Revelations from the Chicago Sky’s seven-game losing streak

Then misfortune struck. The Sky’s best player Chennedy Carter got sick, and the team dropped seven straight.

The nosedive made their playoff position more precarious, as the ninth-place Dream climbed within one game of the Sky. But in the long run, a breakdown like this can be helpful in revealing a team’s core issues.

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Chennedy Carter’s illness highlights dependence on her to score

The Sky offense does not work without Carter, its pace setter and scoring engine. It struggled even with her in it.

Despite Carter’s scoring average (per 40 minutes) ranking second in the W, the Sky offense ranked second worst in the league.

They lack too many of the necessary ingredients for a high-powered offense. They’re also still building cohesion in the halfcourt, having returned only three players from last season.  

So their best option has been letting their defense fuel their offense and scoring in transition. Carter’s speed and finishing ability were keys to that. She leads the league in fast break points per game.

With Carter gone from the lineup, the team fell from second in the league in fast break points to 10th. 

And their halfcourt struggles intensified. Outside of letting Carter be creative, the Sky’s main strategy in the halfcourt is feeding the post. But the low post is easy to defend when opponents know what’s coming. During the losing streak, opposing teams were increasingly deflecting and stealing entry passes.

The Sky’s turnover rate fell to last in the league.

And then, just when things looked grimmest, Carter returned to practice. During media availability on Sept. 5, head coach Teresa Weatherspoon was ecstatic to have her top scorer back.

“If you can’t feel the energy in here, there’s something wrong with you,” she joked and smiled.

The next day, the Sky scored 92 points in a win against the Los Angeles Sparks. It was only the second time the team exceeded the 90-point threshold this season. With Carter back, the Sky’s pick-and-roll game came alive again, and five Sky players scored in double digits.

Two days later, the Sky scored 23 fast break points in a win against the Dallas Wings, keeping themselves in playoff contention.

Carter holds the Sky offense together. But her absence highlighted the roster work necessary to build a more balanced attack. 

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Disruptive defense will require depth and more experience

The Sky hang their hat on the defensive end. And in the first seven games of the season, the team established an identity based on forcing turnovers and limiting 3’s. During that stretch, the team led the league in steals with 10.4 per game. 

“I think it challenges [teams] when we have our hands up … and just being in the passing lanes is really important for our team,” Reese told reporters after the Sept. 1 loss against the Minnesota Lynx.

But an aggressive strategy on defense requires depth and leaves the team vulnerable to injury. After the Sky’s best defender, center Elizabeth Williams, tore her meniscus in early June, the team’s defensive rating slowly deteriorated. During the seven-game losing streak, the team’s defensive rating fell to 10th.

Poor offense in Carter’s absence was partly responsible, as dysfunction has cascading effects. With offensive possessions ending in turnovers and missed baskets, the team had to defend on its back foot instead of being the aggressor. The Sky’s steals per game average fell from third in the league before the break to last.

According to assistant coach Sydney Johnson, youth and fatigue were also factors in the decline.

“We have a pair of rookies who are dynamite, but they’re learning these schemes and learning how essential they are to doing them correctly all the time,” Johnson told The Next after practice in September.

The Sky are the only team with two rookies in the starting lineup. Amongst rookies, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso rank second and fourth in minutes, playing 32.5 and 27.6 minutes per game respectively.

“I look at our front court and their versatility and athleticism—but also their inexperience,” Johnson said. “When we get them right, we’re going to be just as disruptive as we want.” 

Further development of the rookie tandem will have to wait, though. Against the Sparks, Reese fractured her wrist. She won’t return this season.

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Michaela Onyenwere takes advantage of bigger role

As the Sky offense sputtered and strained during the losing streak, Michaela Onyenwere emerged as a gem out of the rubble. Against the Aces on the road, she put her versatility on display, scoring via turnaround jumpers, 3-pointers off the dribble and finishes at the rim. 

As a starter she’s averaging 10.7 points per game on 56.9% shooting and 35.7% from 3. 

“She doesn’t get enough credit for what she does,” Reese told reporters before the Sept. 6 win against the Sparks. “At one point she wasn’t even playing.”

Since being named the 2021 Rookie of the Year, Onyenwere is still carving out a name for herself in the W. The Sky are Onyenwere’s third team in four years. She earned a starting spot with the Sky only after riding the bench the first half of the season. 

Onyenwere’s transition into the starting lineup had a few bumps. Her turnover rate has increased as she’s taken more risks. And her free throw percentage this season lags her career average.

But a versatile, two-way wing like Onyenwere is highly valuable to any team making a postseason push. Her breakthrough during the breakdown should remind the Sky of that.

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