Chicago Sky Season Preview

With all of the new faces, what can we expect from the Sky this season?

May 19, 2023

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The Chicago Sky experienced several changes in the offseason, taking them from a championship-caliber squad to a franchise in rebuilding mode. Let’s start off with what happened during free agency.

Free agency

The Sky returned less than one-third of their offense from last season, losing many of their key players during free agency including Candace Parker, Allie Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot, Emma Meesseman, and Azurá Stevens. Parker, Vandersloot, and Stevens signed with Las Vegas, New York, and Los Angeles, respectively. Quigley chose to sit out this season, and Meesseman’s free agency decision still hangs in the air. Additionally, Julie Allemand is on a full suspension. Kahleah Copper is the only starter from last year’s squad returning to the roster.

On the bright side, all of this activity opened up several roster spots. The Sky signed Courtney Williams and acquired Marina Mabrey, the latter coming via a four-team trade that also sent a 2024 second-round pick Chicago’s way. The Sky also signed Alanna Smith and re-signed 2022 WNBA All-Rookie Team member Rebekah Gardner.

On top of signing Williams and acquiring Mabrey, Sky head coach and general manager James Wade signed Isabelle Harrison. Unfortunately per the Chicago Sun-Times, she will be out with an undisclosed injury. Whether or not she’s awaiting surgery for a meniscus repair, as Harrison’s mother tweeted, is unclear. However, there is no set timeline for her return. Fan favorite Astou Ndour returns but is sitting out this season. They also signed Elizabeth Williams and Kristine Anigwe. Williams played 14.9 minutes per game for the Washington Mystics last season and, with so much roster turnover, will likely get an opportunity to extend her playing time.

Draft and training camp

The Chicago Sky selected Virginia Tech guard Kayana Traylor with the No. 23 pick and Middle Tennessee forward Kseniya Malashka with the No. 35 overall pick. They signed Angel Baker, Morgan Bertsch, Feyonda Fitzgerald and Anneli Maley to training camp contracts. Of all the players drafted or signed to training camp contracts, only Bertsch made the final roster. Additionally, Li Yueru is out for the 2023 season due to a non-WNBA injury.

Per our own Richard Cohen, the Sky set their 12-player roster, but 13 names are listed as Ruthy Hebard is out due to pregnancy and with the WNBA’s pregnancy/childbirth exception, there can be 13 players listed.

The Chicago Sky won the first-ever WNBA Canada Preseason Game. They defeated the Minnesota Lynx by a final score of 82-74 in front of a sellout crowd of 19,923 fans. Photo courtesy of Aneela Khan.

Marina Mabrey and Courtney Williams

With the acquisition of Mabrey and signing of Williams, it will be interesting to see how these two guards can come together alongside Copper to form a star trio. Williams can play both point guard and shooting guard, and Marina Mabrey is an excellent shooting guard. How these two can combine their skills together to help elevate the Sky is something to keep an eye on. And the extent to which they can share the offensive load with Copper will go a long way toward determining Chicago’s fortunes this season.

The progression of Dana Evans

Dana Evans is entering her third season and has a major opportunity to shine with the departure of several of Chicago’s past stars. She now has a chance to elevate her game and break into the starting lineup at point guard. Her progression this season will be key, as the Sky will now have to move forward from the days of Courtney Vandersloot.

Expectations

It will take some time for the roster to come together as the team is on a rebuild, but if the roster can gel as the season progresses, I see Chicago competing for one of the final playoff spots.