The Chicago Sky made some of the most surprising — and potentially thrilling — roster changes of any team in the WNBA during free agency. In fact, the team's new roster may finally restore the Sky to the level of play that helped the team win a championship back in 2021, and that's exactly what fans have been hoping for ever since.
It might seem like the team's last championship wasn't that long ago, but five years is a long time in the WNBA. The team has since changed coaches and rosters quite a few times, and perhaps landed on something that can work (at least for this season).
The Sky's changes will take time to understand
The Sky kicked off free agency by announcing Angel Reese, who will be playing her third season in the WNBA this year, had been traded to the Atlanta Dream. That deal appears to have been positively received by everyone involved, and also opened up more possibilities for the Sky roster.
Chicago ultimately added seven-time All Star Skylar Diggins, Azura Stevens, Rachel Banham, Elizabeth Williams, Jacy Sheldon, and DiJonai Carrington to the team. Stevens, who was drafted as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 draft by the Dallas Wings and who most recently played for the Los Angeles Sparks, told reporters, "I'm truly excited to be coming home to join the Chicago Sky. This city means everything to me. The culture, the people, the passion for the game. To have the opportunity to come back to Chicago is amazing. I'm ready to get to work, embrace the moment, and give everything I have. Let's work."
Stevens previously played for the Sky before joining the Sparks. Both she and Diggins are signed to the team for multiple years; Stevens signed a three-year deal and Diggins signed an agreement for two years.
Diggins has experience against the Sky throughout her years in the WNBA, and was part of the team that ultimately proved unsuccessful against Chicago in 2021. The win was Chicago's first championship in franchise history.
The 2021 championship game was played through a series of four matches between the Sky and the Phoenix Mercury. In addition to being the first championship win for the team, it was also the first basketball championship for the city of Chicago since 1998 — and marked the first time up to that point that a number one seed did not make it to the WNBA Finals.
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