It's time for Sky to say bye-bye to expansion label

Say goodbye to the Chicago Sky.

Well, at least the expansion version.

It's been easy in the past to chalk up silly mistakes, bad losses and less than impressive crowds at the UIC Pavilion to the Sky's age.

The team is only 3 years old, still a relatively new kid on the block, and it's impossible to build a popular and competitive WNBA franchise overnight.

But as the books close on 2008, the bar is being raised. From now on, the Sky is too old for training wheels.

"We're over it. It's done," Sky president Margaret Stender said of the Sky's expansion status. "I'm sick of excuses, and I mean that from a business standpoint and a basketball standpoint. We've learned as much as we've needed to learn and now we're going to hold ourselves acountable and we're going to get the job done."

Unfortunately for the Sky, it didn't quite get the job done in 2008 - in the stands, or on the court.

Stender says the Sky averaged about 3,700 fans per game this summer and that attendance needs to be at about 5,000, which is still behind what many teams average but is respectable by WNBA standards.

Meanwhile, the team often didn't provide a very good showing for the fans who did come. Injuries to key players such as 6-foot-6 star rookie center Sylvia Fowles and starting point guard Dominique Canty contributed to a 12-22 final record and yet another spot on the sidelines for the playoffs.

"We needed those people in order for us to win more games," Sky coach Steve Key said. "If they're playing, it gives you a better chance. I can think of at least three or four games where their presence, especially Sylvia's, could have really made a difference."

There are a few things that could make a big difference for the Sky next summer - on the court, and off.

Hoop dreams: The Sky will likely get one of the top five picks in the WNBA's 2009 draft in April. That will add a quality player to a fairly solid core.

But it could be smart to look into the acquisition of some seasoned veterans, starting with a point guard.

Canty is a solid player. She's from Chicago and is an extremely likeable person. But she just isn't the vocal leader that this team needs. Perhaps some of the meltdowns the Sky experienced late in games this season could have been avoided with a stronger personality running the show.

Meanwhile, the small forward position was in flux the entire summer.

Key has two capable small forwards in Brook Wyckoff, a shooter, and Armintie Price, a slasher. He gave both minutes but would really prefer a combination of the two. Dealing either would be painful, but getting a more complete player in that position might help the Sky's starting lineup develop more chemistry and rhythm.

Fans in the stands: Sooner or later, the Sky needs to draw more fans in order to remain viable.

Stender says the team already has more season-ticket renewals now than at this time last year and that not only is her database of potential fans bigger than ever, she has more staff to target them.

Great. The Sky might also want to target a new stadium.

I am still a big proponent of a move from UIC to the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates because I think the Sky could ultimately draw better in the suburbs.

But in the very least, the Sky should lower ticket prices. The lowest single-game ticket is $15, which, in this economy, could add up fast for a family of four when concessions and parking are added to the mix.

pbabcock@dailyherald.com