The Chicago Sky will have plenty of important decisions to make during this year's offseason.
The Sky must hold on to their more reliable veteran options to pair with their growing roster of the future. Chicago will have center Elizabeth Williams, a decade-long WNBA veteran with a knack for defense, under contract heading into this year's free agency period. It will have a few veteran players to re-sign, including forward Michaela Onyenwere and guard Diamond DeShields.
Chicago made some notable moves in the o2024 ffseason to jumpstart a youth movement and the next chapter in Sky basketball. They traded guard Kahleah Copper to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for the No. 3 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft. They sent center Li Yueru and guard Julie Allemand to Los Angeles in exchange for the No. 8 pick. They will soon have to repeat the process of strengthening their future through the draft and adding players that have a shot at elevating their bright young talent next season.
The Sky draft at least one of their guards of the future
The Sky will have two first-rounders in the 2024 WNBA Draft. They will have an assortment of guards and forwards to choose from, but may have to take a swing for the fences if they want to draft a potential player of the future at the three. Chicago will need a young guard tandem who can do it all with an emphasis on scoring and shooting as they look to add a pair of young players with center Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese.
The Sky should consider drafting Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles at No. 3. They will have the opportunity to take UConn guard Azzi Fudd or Fighting Irish guard Sonia Citron if she is taken by the Los Angeles Sparks at No. 2. Fudd showed strong scoring signs in wins over Louisville and Old Miss. She scored 18 points in both games and hit four of her seven 3-point shots against the Cardinals.
Chicago could try its hand at selecting a college star near the end of the first round to pair with their No. 3 pick. Both NC State guard Saniya Rivers and Maryland guard Shyanne Sellers have plenty of size at the guard spots, but could improve their consistency from long range.
The Sky will sign at least one scoring forward, guard option
With six players under contract and a few more as free agents, Chicago will have plenty of room to add supplementary or stopgap players to their roster to pair with their young stars.
The Sky traded a few of their key scorers in Copper and guard Marina Mabrey before and during the 2024 season, which led to a few struggling scoring months to round out last year's campaign. Chicago took last place in the league in August and September with scoring averages of 75.6 and 73.9 points per game, respectively.
The Sky must add scorers and shooters at the one, two and three spots to lift an offense that ended last season with an average of 77.4 points per game. Keeping players like guard Chennedy Carter, who was Chicago's top scorer during its transitional season, will also be of utmost importance this offseason. If the Sky can add sizeable wings who can score and create their own opportunities, they can be one step further on their journey back to the top of the WNBA landscape.