The NCAA's conference tournaments have opened a small window into the potential of some of the best prospects Chicago can look out for in this year's draft.
Sky head coach Tyler Marsh tweeted he was in attendance for the ACC tournament in North Carolina on Friday, which saw plenty of exciting games lead to a finals matchup between NC State and Duke on Sunday. Sky assistant Courtney Paris was in the building for a game between LSU and Texas. Longhorns sophomore forward Madison Booker put on a scoring performance to remember as she willed Texas to a 56-49 win over the Tigers with 25 points in 39 minutes of play.
The Sky still have just over one month to figure out who to select in what could be a deep 2025 WNBA Draft class. They opted to put their faith in more veteran experience and what could be a high selection in a 2026 first-round pick swap with the Connecticut Sun. Still, Chicago can find plenty of value with their remaining trio of draft selections, including two teammates who could guide NC State to its fourth ACC title in six years.
Aziaha James
James ended Saturday's win over North Carolina with 19 points in 31 minutes. Her toughness paved the way to nine rebounds, including four on the offensive end, as she played a key role in the Wolfpack winning the battle on the boards. The 5-foot-9 guard has had a pair of solid outings for the Wolfpack in the ACC tournament, including a quarterfinals matchup against Georgia Tech that saw her hit the game-winning free throws.
Though she has been inefficient in her last few games, her scoring and shooting could make her a solid player to look out for if she falls to the Sky in the second round. The two-time All-ACC First Team selection could join a talented two guard group that features a few former All-Stars. She can make a difference if she can lift a Sky offense in need of players who can create shots for themselves.
Saniya Rivers
Rivers finished Saturday's win with eight points, eight rebounds and two assists. She proved to be a solid rebounder and an active defender, which showed she could be a talented option despite an inefficient night of her own. The 6-foot-1 guard was effective against her matchups on defense, which led to a steal and two turnovers.
Pairing the duo of Rivers and James with a high-caliber forward could be one of many directions the Sky can go in during this year's draft. Rivers's size, defense and athletic ability can make her a fantastic pairing with the Sky's big duo of forward Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Her playmaking can only add to Chicago's new-look guard group that features Courtney Vandersloot, who has etched her place in WNBA history as one of its best passers throughout her 14-year career.