This is, at best, a mediocre team that seems destined to remain that way for the next few years. James Wade deserves blame, if not outright condemnation, for the Mabrey deal and subsequent flight from responsibility.
James Wade was horrible at the GM Position. He passed on drafting players like Arike Ogunbowale, and Naphessa Collier in 2019 in the first round, only to draft Katie Lou Samuelson. Then passed on Marina Mabrey in the second round of that draft, and drafted Chloe Jackson, only to give up a haul in a trade with Dallas for the same Marina Mabrey years later. James Wade busted out future draft picks of the Sky like a dumb beginner learning to play Blackjack. The future of the Sky looks bleak with the many dumb moves James Wade made. P.s. Rebekah Gardner was in the Sky training camp when Amber Stocks was Coach/GM, and Stocks cut her. So to say Wade found Gardner overseas is a bald face lie. Good luck to the Sky in reversing some of the damage James Wade left the Organization in, before he bailed, so he couldn't face the blame.
Richard, I can’t disagree with any of what you said, but it might be noted that Wade didn’t believe much in the draft, possibly because he wasn’t very good at it - I think the only player that he drafted who stuck with the team was Ruthie Hebard (who has not played much). I think Wade had faith in his ability to discover talent overseas (like Rebekah Gardner) and to attract free agents. Of course he then abandoned the team before allowing his vision (if he had one) to take its course.
If they didn't have the early injuries and didn't lose their coach, they would have been extremely competitive. There were several losses they probably would have won. They would have made the play-offs but not been the lowest seed and maybe would have made it to the next round. Even with Wade mortgaging the future, I agree that it wasn't that bad of a season considering.
I really hope they hire a new coach and separate the GM role.
This is, at best, a mediocre team that seems destined to remain that way for the next few years. James Wade deserves blame, if not outright condemnation, for the Mabrey deal and subsequent flight from responsibility.
James Wade was horrible at the GM Position. He passed on drafting players like Arike Ogunbowale, and Naphessa Collier in 2019 in the first round, only to draft Katie Lou Samuelson. Then passed on Marina Mabrey in the second round of that draft, and drafted Chloe Jackson, only to give up a haul in a trade with Dallas for the same Marina Mabrey years later. James Wade busted out future draft picks of the Sky like a dumb beginner learning to play Blackjack. The future of the Sky looks bleak with the many dumb moves James Wade made. P.s. Rebekah Gardner was in the Sky training camp when Amber Stocks was Coach/GM, and Stocks cut her. So to say Wade found Gardner overseas is a bald face lie. Good luck to the Sky in reversing some of the damage James Wade left the Organization in, before he bailed, so he couldn't face the blame.
Richard, I can’t disagree with any of what you said, but it might be noted that Wade didn’t believe much in the draft, possibly because he wasn’t very good at it - I think the only player that he drafted who stuck with the team was Ruthie Hebard (who has not played much). I think Wade had faith in his ability to discover talent overseas (like Rebekah Gardner) and to attract free agents. Of course he then abandoned the team before allowing his vision (if he had one) to take its course.
If they didn't have the early injuries and didn't lose their coach, they would have been extremely competitive. There were several losses they probably would have won. They would have made the play-offs but not been the lowest seed and maybe would have made it to the next round. Even with Wade mortgaging the future, I agree that it wasn't that bad of a season considering.
I really hope they hire a new coach and separate the GM role.