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Chicago Sky land Sydney Colson, re-sign Dolson, Quigley and Vandersloot

By Nicholas Niendorf

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 02: Sydney Colson #51 of the San Antonio Stars brings ball up the court against the Los Angeles Sparks in a WNBA game at Staples Center on July 2, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 02: Sydney Colson #51 of the San Antonio Stars brings ball up the court against the Los Angeles Sparks in a WNBA game at Staples Center on July 2, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Chicago’s quiet free agency heated up on Thursday with a series of signings

The Chicago Sky announced the signing of former Las Vegas Aces point guard Sydney Colson on Thursday. The Sky have also re-signed the starting trio of Stefanie Dolson, Allie Quigley and Courtney Vandersloot, per Chicago Sun Times reporter Madeline Kenney.

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Colson was the No. 16 pick in the 2011 WNBA draft and spent last season as the backup point guard for the Aces. She averaged 3.3 points and 1.8 assists in 11.5 minutes per game behind the backcourt tandem of Kelsey Plum and Jackie Young. She’ll come in on a contract worth $70,000* if she makes the team — a training camp invite, High Post Hoops has learned.

“Sydney has been a winner on every team she has been on,” Sky general manager James Wade said in a press release. “We are looking forward to having another dynamic, change-of-pace point guard. Even more so, we’re confident she will be a great addition to our locker room.”

The addition of Colson will improve Chicago’s defense off the bench and give Wade another quick guard to run the break when Vandersloot sits. It also may signal the end of Jamierra Faulkner’s tenure with the Sky. Faulkner has struggled with knee injuries for most of her professional career and only played 5.5 minutes a game in 13 games last season.

Quigley and Vandersloot returning to Chicago was widely expected around the league, as the married couple own real estate in the area and had indicated a desire to stay with the Sky. The details of their contracts are still not available, but it would be no surprise if both All-Stars signed max deals.

Chicago’s sign-and-trade deal to send Astou Ndour to the Dallas Wings on Wednesday paved the way for Dolson’s return. With Jantel Lavender and Cheyenne Parker on the roster, it would have made little sense to clear cap to return both Dolson and Ndour. Dolson dealt with foul trouble all season last year, but averaged 9.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and a block, all while sporting the eight-best true-shooting percentage in the league.

Assuming Dolson, Quigley and Vandersloot all received max or near-max contracts, and depending on the size of the deal Colson signed, Wade may need to get crafty to re-sign restricted free agent Kahleah Copper. Dealing this year’s first round pick would allow Chicago to shed some cap, but the Sky would still be at the mercy of the free agency market.

* A previous version of this story incorrectly said Sydney Colson would make $68,000 this season. High Post Hoops regrets the error.

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