Over the final 12 days of 2018, each day we will look back at the year that was for a WNBA team, reminiscing over some of the best moments from the past year and looking ahead to the upcoming year as well. Up next is the Chicago Sky, who saw their fair share of ups and downs during the 2018 calendar year.

Season Recap

Record: 13-21, one-game improvement from 2017
Finish: 4^th in Eastern Conference, 10^th overall
Postseason: Missed playoffs for second straight year
Awards: Courtney Vandersloot, All-WNBA Second Team and Peak Performer (Assists); Diamond DeShields, All-Rookie Team; Allie Quigley, 3-Point Contest Winner
Leaders: Points (Quigley, 15.4); Rebounds (DeShields, 4.9); Assists (Vandersloot, 8.6); Steals (Gabby Williams, 1.6); Blocks (Stefanie Dolson, 0.9); 3-Pointers (Quigley, 2.3)

Key Offseason Questions

How will the Sky fare under new head coach/general manager James Wade?

After finishing the 2018 season at 13-21 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year, the Sky made a coaching change as they let go of Amber Stocks and hired James Wade as the team’s new head coach and GM. Wade is the sixth coach in Sky history as they prepare to enter their 14^th season in the WNBA.

Wade spent the last two seasons as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Lynx under head coach Cheryl Reeve, helping the team capture the 2017 WNBA title. During his time in Minnesota (2017-18) and his previous stint in San Antonio (2013-2016), Wade spent much of his time in player development, which was a key factor in bringing him to Chicago, as the Sky have plenty of young talent to build upon.

What adjustments will be made to the roster through the draft and free agency?

As the Sky look toward 2019, they have a roster with a good balance of veterans and young players. But with a new voice calling the shots, will there be any major moves made before the season tips off in May?

The Sky hold the No. 4 pick in the upcoming WNBA Draft, which will give them another talented young player to the mix. Last year’s draft treated the Sky well as they added Diamond DeShields and Gabby Williams with the Nos. 3 and 4 picks. Both players had strong rookie campaigns and should be cornerstone players for this team for years to come.

Best On-Court Moment

Courtney Vandersloot’s assault on the record book

Point guard Courtney Vandersloot kept the Sky PR office busy drafting press release after press release announcing all of the WNBA records and accolades she racked up during the 2018 season. Here’s a handful of Vandersloot accomplishments en route to earning All-WNBA Second Team honors:

Vandersloot Becomes 7th Player in WNBA History to Record Triple-Double

Vandersloot finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists – the most ever in a WNBA triple-double – in Chicago’s 114-99 win over Dallas on July 20.

Courtney Vandersloot Becomes First WNBA Player to Record 50 Assists Across Four Consecutive Games

Vandersloot had 15 assists vs. Dallas on July 20, 10 vs. L.A. on July 22, 11 vs. Phoenix on July 25 and 14 vs. Dallas on July 31. The last player to get close to that number was the second all-time WNBA assist leader, Ticha Penicheiro, with 46.

Courtney Vandersloot Sets WNBA Record And Hits Milestone

In Chicago’s 97-86 win over Connecticut on Aug. 10, Vandersloot climbed to No. 10 on the WNBA’s all-time assist list (by season’s end she would reach to No. 9 with 1,385 career assists). She also became the first player in WNBA history to record 15 points and 15 assists in a single game.

Courtney Vandersloot Breaks 18-Year-Old WNBA Season Assist Record

With 10 assists in Chicago’s win over Minnesota on Aug. 14, Vandersloot broke Ticha Penicheiro’s 18 year-old record for most assists (236) in a single season. Vandersloot finished the game with 241 assists and finished the season with the new record of 258. Her 8.5 assists per game marks the highest average in league history.

Allie Quigley’s record-breaking 3-point contest shooting display

During halftime of the 2018 WNBA All-Star Game, Chicago’s Allie Quigley and Las Vegas’ Kayla McBride had a shootout for the ages. After both sharpshooters advanced to the championship round, they tied with 18 points apiece, forcing a tiebreaker round.

In the tiebreaker round, Quigley drained 20 of her 25 shots, including every ball on the “money ball” rack to finish with 29 points out of a possible 34. That not only won her the competition for the scond straight year, but set a new all-tiome record for most points scored in the 3-point contest across the NBA and WNBA. Quigley’s 29 topped the mark of Phoenix’s Devin Booker, who had 28 points during the 2018 NBA All-Star Game.

Best Off-Court Moment

Adding DeShields and Williams on draft night

The Sky entered the 2018 WNBA draft with a pair of lottery picks and cashed in to select Diamond DeShields at No. 3 and Gabby Williams at No. 4. Both players were major contributors for the Sky in their debut WNBA seasons. DeShields would earn All-Rookie team honors, while Williams finished second in the WNBA in steals at 1.6 per game. Both players bring great versatility and skill to the table and will be crucial to the Sky’s success moving forward.

Opening a new home at Wintrust Arena

After playing the previous eight seasons at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, the Sky announced their move to the new Wintrust Arena in the city of Chicago for the 2018 season and beyond. In their first regular season game in the new building, the Sky defeated the New York Liberty 80-76 behind 22 points from Allie Quigley. The Sky finished the season with a 7-10 record at home.

Unveiling new logo and colors

In addition to the new building and the new head coach/general manager, the Sky also unveiled a new logo and color scheme for the 2019 season. This is the first change in branding and identity that the Sky has undergone since joining the WNBA in 2006.

GIF of the Year

What do you do when you look up at the scoreboard and see yourself on the Jumbotron? Well, Stefanie Dolson acts like most fans and plays to the camera with a wave and a dance while she sits on the bench with teammate Jamierra Faulkner during a timeout in the fourth quarter of a game with Washington.

Photos of the Year

Check out some of the top images from the Sky during the 2018 season.

New Year’s Resolution

The Sky finished just two games out of the eighth and final playoff spot last season and climbing into the top eight and getting back to the postseason has to be the New Year’s resolution for this team. To do that, the Sky will need to find their identity under new head coach James Wade and continue to develop their young talent.