The Chicago Sky suffered a second blowout loss Thursday night when the team went down to the New York Liberty 99-74, days after the Indiana Fever decimated them 93-58. There are a lot of things that might explain why the Sky performed so badly against the defending champions (therein lies one of them), but there's one thing that is becoming quite clear: if the team keeps performing like this, the Minnesota Lynx stand to make a major gain next year.
In April the Lynx announced the team had traded its No. 11 overall pick in this year's draft for the Sky's first-round pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. It's currently unclear what the team draft order will be, but Lauren Betts is predicted to be a top 3 draft pick — which gives the Lynx a real chance of adding a piece to their puzzle that could benefit the team for years to come.
2026 WNBA Draft predictions
It's entirely too early to begin predicting who will be drafted in 2026 and in what order, but right now — admittedly months before the collegiate season even begins — it's safe to assume Betts, Olivia Miles, and Azzi Fudd are locks for the top spots (and not necessarily in that order). And though there's been speculation Betts could end up on the Golden State Valkyries, absolutely nothing is set in stone.
The idea of Betts in San Francisco definitely makes sense. Betts, who was draft-eligible in 2025 due to her birthday, opted to skip the WNBA Draft this year and will instead play one season with her sister at UCLA before she graduates and goes pro. Being drafted to Golden State would keep her in California, where she already has a large fan base, and she would add size to a team that certainly needs it.
But the idea of Betts joining the Minnesota Lynx, a team that's filled to the brim with shooters but also lacking serious size, is intriguing (and formidable, if you're an opposing team). Betts and Napheesa Collier in the Lynx's frontcourt would be a dynamic, balanced pairing that would make the team nearly unstoppable.
What happened during the Sky/Liberty game
The match between the Sky and Liberty was tough for Chicago's fans, but context is key: the Liberty are the defending champions of the WNBA, and just about every other team will likely have a tough battle against them this year. Having said that, the Sky were truly just not a match for the Liberty's scoring prowess, especially that of Jonquel Jones, Sabrina Ionescu, and Breanna Stewart. Angel Reese struggled throughout the night, repeatedly missing layups and appearing to refuse to pass the ball out when she needed to the most. The Sky has a lot to work on before their next game against the Sparks — and whether or not they manage to do so could end up making all the difference for the Lynx.