Chicago Sky sign Linnae Harper, Chelsea Hopkins
By Ben Dull
The Chicago Sky have signed Linnae Harper and Chelsea Hopkins.
Harper, 5’8, went undrafted out of Ohio State. She spent each of the past two seasons playing alongside 2018 No. 2 overall pick Kelsey Mitchell for the Buckeyes. Harper earned All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Defense honors for the 2017-2018 season. The Chicago native started her college career at Kentucky then transferred after the ’14-’15 season.
Hopkins, a San Diego State alum, has logged 67 minutes in the WNBA. She signed on with the San Antonio Stars late in the 2013 season and appeared in four games. After attending training camp with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2017, she spent time with the New York Liberty and Atlanta Dream during the regular season.
The Liberty needed to add some depth while Epiphanny Prince and Kia Vaughn were away competing in EuroBasket. Hopkins signed a 7-day contract with the Dream later in the summer. Her chances of sticking around in Atlanta were impacted by the midseason trade that brought in two new players in exchange for one.
That now-infamous trade between Atlanta and Chicago sent Imani McGee-Stafford, Tamera Young and a 2018 second round pick to the Dream in exchange for Jordan Hooper and Atlanta’s 2018 first round pick.
Less than a year later, Hopkins will compete in a Chicago training camp alongside No. 3 overall pick Diamond DeShields — the player selected with that 2018 first round pick from Atlanta.
Update (4/30): The Sky opened training camp with 19 players on their training camp roster, as several will be arriving later on after wrapping up their seasons overseas. The team’s core of Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley and Stefanie Dolson will look to lead Chicago back to the postseason. Dolson (restricted free agent) and Quigley (designated core player) re-signed with the team this offseason.
Ameryst Alston signed a training camp contract earlier this offseason. Adut Bulgak, Astou Ndour, Jordan Hooper and Alex Montgomery will be competing up front and on the wing. Kahleah Copper, Amber Harris, Cheyenne Parker and Makayla Epps each spent time with the Sky last season.
Jamierra Faulkner returns in the backcourt after missing the 2017 season due to a torn ACL. Chicago’s 2018 rookie class (DeShields, No. 4 overall pick Gabby Williams, No. 28 overall pick Amarah Coleman) and 2017 No. 2 overall pick Alaina Coates will be in camp as well.