For the first time in what feels like forever, WNBA fans will witness the creation of a new franchise.
The WNBA's expansion draft will kick off on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ET. The draft will be broadcast on ESPN. The Golden State Valkyries, the league's newest team, will be able to select one player from each of the other WNBA franchises. Each team will be able to protect up to six players, according to a Tuesday release from Golden State. It also holds the No. 5, 17 and 30 picks in this year's WNBA draft.
The Sky underwent an expansion draft of their own in late 2005. They brought in players from the then-Detroit Shock, Houston Comets and more before selecting Temple guard Candice Dupree in the 2006 WNBA Draft. Chicago would add a handful of future All-Stars, including a local standout in guard Allie Quigley, over the next few years before logging its first winning season and playoff appearance in 2013.
While the Sky will have plenty of work to do to reshape their roster in the offseason, the important decisions of who to protect during this year's expansion draft can make a major difference in who to pair with a new head coach in Tyler Marsh.
The Valkyries will have plenty of potential options to choose from when assembling their initial roster, giving new head coach Natalie Nakase plenty of firepower to work with heading into the franchise's first season. Chicago has six players under contract heading into Friday's expansion draft, according to Spotrac. Guard Chennedy Carter, forward Michaela Onyenwere and guard Dana Evans are listed as restricted free agents. Forwards Isabelle Harrison and Brianna Turner, along with guard Diamond DeShields, are listed as unrestricted free agents.
Angel Reese
Reese, who was selected with the No. 7 pick in last year's draft, was the Sky's clear leader in rebounds per game with 13.1. The 22-year-old logged 26 double-doubles in her 34 games played, earning as many as 22 rebounds in a two-point loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Her talent on the defensive end led her to average 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks per game. Reese would become the first player to record a double-double in the WNBA All-Star game as Team WNBA defeated Team USA in an eight-point victory.
The Sky must hold on to their up-and-coming talent as they build out their own roster of the future. With Marsh, who was the Head of Player Development during his time with the Aces, establishing the right gameplan around Chicago's high-potential options will be more important than ever for a Sky franchise looking to take back its place in the WNBA playoffs. Reese's defensive talent will make her an important building block on a Sky squad that ended last year's regular season with a defensive rating of 103.5, putting them behind the Washington Mystics at eighth place in the WNBA.
Kamilla Cardoso
Cardoso joined Reese on the All-Rookie squad after putting up averages of 9.8 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. She started in 29 of her 32 games played, showcasing her impact on the boards as she hauled down three offensive rebounds per game. She saw improvement in her scoring, rebounding, blocks and assists per game after the All-Star break. The former South Carolina star ultimately showed off her defensive potential with two blocks per game in the month of September.
Like Reese, Cardoso will likely play a crucial role in ensuring the Sky have a solid foundation for the future. Both her and Reece's contributions on the boards paved the way for Chicago to tie with the New York Liberty as the league's top rebounding team during the regular season. Pairing her with Reese and what could be another pair of first-round selections in May will be of utmost importance in guiding the Sky back into playoff contention and beyond.
Chennedy Carter
Carter, a former top-5 selection in the 2020 WNBA Draft, was the Sky's leading scorer with 17.5 points per game last year. She saw her first start of the season in an eight-point June loss to the Indiana Fever. The former All-Rookie team selection scored 20 points or more on 11 occasions last year, highlighted by season-high 34 points in a July win over the Las Vegas Aces. She averaged a career-high 48.7% from the floor. Carter took fourth place in 2024 Most Improved Player voting, taking a spot ahead of a former Sky big in Minnesota Lynx forward Alanna Smith with three total votes.
Chicago will be in need of scoring and shooting options heading into their 2025 campaign. It traded guard Marina Mabrey, who averaged just below 38% from the 3-point line last year, to the Connecticut Sun in a July trade. Guard Kahleah Copper, the Sky's leading scorer during the 2023 season, was sent to the Phoenix Mercury five months before. Carter may need to improve her shooting from beyond the arc, but her scoring ability will be more than welcome for the time being on a squad that finished second-to-last in the WNBA with an average of 77.4 points per game.
Elizabeth Williams
Williams ended the season with averages of 10 points and seven rebounds per game. The one-time All-Star averaged a team-leading 1.7 blocks per game last season. She earned as many as five blocks in a May win over the Dallas Wings, adding five steals in what would be a defensive showcase for the Sky. Chicago signed her to a contract extension in September, solidifying a solid defensive center rotation through the 2025 season. She earned high praise from Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca, who called her an "inspiring, authentic leader" in a September release.
"We can’t wait to see her back on the court healthy again, while continuing to lead by example as an essential piece of the Sky organization,” Pagliocca said in September.
Chicago must keep a veteran who has proven to be a noteworthy option on and off the court. The two-time All-Defensive selection and 2023 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award winner can continue to add a much-needed veteran presence on a blossoming Sky squad. Should she continue to keep up her excellence on the interior, Williams will be a key piece for Chicago as it navigates through its transitional period under Marsh.