Forget Paige Bueckers. Forget Caitlin Clark. This yr’s WNBA draft arrives with no generational headliner to set the web on hearth.
But there are nonetheless actual abilities gathered in New York. Awa Fam (Spain), Olivia Miles (TCU), Azzi Fudd (UConn) and Lauren Betts (UCLA) are all particular in their very own proper: Miles for her passing, Fudd for her taking pictures, Betts for her protection, Fam for her uncooked potential. An All-Star or two might emerge from this group.
It’s too dangerous the Sky are selecting at No. 5!
Not to fret, although, Sky followers. With the splashy strikes they’ve already made in free company (hi there, Skylar Diggins; hello, Rickea Jackson; welcome, Azura Stevens), there’s much less stress using on this pick. The Sky don’t want a franchise-changer (although touchdown one could be good!). This draft is about including a bit to what’s already shaping as much as be a playoff-caliber roster.
Here’s the Sun-Times’ tackle the way it might play out.
If the entrance workplace needs to shoot for the moon…
Then Flau’jae Johnson (LSU) is the transfer. Johnson is a superb athlete with the potential to turn into a real three-level scorer. Her breakout efficiency helped LSU to a nationwide championship as a sophomore, and he or she averaged 18.6 factors per sport as a junior on 38.3% three-point taking pictures. Pairing Johnson with the expertise and veteran expertise the Sky have already assembled is attractive.
The one cautionary be aware: Johnson’s development flattened in her senior season, with some inconsistency in huge video games. The Sun-Times requested analysts Rebecca Lobo and Ryan Ruocco about it, and neither was involved. Ruocco thinks professional competitors will elevate Johnson’s sport; Lobo mentioned the dip in scoring common merely mirrored her taking part in a job on a stacked LSU workforce.
If they need to take one other swing at some extent guard of the future…
Then it’s Kiki Rice (UCLA). She’s sensible, explosive and makes the proper performs on each side of the ball. She has some growing to do — including a floater and a extra constant mid-range, for starters — however who higher to mentor her than Skylar Diggins and Courtney Vandersloot?
The Sky have struggled to nail the place the previous three years, biking by Courtney Williams, Dana Evans and Lindsay Allen. Even Rachel Banham needed to play the level final season.
They’ve since signed Diggins to a two-year deal and traded a 2028 first-round pick for 25-year-old level guard Jacy Sheldon. Does that push Rice out of the image, or might Sheldon play the two?
If they get fortunate…
As is usually the case in the WNBA draft, the juiciest expertise sits in the high 4 picks. Fam, Fudd, Miles and Betts are all anticipated to be gone earlier than the Sky’s title is named, however what if one slips?
The Wings, Lynx, Storm or Mystics may shock us, and immediately a high prospect lands in the Sky’s lap. Imagine Fudd added to a lineup with Diggins, Jackson, Stevens and Kamilla Cardoso.
Probably not going to occur! But if the previous couple of days have taught us something, it’s that holding onto a little bit hope pays off on occasion.
If they get set off completely satisfied…
This evaluation assumes the Sky maintain onto their pick, however common supervisor Jeff Pagliocca loves a pre-draft transfer. In 2024, he traded with the Lynx to maneuver up one spot and draft Angel Reese. In 2025, he traded with the Lynx once more so as to add a late first-rounder, which grew to become Hailey Van Lith.
The Sun-Times isn’t anticipating it this time round, however with Pagliocca, it’s a must to hold your eyes peeled.
After assembling a playoff-caliber roster in free company, the Sky now add an do-everything wing from UCLA’s loaded championship roster.
Coulibaly was the workforce’s No. 22 pick (late second spherical) in the 2025 draft, however was recovering from an ACL damage at Texas A&M and by no means reported to coaching camp.
The Dream see a key piece of a championship run. The Sky noticed a participant who not match their future.
