The Sky’s list of current problems is very, very long. Angel Reese is unhappy with the team’s inability to build a contender, 36-year-old Courtney Vandersloot suffered a devastating injury, the roster desperately lacks the 3-point shooting it needs to allow Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso to thrive, and the Sky’s defense was abysmal in the 2025 season.
This offseason may be the last chance for the Sky’s front office to fix some of its previous mistakes and build a competitive team around its two young stars. With almost every veteran in the league ready to hit free agency once a new CBA is signed, the Sky will have a chance to chase top talent. Quite a few free agents could turn the team’s fortunes around, but not many of them are likely to come to Chicago.
Jackie Young, for example, would be the perfect perimeter star to complement Reese and Cardoso, but it seems almost impossible that she’ll leave Las Vegas—or ever consider joining a team like the Sky. Kayla McBride would also address many of the Sky’s issues, but signing her is a long shot as well.
Kayla McBride would bring the kind of shooting and defense Chicago needs
Kayla McBride has been in the WNBA for a long time. She would bring the kind of veteran experience every team built around two young stars needs. On top of that, McBride is one of the best movement shooters in the W. This past season, she shot 39.5% on 6.7 3-point attempts per game, fuelling the best 3-point shooting team in the league.
McBride is more than just a 3-point shooter, though. She is a great shot-creator and scorer from all three levels. When Napheesa Collier had to miss Game 4 of the semifinals due to an injury, McBride scored 31 points on over 40% shooting from the field. That is exactly the kind of high-level scoring and shot creation the Sky’s roster desperately lacks.
The 33-year-old is also an effective contributor on the other end of the floor. Minnesota finished the 2025 regular season with the best defensive rating in the league. As a starter, McBride was a part of the team’s defensive success for the past two seasons. While it will take more than just one player to change the Sky’s defensive identity—or lack thereof—McBride would be a welcome addition on that end of the floor.
Chicago may not be one of the teams McBride is interested in
McBride will be an unrestricted free agent and could be one of the big names on the move this offseason. It’s not unlikely that she’ll just re-sign with the Lynx, but news about Collier needing surgery on both ankles and having to miss at least four to six months put Minnesota’s status as a possible contender for the 2026 championship into question. It could encourage McBride to move on, especially if another team offers her a big role, a big paycheck, and the chance to compete for a title.
The Sky could offer her the first two, but not the latter. Chicago may be able to go from one of the worst teams in the league to a contender for one of the eight playoff spots, but it seems unlikely that Jeff Pagliocca can build a title contender in just one offseason after the season his team just had. If players feel the same way about the Sky, it will be difficult to lure some of the top free agents to Chicago.