The Chicago Sky will take to Baton Rouge on Friday to face the Brazilian National Team in their first preseason matchup. The game will tip off at 9 p.m. EDT and be broadcast on ION. Chicago will have plenty to look forward to after a lengthy offseason break, including two new rookies on the training camp roster in Hailey Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld. The Sky last won their opening preseason game in 2016 but have performed well in their most recent preseason schedules.
What are some of the Sky's biggest questions before they take to the former home of Angel Reese later this week?
How will the Sky's young bigs look in their potential new roles?
Head coach Tyler Marsh said the frontcourt was an important part of what the Sky wanted to play in a Monday conference. He added he wanted Reese to be dynamic and for Kamilla Cardoso to be able to facilitate from the high and low post, which could open up a whole new set of opportunities for the two talented bigs. Chicago has been able to work with dynamic bigs like Candace Parker in the past, which ultimately led them to their first championship in 2021.
In an offense that will ultimately value spacing and creating opportunities for everyone, it will be key for the two bigs to adapt and fit alongside a new and improved backcourt while upping their own all-around games.
Who will be the engines of the Sky's new-look offense?
The Sky brought in a variety of new guards to boost their offense, including the formidable duo of Courtney Vandersloot and Ariel Atkins. The two are proven leaders: Vandersloot is a long-time Sky veteran, and Atkins was once an assistant coach at Michigan. Both of them and a new backup guard in Van Lith will be tasked with heading an offense in need of established leaders and reliable playmakers.
Reese and Cardoso could also be invaluable in Chicago's new-look system. Should the Sky get the hang of running parts of the offense through them, it won't be long before the duo can be two engines who can push Chicago to new heights.
Who will be the early candidates for the final backup spots?
The Sky seem to be set with most of their two-deep, especially if Van Lith can carve out her spot on the squad early on. Two new guards, Kia Nurse and Rebecca Allen, along with a skilled veteran in Elizabeth Williams, will all likely be locks for the opening-day roster. Chicago will still need to find its backup power forward this season along with players who can take up the final spots on the roster.
Both Moriah Jefferson and Rachel Banham will be on protected contracts this season. Still, the Sky will have plenty of guards to look out for on training camp contracts, including a long-time Australian veteran in Alex Wilson. Marsh said he will not make any cuts before Friday's game, which will give the Sky plenty of time to consider all of their options before the start of the season.