The Chicago Sky have traveled a remarkable road since becoming a WNBA expansion franchise in 2006. From their early years at the UIC Pavilion, through their seasons at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, and finally to their current home at Wintrust Arena, the Sky have developed from a new franchise searching for an identity into a WNBA championship organization.
The Sky have produced some of the greatest players in women’s basketball, including Elena Delle Donne, Sylvia Fowles, and Candace Parker They have also developed stars such as Courtney Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper and others who helped establish Chicago as an important destination in women’s professional basketball. The defining moment came in 2021, when the Sky captured their first WNBA championship.
The Birth of the Chicago Sky
Chicago was awarded a WNBA expansion franchise in February 2005, with the team beginning play during the 2006 season. The Sky were unusual from the beginning because they were independently owned rather than operated by the NBA’s Chicago Bulls.
Michael J. Alter was the lead investor in the group that brought professional women’s basketball back to Chicago. Margaret Stender became the franchise’s first employee and served as its founding president and CEO during its formative years.
The name “Chicago Sky” was chosen to connect the franchise with Chicago’s famous skyline and architecture. The original identity featured sky blue and yellow, colors that became closely associated with the franchise.
The team played its first season in 2006.
The beginning was difficult. The inaugural Sky team won only five games, but the organization began building the foundation for a much more successful future.
Chicago Sky Ownership
Because the Sky began as an independently owned franchise, ownership has included a group of Chicago-area investors rather than a single traditional sports conglomerate.
Michael J. Alter
Michael J. Alter has been the principal owner and central figure in the franchise from its beginning. He led the investment group that established the Sky and remains principal owner today.
Margaret Stender
Margaret Stender was one of the original investors and served as the Sky’s founding president and CEO. The Sky’s current media guide continues to identify her as a minority owner.
John W. Rogers Jr.
John Rogers, founder of Ariel Investments, has been part of the Sky ownership group and is listed by the team as an owner.
Harvey Alter
Harvey Alter is also listed as an owner in the current Sky organization.
Nadia Rawlinson
Nadia Rawlinson joined the ownership group in 2023 and became co-owner and operating chairman. She remains in that position.
Other Original Investors:
The original ownership group was larger than the individuals normally identified as the team’s principal owners. Contemporary reporting has identified investors including Michelle Williams, Juanita Vanoy Jordan, Sue Wellington, Linda Friedman and Steven Rogers, among others. The complete original investor list was not publicly released. That is an important distinction: there is a difference between every original investor in the franchise and the individuals publicly identified as owners in the team’s official records.
Every Arena the Chicago Sky Have Called Home
The Sky have had three principal home arenas during their history.
UIC Pavilion — 2006–2009
The UIC Pavilion was the Sky’s original home.
The franchise played its inaugural season there in 2006 and remained at the University of Illinois Chicago facility through the 2009 season. This was where Chicago fans first watched the Sky become a WNBA franchise.
Allstate Arena — 2010–2017
For the 2010 season, the Sky moved north to Allstate Arena in Rosemont. The move gave the Sky access to a much larger building, and the team remained there for eight seasons. The Sky reached the million-fan attendance milestone during their time at Allstate Arena.
Wintrust Arena — 2018–Present The Sky returned to the city of Chicago in 2018 when they moved into Wintrust Arena at McCormick Square. The move was significant because the team once again had a permanent home inside Chicago proper. The Sky have played their home games at Wintrust Arena since 2018. Wintrust Arena also became the home court for the greatest achievement in franchise history: the 2021 WNBA championship season.
The Early Years
The Sky’s first several seasons were a period of building.
The franchise went through several coaches and roster changes while attempting to establish itself. The early head coaches were Dave Cowens, Bo Overton and Steven Key.
One of the first major building blocks arrived in the 2006 draft when Chicago selected Candice Dupree with the sixth overall pick.
Another important early breakthrough came in 2007.
Armintie Price Becomes Chicago’s First Rookie of the Year
In the 2007 WNBA Draft, the Sky selected Armintie Price with the third overall pick. Price immediately made an impact.
She became the 2007 WNBA Rookie of the Year, giving Chicago its first major individual league award. This was an important moment because the Sky were no longer simply an expansion franchise trying to survive. They were beginning to develop players capable of becoming major figures in the league.
Elena Delle Donne Changes the Franchise The most important draft in Sky history came in 2013.
Chicago selected Delaware star Elena Delle Donne with the second overall pick. She immediately became one of the WNBA’s most recognizable players. Delle Donne won the 2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year Award as a member of the Sky.
Two years later she reached an even greater level.
2015 WNBA MVP — Elena Delle Donne
In 2015, Elena Delle Donne became the first Chicago Sky player to win the WNBA Most Valuable Player Award.
This is an especially important distinction because Delle Donne won the award as a Sky player, rather than receiving an MVP award for accomplishments with another franchise.
