We were entering a new era in Chicago for the Sky.
Fresh off an offseason full of change, the Sky want to turn the page to a new chapter in their book. One where they wish to replicate their success in 2021, winning a WNBA Championship, but this time with a different core and a new head coach.
Will the Chicago Sky soar in 2024, or will it be a long season in the Windy City?
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Chicago Sky Moves in the Offseason
The Sky have made some significant moves so far, indicating that the franchise is moving in a different direction and building towards the future in hopes of capturing another championship.
They hired former New York Liberty guard Teresa Weatherspoon as their head coach. After James Wade stepped down as coach, the Sky traded star Kahleah Copper to the Phoenix Mercury.
Chicago brought back guard Diamond DeShields from the Dallas Wings in free agency, who sat out last season due to injury. In the trade that sent Cooper to Phoenix, the Sky acquired Michaela Onyenwere and Brianna Turner.
The Chicago Sky struck gold in the WNBA draft by taking two of the best players in college basketball, South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso and LSU forward Angel Reese.
Turner and Onyenwere will definitely play a significant role for Chicago this summer. They are both veterans of the league and have played with future Hall of Farmers such as Brittney Griner and Diana Taurasi.
Diamond DeShields was a big signing for a young Sky team. Despite missing last season, she returns to the organization that drafted her along with championship experience, winning it all with the Chicago Sky in 2021 with Candace Parker and Kahleah Copper.
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Chicago Sky: New Kids in Town
Chicago Sky fans shouldn't expect too much winning next season as Teresa Weatherspoon gets acclimated as their new head coach. We'll also be seeing a learning curve period from their two high draft picks, Cardoso and Reese.
Cardoso has built a winning pedigree in South Carolina under head coach Dawn Staley, helping them become NCAA National Champions this year.
It's expected that Kamilla Cardoso will be one of the top rookies in this year's class. After a dominating season with the Gamecocks, Cardoso now has to learn to acclimate to the tougher WNBA competition.
Angel Reese has shown flashes of brilliance during her time with the LSU Tigers and brings a fighter mentality to Chicago in her rookie season, where she will be competing for one of the league's 144 roster spots.
"It's a mindset, just being able to come in here and not make any excuses because everybody in here is just fighting to be on a team and just fighting for greatness," Reese told CBS Chicago.
"Coming in here, I didn't have the mindset of just being tired. I had the mindset of just going to work every single day and figuring everything else out later. I'm just happy to be here in this moment," she added.
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