In just her first season, Angel Reese took the WNBA by storm. She broke the single-season records for total rebounds and rebounds per game and was the first rookie to record a double-double in the WNBA All-Star Game among other things. Even though the Chicago Sky did not make the playoffs and had to deal with injuries, it was a great rookie season for Reese.
Now, the Chicago Sky must put the right players around Reese and her frontcourt partner, Kamilla Cardoso. Since both are still non-shooters, surrounding Reese and Cardoso with capable 3-point shooters should be the Sky’s priority. That is not all the team needs, however.
Fortunately, the Sky will have plenty of opportunities to improve the roster before the 2025 season. Several players out there would be great fits next to Reese.
5. Jewell Loyd
Jewell Loyd is one of the biggest names who will almost certainly be on the move this offseason. She just requested a trade from the Seattle Storm not too long ago, and Chicago could be a great destination for her.
Loyd could add another scorer to the mix. In the 2024 season, she averaged 19.7 points per game, showing no signs of slowing down at the age of 31. She should also be able to space the floor. Loyd is a 34.8 percent 3-point shooter for her career and shot over 35 percent on a high volume between 2020 and 2023. In the 2024 season, she only shot 27.4 percent from three, but it may just have been a down year from long-range for her.
On top of her offensive talent, Loyd would also offer the Sky important veteran leadership. She won two WNBA titles with the Seattle Storm not too long ago, made six All-Star teams, and led the league in scoring in 2023. Loyd knows what it takes to win, and that is exactly the kind of player you want to put around a young rising star like Angel Reese.
4. Kelsey Plum
Kelsey Plum has been a staple in Las Vegas for a few years now. She was a huge part of the Aces’ two championships and established herself as one of the top players in the league while playing in Las Vegas. This offseason, she will be a free agent, and the possibility that she will leave the Aces still exists. It may not be incredibly likely considering that the Aces still want to compete, but it could happen.
Plum would be a great fit in Chicago and could be just the player to pursue if the Sky want to make a big splash this offseason. The Sky need 3-point shooters around Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, and Plum is just that. She is a 39 percent 3-point shooter for her career and takes enough shots from long range to make defenses fear her.
Shooting threes is far from the only thing Plum does, though. She can also distribute the ball, get to the rim, and play tough defense. Her skill set would address all of the Sky’s needs. The only question is whether Plum would even consider leaving the Aces for a team that may not be ready to compete in 2025 yet. It seems unlikely, but that does not change the fact that she would be a great fit next to Reese and Cardoso.
3. Natisha Hiedeman
During the 2024 season, Natisha Hiedeman played the backup point guard for a Minnesota Lynx team that went all the way to Game 5 of the WNBA Finals. Despite her team’s success, returning to Minnesota might not be a priority for Hiedeman. She played the second-fewest minutes of her career and might look for a bigger role elsewhere.
If the Sky do not want to chase a big name quite yet but instead get quality role players, Hiedeman could be the right target for them. She would not take anything away from Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, as they continue to develop, but would play a role next to them.
Hiedeman can handle the ball but also technically space the floor. She may have only shot 28 percent from three on 2.1 attempts per game with the Lynx but has looked much better from long-range before that. Hiedeman is currently averaging 37.7 percent from three for her career and shot 41.1 percent on 4.7 attempts in 2022.
If she can rediscover her shooting touch, Natisha Hiedeman could be an underrated player to put around Reese as the Sky continue to improve and prepare for when they are ready to add a proven star to the mix.
2. Alysha Clark
After the Aces failed to get their third consecutive championship, fans might see some changes in Las Vegas. One of those changes may be Alysha Clark leaving in free agency if she decides to play another WNBA season. Clark is already 37 and could consider retiring, but it does not seem like she is done with the WNBA quite yet.
If the Sky want to get a veteran 3-and-D player with championship experience, they should keep an eye on Clark. Clark is averaging 38.3 percent shooting from three over 12 seasons, which would give the Sky a floor-spacer to put next to Reese. She can also defend, has experience playing around talented bigs, and knows exactly what she needs to do to win.
Clark would be a short-term answer for the Sky but that is not necessarily a bad thing. The Sky may still take a season or two until they can think about seriously competing, so putting a veteran around Reese and Cardoso to help them grow and develop could be just the right move for now.
1. Janelle Salaün
Janelle Salaün is one of the most talented, young European players not tied to a WNBA yet and could be a great fit with the Chicago Sky. Now that the Sky have Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, the plan should be to find other talented young pieces to develop alongside them. At 23, Salaün would fit the Sky’s timeline well, and she already has some experience playing professionally in Italy and on the French national team.
Salaün profiles as a versatile two-way player who can play a role next to pretty much everyone. She can guard several positions, is a strong rebounder, and has the potential to become a true three-level scorer.
Salaün’s 3-point shot has been rather up and down this season—in her last three games she went 0-4, 4-9, and 1-6 from three—but the potential is certainly there, and she is not afraid to shoot. In 2020, Salaün went undrafted, but by now, several WNBA teams are likely eying her. For the Sky, Salaün could be an interesting player to develop. She could back up Reese or, with a more consistent 3-point shot, even play next to her and Cardoso at the three.