The Chicago Sky' s 2024 season ended with a 13-27 record, placing them 10th in the WNBA and marking their first playoff miss since 2018. Despite being competitive at full strength, the Sky were swarmed by injuries, key roster moves, and personnel changes that the organization will look to fix in the offseason.
Chicago's mid-season challenges saw Marina Mabrey, a 46 percent 3-point shooter, get traded to the Connecticut Sun for Moriah Jefferson and Rachel Banham in July. The seven-year veteran court general not only played the most minutes on the team, but she was the only Sky player to attempt more than two threes per game.
Chennedy Carter's late-season illness down the stretch also saw the Sky without their best scorer for seven games. The former No. 4 overall pick battled COVID-19 and missed four games in a row, including matchups against the Washington Mystics and the Indiana Fever.
Angel Reese' s season-ending wrist injury after a September matchup against the Los Angeles Sparks further derailed their playoff hopes. The first-year All-Star was one of the most impactful players on the team, breaking double-double records and becoming Chicago's only double-figure rebounder.
Reese was only surpassed by league MVP A’ja Wilson on the boards , with her dominant presence on the court giving Chicago a foundational piece to build around. First-year head coach Teresa Weatherspoon also had moments of promise but was shockingly let go at the end of the year , both confusing and hurting Reese and Sky fans.
Looking ahead, Chicago faces a critical offseason. The Sky have several key free agents to deal with, including unrestricted free agents Isabelle Harrison, Brianna Turner, and Diamond DeShields.
Carter, Michaela Onyenwere, and Dana Evans are restricted free agents. Keeping or replacing these players will be crucial to improving next season. Regarding draft capital, Chicago holds Connecticut's first-round pick from the Mabrey trade. Dallas can swap first-rounders, leaving the Sky with minimal odds of landing the top pick despite having a technical 17.8 percent chance in the lottery.
Chicago has $923,625 cap space, the third highest in the league behind the Sun and the Golden State Valkyries, who will debut next season. Money will be no issue to acquire any players willing to build with Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and a brand new coach.
To reach contention in the competitive Eastern Conference, the Sky must address their 3-point shooting, re-signing Carter, and ensure their young core continues to develop despite a coaching change. Here are some free agents and their 2024 numbers who could come into the team and immediately improve them in areas of need.
Kelsey Mitchell: Guard [Indiana Fever]
- Age: 28
- Points per game: 19.2
- Rebounds per game: 1.8
- Assists per game : 1.8
Mitchell is easily the best scoring guard available as an unrestricted free agent, scoring at least 20 points in seven games in a row this season and scoring a career-high 36 points against the Dallas Wings in September. The Fever guard voiced her excitement to test free agency after spending her entire seven-year career in Indiana, and a move to the Sky could put Mitchell in rare company as a teammate of both Caitlin Clark and Reese during her career.
Sami Whitcomb: Guard [Seattle Storm]
- Age: 36
- Points per game: 5.0
- Rebounds per game: 1.9
- Assists per game: 1.6
While Whitcomb is coming off the lowest percentage of her career from distance, the career 36 percent shooter from beyond the arc could add just the shooting Chicago needs to stretch the floor. With two WNBA titles and eight years of experience under her belt, Whitcomb could also serve as a veteran presence for a team that's building a new locker room culture.
Aerial Powers: Guard [Atlanta Dream]
- Age: 28
- Points per game: 8.6
- Rebounds per game: 3.3
- Assists per game: 1.4
Powers is a proven bucket-getter who has averaged double figures in six out of her ten seasons in the W. She shot 39 percent from 3 and isn't shy to take on defenders in isolation in an attempt to score in bunches. Powers has a record of impactful performances outside of worrying injuries, and with Reese and Cardoso protecting the rim, there will be plenty of shots to go around.
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