Only days after the conclusion of March Madness, it’s almost time for the Chicago Sky to be on the clock once again.
This year’s WNBA draft won’t be as explosive for the Sky as it was in 2024, when the team maneuvered to secure the No. 3 pick. Instead, the Sky traded out of the lottery and added veteran guard Ariel Atkins.
That trade was further rewarded when top stars such as Olivia Miles and Azzi Fudd elected to remain in the NCAA for an additional year. Those absences significantly weakened the value of a lottery pick in 2025. During a media call Thursday, Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca brushed off the idea that the trade was connected to players delaying their draft eligibility.
“The decision to try to go get Ariel Atkins was an Ariel Atkins decision, not due to the strength of the draft,” Pagliocca said. “If anything, it just shows how much we’re dedicated and how much we believe in her to move such a strong pick. We probably didn’t know any more than anybody else and obviously we made that deal quite a bit ago before some of these players made decisions.”
But moving out of the lottery ultimately paid off for the Sky. The lack of clear talent also creates a wider variance in uncertainty for this year’s selections. No big board is the same, even in the top-four picks. And although this year’s selection might not be as splashy, the Sky still need to utilize the draft to keep building their young core. So who should they take with the No. 10 pick?
The only position the Sky absolutely doesn’t need to draft is a center. Second-year star Kamilla Cardoso is the future at the position, and veteran Elizabeth Williams will be a valuable backup after successfully returning from a knee injury that prematurely ended her 2024 season. But outside of the 5, the Sky have flexibility for their selection.
The Sky are set for this season with veteran Courtney Vandersloot as the starting point guard — but at 36, she doesn’t offer a long-term solution at the position. Drafting a backup point guard would give the team a clear road map for the future without asking a first-year player to take on that facilitating responsibility.
On the other hand, the Sky don’t have a true backup at the 4 position for when Angel Reese isn’t on the court. Backup players don’t need to be like-for-like matches to their starter, so the Sky might draft a wing or forward who plays significantly different than Reese. This could be an overall positive, offering more adaptability to rotations.
It would make the most sense for the Sky to draft one of each at Nos. 10 and 16. When front offices take this approach, they often draft by best talent available rather than position.
Here are eight options for the Sky.
Hailey Van Lith
It’s unclear if Van Lith will fall to No. 10, but the former TCU guard would be an effective selection for the Sky. She averaged 17.9 points and 5.4 assists in a redemptive season with TCU, making a strong case as a prospect when she dropped 26 points on Notre Dame in the Sweet 16.
The Sky also would be a great situation for Van Lith, whose draft stock has fluctuated wildly throughout the last two years. She wouldn’t be asked to dive into a starting rotation or carry the scoring. But running the secondary rotation — while learning under Vandersloot and Atkins — could give Van Lith the ideal foundation to succeed in the WNBA.
Saniya Rivers
Rivers is a Swiss army knife option for teams. Pagliocca described her as “maybe the best overall athlete in the draft” for a reason — Rivers is lengthy and versatile, a 6-foot-1 guard with a 6-5 wingspan who can cover a variety of positions from the 2 to the 4.
Rivers would be an investment piece. At N.C. State, she often overrelied on her athleticism, which means she will have plenty of fundamentals to train up as a rookie. But as a savvy defender who can stretch and run the floor, Rivers has plenty of tools to make an impact off the bench while fine-tuning her shot and offensive skills.
Maddy Westbeld
Notre Dame’s Westbeld could be the answer for the Sky in the search for a backup power forward. Pagliocca noted Westbeld’s unique 3-point accuracy for a 6-3 frontcourt player — she is a career 34.9% shooter from deep, although that accuracy fell to 30.8% this season as she battled injury.
The Sky might be able to snag Westbeld at either the No. 10 or No. 16 pick, depending on how the rest of the selections fall. Either way, they would be gaining a solid glue player who can stretch the floor, providing versatility at the 4 position alongside Reese.
Sania Feagin
Another power forward option is South Carolina’s Feagin, who played a crucial part in the team’s return to the NCAA championship game this season. Feagin is a reliable defender who would add another layer to the Sky on the boards and around the rim.
But she also showed crucial improvement in her midrange shooting this season, especially in spot-up 2s from inside 15 feet. This would help her fit with the Sky, who are attempting to space the floor better this season by pulling forwards away from the basket.
Ajša Sivka
The current Sky front office has yet to take any big swings on European players, either through the draft or free agency — but there’s never a bad time to start.
Sivka, a Slovenian wing, has been a mainstay in this year’s draft projections for months. The 19-year-old offers a truly rare skill set. At 6-4, she’s a confident perimeter shooter who also can create her own shots off the dribble. Pagliocca has been emphasizing length and 3-point shooting throughout the construction of the 2025 roster. Sivka provides both in droves.
Justė Jocytė
Jocytė, a 19-year-old Lithuanian phenom, has been playing in the EuroLeague since she was 14 and averaged 11.9 points and 2.8 assists as a pro for Lyon last season. Jocytė has decent length for a guard and prodigious creativity as a young player.
The Sky might want to spend their picks on something a little more surefire. But if they’re willing to commit to a longer-term project, Jocytė could be an interesting selection.
Aziaha James
The first round of the draft will be fairly unpredictable. But if NC State’s James drops to the second round, she would be a reliable pick for the Sky as a potential backup guard. Although she’s slightly undersized at 5-9, James makes up for it with considerable athleticism. Her continued growth as a 3-point shooter — averaging 33.3% as a senior — would be a welcome addition.
Makayla Timpson
If the Sky go with a guard in the first round, Timpson could make sense as a second-round pick at forward. Pagliocca noted that any player with a wingspan that measures several inches more than her height is an intriguing prospect, especially as a defensive recruit. And Timpson’s ability to score for Florida State this season — averaging 17.5 points on 54.3% shooting — showed potential for her transition to the WNBA.
WNBA draft
6:30 p.m. Monday in New York, ESPN
- Sky selections: Round 1, No. 10; Round 2, Nos. 16 and 22.