Delle Donne’s time in Chicago established her as one of the greatest players in franchise history. She also helped take the Sky to the next level competitively.
The Sky Reach the WNBA FinalsThe 2014 season represented another major milestone.
Chicago reached the WNBA Finals for the first time.
The Sky faced the Phoenix Mercury in the championship series but did not win the title. Although the championship escaped Chicago, reaching the Finals demonstrated that the franchise had become a legitimate championship contender. The Sky’s rise during this period was built around players including Delle Donne, Courtney Vandersloot, Sylvia Fowles and others.
Sylvia Fowles: The Defensive Foundation
Sylvia Fowles became one of the defining players of the early Sky. Chicago selected Fowles with the second overall pick in the 2008 WNBA Draft. She became one of the most dominant defensive centers in WNBA history and established herself as one of the greatest players ever to wear a Sky uniform.
Fowles later became a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, being enshrined in 2025. The Hall of Fame identifies both Chicago and Minnesota as teams in her professional career. Her greatest championship accomplishments came after leaving Chicago, however, so her Hall of Fame case was not based solely on her Sky career. That distinction matters when considering the Sky’s Hall of Fame history.
Chicago Sky Hall of Famers
There is an important terminology point.
There is not a separate “WNBA Hall of Fame” operated by the WNBA. The appropriate basketball Hall of Fame is the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
As of 2026, three players who have played for Chicago are Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers:
Sylvia Fowles — Class of 2025
Fowles played for Chicago and later Minnesota.
She was a four-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, eight-time All-Star and two-time WNBA champion. Her Hall of Fame career included both franchises.
Candace Parker — Class of 2026
Parker played for the Chicago Sky in 2021 and 2022.
She was already an established superstar before arriving in Chicago, having won WNBA MVP awards with the Los Angeles Sparks. However, her Chicago career included one of the most important accomplishments in Sky history: she helped lead the franchise to its first WNBA championship in 2021. Parker was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2026.
Elena Delle Donne — Class of 2026
Delle Donne was also selected for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Her connection to the Sky is especially significant because she won both the 2013 Rookie of the Year Award and the 2015 WNBA MVP Award while playing for Chicago. The Hall identifies her as a two-time WNBA MVP, seven-time All-Star and four-time All-WNBA First Team selection.
A Crucial Distinction
If the standard is:
“Hall of Famers whose Hall of Fame careers were earned primarily or exclusively as Chicago Sky players”
then the list is more complicated because none of these players spent their entire WNBA careers in Chicago.
The Sky’s Hall of Fame connection is therefore best understood as Hall of Fame players who wore the Sky uniform, with Delle Donne having the strongest direct connection to Sky-specific MVP and Rookie of the Year achievements.
WNBA Rookie of the Year Winners as Chicago Sky Players
The Sky have produced two WNBA Rookie of the Year winners:
Year
Player
Achievement
2007
Armintie Price
WNBA Rookie of the Year
2013
Elena Delle Donne
WNBA Rookie of the Year
Both awards were earned while the players were members of the Chicago Sky.
WNBA MVP Winners as Chicago Sky Players
The Sky have produced one WNBA MVP winner:
2015 — Elena Delle Donne
Delle Donne won the WNBA MVP award while playing for Chicago. This makes her the only player in franchise history to win the league’s regular-season MVP award as a member of the Sky. That accomplishment places her in a special category in Chicago basketball history.
The James Wade Era
James Wade became head coach in 2019 and helped establish the Sky as a championship-caliber team. His tenure produced the greatest season in franchise history. Wade’s teams featured a remarkably balanced group that included Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Kahleah Copper and other key contributors. The Sky developed into a team that combined veteran experience with athleticism and depth.
2021: The Championship Season
Everything came together in 2021.
The Sky entered the postseason and advanced through the playoffs to reach the WNBA Finals. Chicago defeated the Phoenix Mercury in four games to win the franchise’s first WNBA championship. The decisive victory came at home in Chicago. For a franchise that had started with only five wins in its inaugural season, the championship represented the completion of a remarkable 15-year journey.
The 2021 Championship Team
The championship roster included:
Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Kahleah Copper, Azura Stevens, Stefanie Dolson, Diamond DeShields,
Ruthy Hebard, Gabby Williams, Lexie Brown, and other contributors Kahleah Copper emerged as one of the defining players of the championship run and was named Finals MVP.
The championship also made Candace Parker the first Chicago-born player to win a WNBA championship with her hometown team.
Candace Parker and the Championship Legacy
Candace Parker deserves a special place in Sky history.
She arrived in Chicago as an already-established superstar. Unlike many players who build their reputation with one franchise, Parker had already won championships and MVP awards with Los Angeles. But her arrival transformed the Sky’s championship possibilities. In 2021 she helped Chicago win its first WNBA title. Parker’s Hall of Fame résumé includes three WNBA championships, two regular-season MVP awards, a Finals MVP, seven All-Star selections and seven All-WNBA First Team selections. Her Hall of Fame career was built across multiple teams, so she should not be described as a Hall of Famer whose entire career was earned as a Sky player.
