WNBA’s proposed return-to-play plan could benefit Sky: ‘Chemistry is always the key’

As the WNBA continues to mull a return-to-play plan, Sky coach James Wade returned to Chicago this week after spending the last several months in Montpellier, France, with his family.

Could this be a positive sign?

“I guess,” Wade said in his typical sly way. “I don’t know.”

ESPN reported Friday that the league proposed a 22-game regular season that would be played at the IMG Academy campus in Bradenton, Florida. Under this tentative plan, the season could start as early as July 24, and players reportedly would earn 100% of their salaries.

The playoff format would remain the standard length, ESPN reported. The season must end by Oct. 31, according to the collective-bargaining agreement.

Players will vote on the proposal over the weekend. If approved, a formal announcement is expected Monday.

Wade has seen the reports but said he hasn’t received any additional information about the upcoming season, which originally was scheduled to start May 15 but was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He remains optimistic, however, that the WNBA will have a season. He pointed to the recent developments from other American professional sports leagues, such as the NBA and National Women’s Soccer League, which have agreed to resume play in the near future, as positive signs.

“The first key is the health and safety of everyone,” Wade said. “I feel like if that can be done with minimal risk, I think that would be great. And, of course, I think everybody that’s in the WNBA, to make it on that level, either coaching or playing, they have a high competitive spirit. I think everybody wants to play.”

If the league and players’ union agree to go forward with a shortened season, the Sky might have an upper hand on some of their opponents.

“Chemistry is always the key,” Wade said. “I think us having a familiarity with each other and knowing each other and really liking to be with each other is going to help, especially with the quick turnaround, and that potentially can happen.”

The Sky had an undeniably strong bond last season, which helped them go from a 10th-place finish in 2018 to a top-five team in the league in 2019 under first-year coach Wade.

While the landscape of the league changed drastically this offseason, with several high-profile players deciding to leave their teams in free agency, the Sky brought back most of their roster from last season.

Many Sky players have alluded to having unfinished business after their postseason run fell short. But guard Kahleah Copper, who re-signed with the Sky in February, also pointed to the team’s closeness as a reason she decided to stay.

“This team feels like home,” Copper said. “There’s just something about the vibrancy and just our vibes as a whole. It’s just unmatched and undeniable, and there’s no way that I could go anywhere else.”

With training camp this year likely being shorter than in previous seasons, the Sky won’t have to waste valuable time getting acquainted with one another. And Jantel Lavender said she thinks it’ll be a “smooth transition” from last season to this one.

‘‘We’ve had Zoom meetings where we meet every week, so we’re staying in touch with each other to try to keep that chemistry and keep that flame alive,” she said. “I think we’ll pick up where we left off, just hungry and ready to play and ready to win.”