The Unsung Hero Award will shine a light on those on who had a positive impact during the Sky's 2024 campaign, but were not widely recognized for their contributions on the court.
It would ultimately be the unsung heroes who would push Chicago into playoff contention after an eventful 2023 season that saw a variety of new faces and an interim head coach. This season, from seasoned starters to newbies, Chicago's unsung heroes ultimately provided the glue the team needed as they looked to spark a new chapter in the Sky's history.
Winner: Michaela Onyenwere
It may not have always shown up on the box score, but Onyenwere filled an important role at the small forward for a Sky squad that had lost guard Marina Mabrey that July and guard Kahleah Copper the offseason before.
Onyenwere finished last season with averages of 6.6 points and one assist per game in her first season with Chicago. The Sky newcomer took some time to showcase her scoring potential, but started to consistently score in double-digits once she took up a full-time starting role in August.
The 6-foot forward scored 10 points or more in seven-straight games during a solid stretch between August and September. She hit 60% of her shots or more in four-straight games, including in a win over the Los Angeles Sparks that saw her make five of her seven tries from the floor. She played in all 40 minutes of a September loss to the Phoenix Mercury, where she logged 18 points and nine rebounds on the Sky's home court.
"I said from day one: most versatile player," then-Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon said in a September conference. "She waited her turn, now she's taking advantage of it.
She's doing a heck of a job for us in many areas. You see tonight, she played the four, the three, the two, the five. She's done a heck of a job."
Runners-Up: Lindsay Allen, Rachel Banham
Banham and Allen each showcase their own specialties on offense for the Sky.
Allen's passing potential allowed her to be effective all across the court even on off shooting nights. She looked savvy when finding teammates on quick dump-offs at the perimeter and sealing scores in transition with pinpoint passes. Her halfcourt and transition passing proved to be invaluable for a Sky squad near the bottom of the league in assists per game. Allen took second place on the Sky with 3.9 assists per game. She logged seven assists or more on four occasions last season.
Banham proved to be one of the Sky's more prolific perimeter shooters during her limited time in Chicago. She made about 38% of her 4.8 3-point attempts per game for the Sky, peaking at a red-hot night from the arc in September that saw her hit six of her 10 long-range shots. Banham had proven she could be a reliable shooter even before she played for the Sky. She tied the Connecticut Sun's franchise record in 3-pointers made when she knocked down eight 3-pointers in a July win over the Mercury.