Latest ESPN mock draft proposes Chicago Sky make somewhat risky pick
By Elaine Blum
The Chicago Sky are set to pick third overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft. After the 2024 season, it is pretty clear what the Sky need, especially if Chennedy Carter returns in free agency. 3-point shooting is the most important thing the Sky can give Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso as they hopefully develop into one of the league’s better frontcourts.
The Chicago Sky ranked last in 3-point attempts per game last season, taking only 14.9–four less than the team right above them in the rankings—and only converted 32.3 percent of those attempts. That is not enough to compete with some of the best teams in the league, and the Sky need to give Reese and Cardoso enough space to work with until one or both of them add a serviceable 3-point shot to their game.
Nevertheless, most mock drafts have the Sky selecting Olivia Miles with the third overall pick. She is shooting the three incredibly well at the moment but has not been a consistent 3-point shooter over her college career. ESPN’s post-lottery mock draft has the Sky going in a different direction.
Michael Voepel suggested the Sky take Azzi Fudd third overall.
Fudd would be a great fit theoretically, but comes with significant risks
First of all, as Voepel makes clear, Fudd still has a year of college eligibility left after the 2024-25 season and might not even declare for the draft. If she does, she gives teams the option to draft a potentially great 3-point shooter.
That is exactly what the Sky need. After they traded Marina Mabrey, their five most productive players who played at least 20 games were Chennedy Carter, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, Dana Evans, and Michaela Onyenwere. Out of that group, only Evans (37.6 percent) and Michaela Onyenwere (36.8 percent) shot over 35 percent from three and did not even do so at a great volume.
The Sky will need players who can consistently hit threes and take more than two shots a game. Plus, Evans may be looking for a new team in free agency after she initiated trade talks to get her out of Chicago during the 2024 season.
So, drafting a good 3-point shooter would definitely address one of the Sky’s biggest needs. The only problem is that Fudd comes with some serious injury concerns. Over three seasons, she has only played 42 games and is yet to suit up for the 2024-25 season.
If the Sky drafted her, they would have to gamble on several healthy seasons. Unless they can make some significant moves during free agency, the Sky need this pick to work out. They traded a 2026 first-round pick swap to the Minnesota Lynx to secure Angel Reese in the last draft and risk losing their lottery pick if they do not make the playoffs in 2025.