WNBA Free Agency Primer: Chicago Sky rebuild on the way?

After falling short in the playoffs, where do the Chicago Sky go from here?

WNBA free agency opens up in February, with qualifying offers going out this week. The Chicago Sky have a very crucial free agency period ahead of them.

The Sky finished with a 26-10 record in 2022, tied with the Aces for best in the league. GM and coach James Wade pulled off one of the greatest off-seasons ever last year, adding Emma Meesseman, Rebekah Gardner, and Julie Allemand. The team entered the season aiming for back-to-back championships after winning in 2021.

Instead, they fell just short of their goal and lost to the Connecticut Sun in the semi-finals. Now, Wade has some exceptionally difficult decisions to make.

The Chicago Sky have only five players under contract going into WNBA free agency

Going into free agency, the Sky only have five players under contract: Kahleah Copper, Ruthy Hebard, Julie Allemand, Dana Evans, and Li Yueru.

Copper, the 2021 Finals MVP, is in the last year of her core designation. She had another excellent year for the Sky, and averaged career-highs in points, rebounds, and assists. Allemand served as the Sky’s primary ballhandler off the bench, and often shared the court with Belgian National Team teammate Meesseman.

Evans, a fan favorite, lit up the floor every time she played, but her minutes were sparse. Evans’ talent is apparent, and the Sky may have to rely on her more going forward.

Hebard was impacted most by the additions to the roster. Her minutes dipped to a career-low 9.7 minutes per game. Her performance suffered as a result, and her future is a bit of a question mark. Yueru was brought in via trade and appeared in 16 games. She only played about 5 minutes per game.

Copper is the only non-rookie contract on Chicago’s books going into free agency, leaving the Sky with $931,801 going into free agency.

To compete or not to compete: That is the question

The Sky have a total of six players that are free agents this year. Five of the six are unrestricted: Emma Meesseman, Candace Parker, Allie Quigley, Azurá Stevens, and Courtney Vandersloot. These players are able to negotiate with any WNBA team.

Parker’s decision will strongly impact the direction the Sky go in. Going into her 16th season, she has one thing on her mind: championships. She has announced a return to basketball, but not to a team. If Parker decides to stay close to home (sorry Chicago, she’s from Naperville), then the Sky will look to re-tool for another championship run in 2023. If not, they could pivot towards longer-term, sustained success.

Another key piece to determining Chicago’s direction will be Courtney Vandersloot. The Sky’s long-time floor general remained one of the best point guards in the league last year and seems to have more in the tank. There are rumors of her being Sue Bird’s replacement in Seattle, though. The Sky’s direction will alter the chances of that happening.

Alongside Vandersloot is her wife, Allie Quigley, who is still undecided on her future in the league. Quigley had a rough 2022 but has had a very successful career with the Sky, winning two Sixth Woman of the Year awards and making three All-Star teams. The 36-year-old Quigley did not play overseas this offseason to rest. After winning a championship in 2021, it would be understandable for Quigley to call it a career. If she returns to the game, it will be interesting to see if she stays in Chicago or not.

Stevens is a very intriguing free agent who will receive plenty of interest from teams across the league. The 6-foot-6 forward is a career 34% shooter from three, a smart defender, and has championship experience. At only 26 years old, Stevens has a chance to blossom further in the next few years and turn into a two-way menace. The Sky likely have a leg up over the competition, given that Stevens has spent the last three years with the team, and they should try to use it to their advantage if the price is right.

Meesseman is the biggest question mark, and not just for the Sky. With the league’s prioritization clause taking effect this season, Meesseman could stay overseas. If she doesn’t, and regardless of the direction they go, the Sky should try their hardest to retain her. She posted one of the best seasons in the league last year and fits alongside Copper well. She could reasonably help them compete next year, and down the line, if she signed a long-term deal. It ultimately depends on her decision, though.

The Sky’s lone reserved player is Rebekah Gardner. Reserved means Gardner is free to negotiate a contract with their own team with different terms from the qualifying offer, but they may not negotiate with any other WNBA teams, according to Her Hoop Stats. With the potential moves taking place around her, Gardner could be in line for a bigger role this year. She is a great fit in James Wade’s system and will likely be on his list of priorities.

The Sky will have options either way they go

If the Sky decide to run it back, Wade will have his work cut out for him to keep the core together. Each of the team’s unrestricted free agents made between $135,000 and $195,000 last year. If he is able to convince a few of them to take pay cuts, then it’s possible they run it back with the same group. If any of them sign elsewhere, they will be hard to replace. But, that would open up salary for the Sky to work with, whether it be keeping the others or building anew.

On the off chance the Sky look for external, max contract level players to revamp with, they could target Nneka Ogwumike. Ogwumike has a strong bond with Parker and showed last season that she still has plenty left in the tank. As LA enters a new era with a new regime, Ogwumike could be more obtainable than she’s ever been. This move would likely bring Chiney Ogwumike to Chicago as well, as she has stated her desire to play alongside her sister for the remainder of their careers. For the right price, the duo would be a strong pick-up for the Sky.

Chicago could also take a look at Sparks guard Brittney Sykes, who may command a higher-end salary this season as an unrestricted free agent. Sykes is one of the league’s premier defenders and ended 2022 on an offensive tear. She showcased improved shooting and playmaking down the stretch of last season, and her athleticism paired with Kahleah Copper’s would cause nightmares for other teams.

If the Sky opt for a quick rebuild, they could fill the roster with non-max players that fit well in Wade’s system.

Crystal Bradford signed with the team last year but was waived due to a foot injury. She played alongside Gardner in Spain this offseason and is healthy for 2023. In 2021, Bradford averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists for the Dream. She is a switchable forward who shoots well from deep, and can create looks for herself inside. Her connection to Wade and Gardner makes the fit even better.

Nia Coffey is another intriguing fit in Wade’s system. Coffey struggled with injury in 2022, but at full health has shown that she can be an excellent 3-and-D forward. She shot a scorching 41.7% from deep in 2021 and posted around one steal and one block per game while guarding multiple positions. Her positional versatility would serve Chicago well, especially in the wake of losing out on so much talent.

The Sky will be one of the most active teams in free agency, regardless of direction

The Sky have a large portion of their roster to fill out. How they will fill it is to be determined. James Wade is no stranger to being in tough positions, though, and he will almost certainly figure it out and be aggressive in his approach. The Sky may look very familiar next season. They may look exactly the same. Watching their roster take form will be one of the most captivating storylines in this free agency period.