The Chicago Sky are gaining interest from their WNBA competitors — but not in the areas that might be expected after two years of drafting big-name talent such as Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
The WNBA released a general managers survey Thursday, providing insight into how the top executives of all 13 teams view their competition. The results gave a firm vote of confidence to the Sky’s reworked coaching staff and offseason roster construction.
With 33% of the votes, the Sky came in second behind the Indiana Fever (42%) for most improved team since the 2024 season.
Tyler Marsh finished second behind the Fever’s Stephanie White for the new or relocated coach most likely to make the biggest impact. And Ariel Atkins tied the Fever’s Sophie Cunningham and the Dallas Wings’ DiJonai Carrington for most underrated player acquisition.
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The survey also reflected a high level of leaguewide respect for veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot, who tied the Fever’s Caitlin Clark with the second-most votes behind the Las Vegas Aces’ Chelsea Gray as the league’s highest-IQ player. Vandersloot also was voted second behind Gray as the player who would make the best coach in the future and was mentioned alongside Atkins as an underrated player acquisition.
Reese and Cardoso were noticeably absent from the survey. Reese didn’t receive any votes for best defensive player (the Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier finished first) or best interior defender (the Aces’ A’ja Wilson was first).
And the Sky didn’t receive a single vote for the league’s best young core despite adding first-round pick Hailey Van Lith to Reese and Cardoso. The Fever led that category with the obvious promise of former No. 1 picks Clark and Aliyah Boston. The Los Angeles Sparks earned the second-most votes for their pairing of Cameron Brink and Rickea Jackson, and the Wings received votes after the addition of No. 1 pick Paige Bueckers.
The Aces — whose young core consists of Elizabeth Kitley, Aaliyah Nye, Crystal Bradford and Kierstan Bell — also earned a vote over the Sky.
The survey results often provide validation and locker-room white-board fodder in equal parts for teams eager to prove themselves. For the Sky, the first chance to disprove — or uphold — the outcomes will take place Saturday, when they open the season against the Fever in Indianapolis.
