Will the Chicago Sky bat 1000 with their 2025 WNBA Draft picks?
Chicago hit home runs with two of their selections last season in Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. The duo strengthened the Sky where they needed it the most by adding size, strength, athleticism and a keen eye for bringing down boards. The two played a major role in providing a glimmer of hope during a transitional year for the 2021 champions, where they ended the regular season with their lowest win total since 2018.
While the Sky didn't take as many swings for the fences this year, they still lucked out with a few solid picks in their range.
Chicago took a gamble on Ajša Sivka, a youthful forward with three years of professional experience, with their first pick in the draft. Whether she earns a spot on the roster this year or not, the Slovenian forward can be a home-run selection if she can elevate the Sky's offense around Reese and Cardoso. They added two potential steals in Hailey Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld, who can add to Chicago's long-range attack if they can be the right fit with the Sky's budding bigs.
Will Texas A&M guard Aicha Coulibaly be the next steal for Chicago? How could she fit with what could be her new squad?
Aicha Coulibaly can be a decent defender for the Sky in Year 1
The Sky will need to up their defense heading into their 2025 campaign.
While they placed in the top-4 in the WNBA in opponent 3-point percentage, they still ranked near the bottom of the league in opponent field goal percentage. The Sky last held a top-4 defensive rating, or "the number of points allowed per 100 possessions by a team," in 2022. Guard Ariel Atkins, one of Chicago's newest additions, can help guide the Sky in the right direction after making five All-Defensive Teams with the Washington Mystics.
While Coulibaly won't solve every one of their defensive issues on Day 1, she can still be a valuable player on that end should she make the opening day roster.
Coulibaly's quickness and defensive talent allowed her to pick off just under two passes per game in her collegaite career. The two-time All-SEC selection has the size to guard multiple positions on the floor and can be fantastic on the fast break. Should she improve her long-range shooting, Coulibaly can be a much-needed fit for Chicago as they work to start their next chapter in Sky history.