Draft picks

The Chicago Sky finished second-to-last in the 2025 WNBA season with a 10-34 record. That would be great news, at least in terms of the upcoming draft, if the Sky hadn’t handed that pick to the Minnesota Lynx to move up one spot in the 2024 draft for Angel Reese. So instead of picking No. 2 overall in the 2025 WNBA Draft, Chicago drafts at No. 5, thanks to several other trades that gave them Connecticut’s first-round pick. Chicago still has its own second- and third-round picks, No. 17 and No. 32 overall, plus an extra second-rounder from New York, No. 26.

Under contract

Chicago’s biggest contracts belong to the “Skyscrapers,” their young, talented post duo of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Both are entering the third year of their unprotected rookie-scale contracts, for $82,399 and $85,873, respectively. Reese made big in-season improvements as she led the league in rebounding for the second year in a row. The 6’7 Cardoso showed strong flashes of her potential dominance, though sometimes inconsistent. Cardoso and Reese still haven’t found a rhythm as a duo, but the pair remains the primary building block for the future of the Sky.

Reese semi-publicly feuded with the team at the end of the 2025 WNBA season, resulting in a half-game suspension. The forward skipped exit interviews and put question marks around her return to the franchise. Reese recently said at USA Basketball camp, “I’m under contract, so yes, I plan on returning to the Sky. (I’m) continuing to talk to (coach) Tyler (Marsh) and building that relationship with (GM) Jeff (Pagliocca) and Tyler.” Reese has been blunt with her criticisms of the team, but there are currently no indications of her forcing a trade.

The Sky’s other two contracts belong to soon-to-be second-year players Hailey Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld, for $73,905 and $70,653, respectively. Over 29 games, Van Lith averaged 12.4 minutes per game, 3.5 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists, and did not shoot efficiently. Westbeld struggled for playing time early on but ended up averaging 13.6 minutes, 4.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 0.9 assists across 26 games. The Notre Dame forward shot 39.5% from three, better than her 33.9% from two. Both players’ contracts are unprotected and could be cut.

Contracts

  1. Kamilla Cardoso - $85,873

  2. Angel Reese - $82,399

  3. Hailey Van Lith - $73,905

  4. Maddy Westbeld - $70,653

Value of all protected contracts: $0

Value of all contracts: $312,830

Extension candidates

Before the 2026 WNBA season begins (pending CBA changes), Chicago has to determine if it will pick up the fourth-year team options on Cardoso and Reese’s contracts. If the team does not exercise its option, the players would become unrestricted free agents after the conclusion of their third season. The fourth-year option is fully protected. There is no good reason for the Sky not to activate both options and keep the star duo under team control on a low salary, even if just to trade them later.

Unrestricted free agents

Chicago has seven unrestricted free agents: Ariel Atkins, Courtney Vandersloot, Rebecca Allen, Kia Nurse, Michaela Onyenwere, Elizabeth Williams and Rachel Banham. Aside from Atkins, none of the other free agents showed much outside of brief flashes. Most should draw interest and find a role on a bench somewhere in 2026, but they won’t be on the top of anyone’s list. 

Vandersloot’s homecoming was cut short when she tore her ACL in June. Before the injury, the point guard was averaging 10.6 points per game and 5.3 assists, helping Chicago’s offense run with a modicum of efficiency. She will be 37 years old — and still rehabbing — by the time the 2026 season begins.

The loss of the veteran point guard also forced the Sky to rotate the role of primary ball-handler between Atkins, Allen, Nurse and Banham. None of them benefited from this role change, as all have primarily played as shooting guards.

Allen, who represented Australia at the Tokyo Olympics and won bronze at the 2022 FIBA World Cup, was acquired by the Sky in a four-team trade in February 2025. The 32-year-old played an inconsistent role throughout the season. Over 44 appearances, she started 17 games and averaged 5.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists.

Banham was traded to Chicago in July 2024, sending Marina Mabrey to Connecticut. Although Banham dealt with some inconsistency and inefficiency during the 2025 campaign, she still had a career-best season. The 5’10 guard made 44 appearances (33 starts), as she averaged 9.0 points, 2.7 assists and 1.7 rebounds in 24.6 minutes per game.

Nurse joined the Sky via free agency ahead of the 2025 season. The Canadian international started in just 18 of her 44 performances but averaged 7.2 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 21.9 minutes per game.

