 

Koné made an impact almost immediately with the Sky dealing with multiple injuries in the frontcourt. In her first career game, Koné posted 10 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal. In the next game, she recorded six points and eight rebounds.

Koné saw extended playing time as the season went on, and she averaged 5.2 points and 4.3 rebounds from Aug. 22 to Sept. 10, helping Chicago’s run to the playoffs. In a pivotal matchup with the Minnesota Lynx on Sept. 8, Koné recorded a career-high 10 rebounds, along with six points.

She averaged 13.4 minutes in her final six appearances of the season, compared to 7.5 minutes in her first 14. Koné also played in both of the Sky’s postseason games.

2023 SEASON MILESTONES:

  • May 28 — Made her WNBA debut against Dallas
  • May 28 — Scored her first career points against Dallas
  • May 28 — Scored a season and career-high 10 points against Dallas
  • Sept. 8 — Pulled down a season and career-high 10 rebounds against Minnesota
  • Sept. 8 — Pulled down a season and career-high three offensive rebounds against Minnesota

Taylor Soule

BIO:

Height: 5-11

Position: F

Years Pro: R

College/Country: Virginia Tech

Drafted: Minnesota Lynx (No. 28 overall in 2023)

2023 SEASON OVERVIEW: The Sky signed Soule to a Hardship Contract in June 2023. She spent the remainder of the season with Chicago, appearing in 15 games. Soule appeared in her first game with the Sky on June 9 before playing a larger role over the course of the next two games. She recorded a career-high five points on June 6 against Los Angeles.

2023 SEASON MILESTONES:

  • June 9 — Made her WNBA debut against Los Angeles
  • June 11 — Scored her first career points against Las Vegas
  • June 18 — Scored a season and career-high five points against Washington
  • June 18 — Pulled down a season and career-high four rebounds against Washington
  • June 18 — Scored her first career field goal against Washington