The Chicago Sky ended their 2024 campaign with a record of 13-27, putting them in last place in the Eastern Conference standings and in 10th place in the WNBA. They missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2018 season, when a mix of veteran and youthful options led the Sky through a transitional year with head coach Amber Stocks. Chicago would reveal a new logo and color pallet a few months after the end of their 2018 schedule, marking a new era in Sky basketball that saw the hiring of head coach James Wade and an eventual championship in 2021.
But through it all, from seeing plenty of new faces to bringing aboard their third head coach in two years, the Sky still managed to keep things fun in the 2024 season.
They saw historic highs in what would ultimately be another transitional year for the Windy City franchise. The team played in the most-watched WNBA game in 23 years when they faced off against a midwestern rival in the Indiana Fever in June. Rookie forward Angel Reese broke multiple rebounding records during her first season in sky blue. Chicago nearly lived up to rookie center Kamilla Cardoso's bet that no one would be able to rebound against the rebuilding Sky by leading the league in total and offensive rebounds.
Draft an all-around guard
The Sky will have plenty to look forward to in the next few WNBA Drafts.
Chicago will hold two first-rounders, including the No. 3 pick, in the upcoming 2025 draft. The Sky gained a first-round pick from the Phoenix Mercury in the February trade that sent guard Kahleah Copper to the three-time WNBA champions. The deal included a second-round pick swap in 2026. The Sky took their big duo of the future with Reese and Cardoso with their two first-rounders of last year's draft, giving them plenty of flexibility in upcoming drafts that feature a variety of guard and wing options to choose from.
This year will be no different.
From UConn guard Azzi Fudd, to an assortment of SEC and ACC stars, Chicago could leave the 2025 draft their backcourt duo of the future should the stars align. A pair of Notre Dame guards in Olivia Miles and Sonia Citron can fill the Sky's need for solidified starters at the one and the two. Chicago will prioritize shooting in this year's draft, but could benefit from adding guards who can do a little bit of everything and empower their budding bigs in the paint.
Round out the coaching staff with more player development assistants
The Sky must continue to fill out their coaching staff with coaches who have player development experience as they continue their youth movement for the next few years.
Chicago hired veteran assistant Tyler Marsh as their head coach last month. He brings plenty of experience as a player development coach with the Toronto Raptors and the NBA G League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers. They added Courtney Paris, who built a legendary career at Oklahoma before spending time in the WNBA, as an assistant last week. Paris was an assistant on Dallas Wings squads that featured a former top-3 pick in center Teaira McCowan, making her a potentially-solid fit in building up Chicago's young frontcourt.
Re-sign Chennedy Carter
Even if it is just for one more year, Carter can be an important piece on a rebuilding Sky squad in need of extra scoring.
Carter, a former first-round pick by the Atlanta Dream, revitalized her WNBA career with her scoring role on the Sky. She unleashed her scoring potential in the month of July, where she averaged just over 23 points per game on an even 50% from the floor as Chicago faced some of the league's top contenders. Her scoring streak peaked in a win over the Las Vegas Aces, where she used her skill as a downhill scorer to notch 34 points at Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Sign shooting wings
The Sky have over $920,000 in cap space heading into the 2025 free agency period, far ahead of the Mercury for the No. 3 spot in the WNBA, according to Spotrac. Chicago has six open spaces and six players under contract. The Sky will have a number of free agents heading into 2025, including three unrestricted free agents in forward Isabelle Harrison, guard Diamond DeShields and forward Brianna Turner.
Chicago is in need of shooting options to pair alongside their bigs under contract. Guard Rachel Banham saw her long-range shooting splits improve after she joined the Sky in a July trade. Chicago hit a steady 35.9% of their shots from the perimeter in their final nine games of the WNBA season, but ended the year with a ninth-place spot in the league in 3-point percentage. Having more efficient shooters on the perimeter can open up the offense around Cardoso and Reese after they ended last season at last place in the league with 14.9 3-point attempts per game.