Onyenwere was traded to Chicago in 2024 but chose to re-sign for the 2025 season. Continuing the pattern, Onyenwere played an inconsistent role throughout 2025. The 26-year-old's production declined slightly during her second season in Chicago, as she averaged 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.9 minutes per game over 42 appearances (22 starts).

Williams, an experienced veteran, appeared in 43 games in 2025, making just 15 starts when Reese or Cardoso were injured. The 6’3 center’s production in most areas took a step back compared to her first two seasons with the Sky, as she averaged 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 21.1 minutes per game. 

Free agent spotlight

Atkins did a good amount of everything for Chicago when healthy. Over 34 games played, she averaged 13.1 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals. She shot 44.4% from the floor and 36.1% from three. Atkins is an Olympic gold medalist and WNBA Champion (2019, Washington Mystics) who, under the rules of the soon-expiring CBA, is eligible to be cored by the Sky. 

The core qualifying offer is a one-year, guaranteed, supermax contract, but once cored, the team and player are free to negotiate different terms. The salary could be anything from the minimum up to that supermax number, and the length could be anything from one to four years. Again, this is if the rule remains unchanged in the new CBA. A supermax salary could be overpaying for Atkins, whom they acquired in a trade that involved giving up the draft pick that became Sonia Citron. However, she still contributed significantly in a year broken up by injury and can be a starter on a championship team. Executing a sign-and-trade could be a good way to acquire more high-potential young players for the future. Or she could complement a star free agency signing, if Chicago could manage to attract one where they have previously failed.

Reserved free agents and unsigned draftees

Chicago has one reserved free agent in Sevgi Uzun. Uzun was added in late July to be another option at point guard, but her season bests were just six assists and 10 points (not in the same game). Reserved free agents (under the expiring CBA) are players whose contract expired but have three years of service or fewer in the WNBA. If they are sent a reserved qualifying offer within the designated period (last year, Jan. 11 - 20), then the team reserves exclusive negotiating rights with that player. Otherwise, they will become full unrestricted free agents. These qualifying offers are non-guaranteed money that teams can cut at a later date.

The Sky also has the rights to two unsigned draftees. Ajša Sivka was drafted No. 10 overall by Chicago in 2025, and Aicha Coulibaly was picked 10th in the second round (No. 22 overall) of the same draft. Sivka is a 6’4 forward who has featured for Slovenia in FIBA competitions and European leagues across Slovenia, Italy, France, and Spain. She is currently competing for Joventut in Spain, averaging nine points, 3.9 rebounds and one assist in 26.9 minutes per game. Still just 20 years old, it's possible she can contribute soon, but she’s more of a long-term project with potential. Coulibaly, a Mali international, played her college career at Auburn University (2020-2023) and Texas A&M (2023-2025).

Analysis

The Chicago Sky struggled mightily in 2025. They led the league in turnovers with 16.9 per game and tied the Connecticut Sun for the fewest points scored per game with just 75.8. They were also hampered by injuries, boasting an entirely healthy team for only six games throughout the entire season. So their in-game options were limited, between both injured starters and bench players, and their identity was hard to build.

Unfortunately for Chicago Sky fans, there isn’t exactly a bright future ahead unless the franchise makes big changes. General manager Jeff Pagliocca hasn’t made good trades in the past, and nothing we’ve seen provides a reason to expect that to change. They have struggled to attract free agents in recent years, and their results over the past year will not aid them in changing that.

Another unknown in Chicago is the status of their $38 million practice facility. The Sky have practiced at a community athletic center for years. A private professional facility could be influential in attracting free agents. It was originally expected to open in December 2025, but the opening date was later pushed back to April 2026. The Sky front office maintains that it will be open in time for the 2026 season.

Tyler Marsh is set for his second year as head coach. He looked overwhelmed at times in 2025, but maintains a reputation as a teacher with a particular talent for developing players and caring for them as individuals, not just as athletes. Despite the team’s difficulties in 2025, Sky players praised Marsh.

If the Sky can attract free agents, they have plenty of cap space to pay them. They only have a few players on rookie contracts and no protected contracts in 2025. The priority should be signing perimeter players, with Reese and Cardoso already established in the post. If Chicago’s front office follows the patterns of their past, they will swing big and hope they strike gold. 

Note: This will be updated accordingly with salary cap details and any relevant definitional changes when a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is signed.