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WNBA record recap: Breaking down 2019 records and milestones reached

By Kurtis Zimmerman

WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 8: Elena Delle Donne #11 of the Washington Mystics speaks with the media after the game against the Chicago Sky on September 8, 2019 at the St Elizabeths East Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 8: Elena Delle Donne #11 of the Washington Mystics speaks with the media after the game against the Chicago Sky on September 8, 2019 at the St Elizabeths East Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Ned Dishman/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 1: Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the Chicago Sky celebrates in a huddle before the game against the Seattle Storm on June 1, 2019 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 1: Courtney Vandersloot #22 of the Chicago Sky celebrates in a huddle before the game against the Seattle Storm on June 1, 2019 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Gary Dineen/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Chicago Sky

2019 marked the long-awaited return to the Playoffs for the talented Chicago Sky. James Wade took over, leading the franchise to a 20-14 record, becoming the 10th WNBA coach to record 20 or more wins in their first full season, the first for the Sky.

Otherwise, this season was all about Sloot and hot shooting for the Sky.

Courtney Vandersloot led the league in assists, setting several new records on her own:

  • She is the first player to dish out 300 assists in a single-season in WNBA history, blowing away her previous record of 258 from just last season.
  • Keep in mind she also missed a game this season, but she also set a new league record with 9.1 assists per game.
  • She only had 96 turnovers, setting a new single-season Sky record with a 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio.
  • Her assist percentage of 43.4% this season is a new league best.
  • She set a new Sky-high with 13 assists without a turnover on August 25 against the Mercury. Then she tied that on September 1, once again against the Mercury.
  • Before the season ended, she got her 29th career double-double with points and assists, passing up Sue Bird (28) to become the WNBA’s all-time leader in that category.
  • With her 33 games played, she also passed up Tamera Young to become the Sky’s all-time leader in games played (272).

Individually, Allie Quigley had another prolific season shooting from beyond the arc, making a Sky record 80 threes this season, beating out the previous record of 77 (Quigley in 2017).

As a team, the Sky had their best year in several stats:

  • Their 733 assists is a season best, 12 best than their previous record of 721 from last year. They also had a new best with 21.6 assists per game, better than 2018’s 21.2 per game.
  • They grabbed 958 total defensive rebounds, besting 2015’s 906 defensive rebounds. That also meant a new high in defensive rebounds per game (28.2).
  • They shot 49.8% from inside the arc as a team, besting their 48.9% from 2017.
  • From three they were historically lethal as a franchise. They made 247 threes (7.3 per game) on 735 attempts (21.6 per game), all new franchise records in a season.

In terms of milestones, many of the Sky’s rotation players hit some big marks:

  • Kahleah Copper played in her 100th WNBA game this season.
  • Cheyenne Parker swatted her 100th block, becoming just the sixth Sky player to reach that mark.
  • Stefanie Dolson eclipsed 200 blocks and 1,000 rebounds.
  • Jantel Lavender made her 1,000th field goal in perhaps the most Lavender way, also making her 1,000th two-pointer to get there.
  • Diamond DeShields scored her 1,000th career point, the third-fastest to do so in Sky history (67 games).
  • Quigley scored her 2,500th point, eclipsing 1,000 made field goals and 300 made threes to get there.
  • Vandersloot also scored her 2,500th point, recorded her 1,500th assist (seventh to do that, eventually getting to sixth all-time this season), made her 200th three-pointer, and grabbed her 300 steal.
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