But she unquestionably belongs among the most important players in Sky history.
The Most Outstanding Player in Chicago Sky History
Elena Delle Donne
For a franchise-history discussion, Elena Delle Donne stands out because of the combination of individual awards and franchise impact she achieved in Chicago. Her Sky résumé includes:
2013 WNBA Rookie of the Year
2015 WNBA MVP
Multiple All-Star selections
Multiple All-WNBA honors
Leadership of Chicago’s first generation of serious championship contenders
Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2026
Delle Donne’s importance to the Sky was more than statistical.
She arrived as the second overall pick in 2013 and immediately transformed the identity of the franchise. She gave Chicago a genuine superstar around whom the organization could build.
The Most Outstanding Coach in Sky History
James Wade
James Wade deserves recognition as the most accomplished head coach in franchise history based on the championship achievement during his Chicago tenure. Wade coached the Sky from 2019 through part of 2023 and guided the franchise to its only WNBA championship, winning the title in 2021. His Chicago coaching record was 81–59 in the regular season, and his teams went 13–8 in the playoffs, including the 2021 championship. Wade also helped create the culture and roster structure that allowed the Sky to win their first championship.
Other coaches made important contributions, particularly
Pokey Chatman, whose teams reached the postseason four consecutive years from 2013 through 2016 and reached the 2014 WNBA Finals. But Wade’s championship is the defining accomplishment in the franchise’s coaching history.
The Sky’s Legacy
The legacy of the Chicago Sky can be divided into several chapters.
Building a WNBA Team in Chicago
The franchise demonstrated that women’s professional basketball could establish a lasting presence in Chicago outside of the NBA Bulls organization.
Developing Stars
The Sky developed or showcased some of the most recognizable players in women’s basketball, including:
Sylvia Fowles, Elena Delle Donne, Courtney Vandersloot,
Kahleah Copper, Diamond DeShields, Candace Parker
Producing Major Individual Awards
Chicago has produced:
WNBA Rookie of the Year
Armintie Price — 2007
Elena Delle Donne — 2013
WNBA MVP
Elena Delle Donne — 2015
Reaching the WNBA Finals
The Sky reached the WNBA Finals in:
2014
2021
Winning the WNBA Championship
Chicago won its first and, through the 2026 season, only WNBA championship in:
2021
The Meaning of the 2021 Championship
The championship changed the historical status of the franchise. Before 2021, the Sky had developed excellent players, reached the playoffs and played in a WNBA Finals series. After 2021, the franchise had something that could never be taken away: A championship banner.
The title also provided a bridge between different generations of Sky basketball. Players such as Fowles and Delle Donne helped establish the franchise’s competitive foundation. Vandersloot and Quigley became long-term leaders. Parker brought championship experience to Chicago. Copper emerged as a Finals star. Together, those eras created the championship identity of the Chicago Sky.
Chicago Sky Franchise Milestones
Year
Milestone
2005
Chicago awarded WNBA expansion franchise
2006
Sky begin WNBA play
2006–09
Home games at UIC Pavilion
2007
Armintie Price wins Rookie of the Year
2010
Move to Allstate Arena
2013
Elena Delle Donne wins Rookie of the Year
2014
First WNBA Finals appearance
2015
Elena Delle Donne wins WNBA MVP
2018
Move to Wintrust Arena
2021
Chicago wins its first WNBA championship
2025
Sylvia Fowles enters Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
2026
Elena Delle Donne and Candace Parker enter Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Final Thoughts
The Chicago Sky’s history is a story of patience, star players, organizational growth and ultimately a championship.
The franchise began in 2006 as an expansion team playing at the UIC Pavilion. It moved to Allstate Arena, returned to Chicago at Wintrust Arena, developed multiple generations of outstanding players and eventually reached the top of the WNBA.
Elena Delle Donne represents one of the clearest individual connections between greatness and the Sky. She won Rookie of the Year and MVP while wearing Chicago’s uniform and became a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer.
Candace Parker represents the championship generation. She arrived as an established star and helped deliver the franchise’s first championship.
Sylvia Fowles represents the powerful foundation upon which the franchise was built.
And James Wade occupies a special place on the coaching side because his team delivered the championship that Chicago had been pursuing since the franchise’s creation.
The Chicago Sky’s story is therefore larger than one season or one player. It is the story of a franchise that spent its early years searching for an identity, found that identity through generations of exceptional players, and ultimately raised a championship banner over Chicago.
Chicago Sky: one franchise, three home arenas, generations of stars, one WNBA MVP, two Rookie of the Year winners, multiple Hall of Famers—and one championship that changed everything.
Artir Fischal
