The Sky still are a relatively new team in Chicago, hidden away in the confines of the UIC Pavilion. If people know anything about the city’s WNBA team, chances are they only know of its first-year struggles. Hopes were up when the team won its first-ever game to kick off its inaugural season, but the Sky dropped 13 straight games after that. Inability to hold leads late in games often hurt the team.
But just like every other sports franchise in Chicago, the Sky had to start somewhere. For the WNBA’s newest team, that start was 5-29 and at the very bottom of the league standings. But now in its second season, the team has the chance to turn things around. It’s a road many Chicago teams have traveled.
Here’s a look the beginnings of other Chicago franchises and how they performed in their sophomore seasons.
Rush (2001) Finishing 7-7 in its first year, the team advanced to the playoffs and even made it into the second round. In the second season, the Rush won its division with a 9-5 mark, but fell in the third round of the postseason.
Fire (1997) The expansion team won the Major League Soccer title in its first season after going 20-12, becoming the first team in league history to accomplish the feat. The team finished 18-14 the next season with third place.
Wolves (1994) The Wolves finished above .500 at 34-33 and made it to the first round of the playoffs. The next season, the team improved slightly, going 40-34 and advancing to the second round of the postseason before being knocked out.
Bulls (1966) At 33-49, the team’s finish remains the best by an expansion team in league history. Though the mark also was good enough to secure a playoff spot, the Bulls were swept out of the first round. The next season was less successful at 29-54, with the team again losing in the opening round of the playoffs to end the campaign.
Blackhawks (1926) After a respectable 19-22-3 campaign in which the team advanced to the playoffs, the Hawks experienced the biggest dropoff of any Chicago sports franchise, finishing just 7-34-3 in its second year.
Bears (1919) Originally called the Staleys, the team was founded in 1919 but started play the next year. Successful at 5-1-2 in the first season, the squad improved to 9-1 the next year and captured the league title.
Sox (1901) The White Sox had success right away, finishing 83-53 and winning the AL pennant in its first season. A year later, the club was 74-60, a mark only good enough for fourth place.
Cubs (1874) The team went 28-31 in its inaugural season, but dropped to 30-37 the next year. When the team became known as the Cubs (of all the possible names, they were previously called the White Stockings) in 1902, the team was 68-69. But the next season, the Cubbies improved to 82-56.
– – –
MAIN EVENT
Sky vs. Minnesota
CH. 26
5 P.m. Sunday
