Sky highs ... and lows in 2009

What a great series the WNBA Finals has been between the Indiana Fever and the Phoenix Mercury.

It's almost a shame it had to come to an end. But now that is has, and another WNBA season is in the books, it's a good time to take inventory of the WNBA team in Chicago, the Sky.

What worked for the Sky this season, and what didn't as it fell just short of earning its first playoff berth in franchise history? Who should be welcomed back with open arms next season, and who might be shopped around long before then?

Here are some things to think about as we head into the WNBA's long, cold off-season:

What worked?

Forward Candice Dupree worked - and worked and worked and worked.

Dupree has been a rock since she arrived in Chicago four years ago as the Sky's first draft pick in franchise history. The former Temple star was one of the Sky's best players then and she's gotten only better.

This year, Dupree averaged a career-best 15.7 points and 7.9 rebounds per game en route to being named an Eastern Conference all-star starter, her third all-star selection. Plus, she became much more of a vocal and visible leader, exactly what the youthful Sky has been searching for since it opened up shop.

"I couldn't be any more proud of what Candice brought to the team this year," said Sky president Margaret Stender. "Both her numbers and her leadership - she did such a great job. Her teammates really rely on her and her consistency was certainly felt. Her leadership presence has really grown from her early years."

What worked (most of the time)?

Guard Jia Perkins also had nice season and was named an all-star, which is why the Sky rushed to re-sign her for another two years before the season ended.

Perkins finished the season averaging 13.2 points per game. The one downer was that she was averaging around 17 points per game for the first half of the season. Perkins' numbers dropped a bit after the all-star break, even dipping into the single digits for a few games.

Perkins needs to make sure she brings some Dupree-like consistency to Allstate Arena, the Sky's new home in 2010.

What didn't work?

Center Sylvia Fowles getting injured again this season definitely didn't work out so well for the Sky.

After sitting out much of the 2008 season with a knee injury, Fowles missed time this season because of ankle and shoulder problems and other maladies.

Overall, the 6-foot-6 Fowles was sidelined for 10 games, yet she still averaged a career-high 11.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game and was named an Eastern Conference all-star starter.

Based on her impressive resume and a 10-year run with the Chinese national team, Chen Nan was signed in the off-season to provide a suitable backup to Fowles in case of injury or foul trouble.

But Nan wasn't prepared for the physicality of the WNBA and went back to China shortly before the season ended. From then on, when Fowles was sidelined, the Sky rotated in Shyra Ely and Mistie Bass to fill the void. But it became apparent, particularly defensively, that the lack of a true center hurt the Sky from a size standpoint.

To reach the playoffs next season, the Sky needs Fowles to stay injury-free from start to finish. But, just in case, a couple of sizeable, quality backups need to be added to the roster.

"We don't think Sylvia is injury prone," said Sky coach and general manager Steven Key. "I think the things that put her out were bizarre situations. She goaltended the first shot in WNBA history, knocked into the goal support and hurt her knee. And this year, someone came out of nowhere and rolled into her ankle with .2 seconds left in the game. We're not worried about Sylvia, but we do still need a really good back-up center."

Safe - and sorry?

Obviously, the "Big Three" - Dupree, Perkins and Fowles - are going nowhere.

Ely, who provided the Sky with some great sparks this season, sharpshooter Erin Thorn and second-year forward Tamera Young, who was acquired via a trade halfway through the season and still has so much more to show, are likely safe.

Fringe players like Bass, K.B. Sharp and Katie Mattera could just as easily be kept as they could be dealt.

The big question of the off-season, besides what the Sky gets at backup center, will be what Key does at point guard.

Dominique Canty, who just finished her 11th season and will be 33 this summer, was supposed to mentor the Sky's first-round draft choice of 2009, Kristi Toliver. The plan was that Toliver would slowly take over at point guard and Canty, who had been signed to a one-year contract, could slip over to shooting guard, her more natural position, and be a backup to Perkins.

But while Toliver showed signs of brilliance with her shooting and scoring, her development as a point guard went a bit slower than expected. Toliver's playing time was inconsistent and that made some fans angry, angry to the point that a few called for Key to be fired on the team's message boards.

"The difficult thing with Kristi is that she's a very confident player and a very skilled player," said Key, whose contract was recently renewed. "But, I think she thought it was going to be easier than it was. We drafted someone who it's just going to take a little bit more time for her to become a point guard in this league.

"People can say what they want to say and write what they want to write, but they're probably going on what they see Kristi being capable of, which is scoring points. We're making decisions based on that, but also on the other things that weren't going on with her."

Next week: The Kristi Toliver situation.

pbabcock@dailyherald.com