CHICAGO SKY ROSTER 2022 FULL
CHICAGO SKY ROSTER 2022 FREE

Li Yeuru has two years left on her contract.ĭana Evans is still under contract but has to resolve the team option this season. Kahleah Copper, Ruthy Hebard and Julie Allemand all have one year remaining on their respective contracts. The 2023 season begs a lot of questions for general manager and head coach James Wade when looking at what the roster could possibly be. No matter what it ends up costing, bringing back Copper gives the Sky three former Finals MVPs on the roster and the best chance to become the third franchise to repeat as champion.A new year always means a new team, but for the Chicago Sky, it could very much be a whole new group.

CHICAGO SKY ROSTER 2022 FULL

If Copper’s contract isn’t for the full supermax, Wade can offer Vandersloot more money in his next proposal. The Sky will be right up against the cap after signing Copper to what is expected to be north of $200,000 in 2022. Wade has created a foundation over the course of his coaching career with the Sky and makes it sturdier by keeping someone who could be a perennial All-Star. While the terms of the deal have not been disclosed, Copper returning on a two-year deal gives the Sky salary-cap flexibility and ensures they won’t have to completely rebuild after this season. The question for the Sky was whether she would sign beyond 2022 or take the $228,094 core qualifier she received from the Sky on Jan. The 2021 Finals MVP returning isn’t a surprise after she said she was ready to “run it back” in a Players’ Tribune article. Replacing Dolson’s ability as a screener and stretch five was going to be a tall task, but the Sky are getting a player who immediately raises their ceiling. She fits everything the Sky are trying to do and comes in with championship experience.

CHICAGO SKY ROSTER 2022 FREE

The Sky are betting Meesseman will return to her 2019 form and probably would point to her numbers slipping as a result of Washington losing its nucleus to free agency or players opting out of the Wubble season. The Sky might not utilize Meesseman the same way she was in Washington. Dolson, who has expressed a desire to return to the block, had only 37 post-up opportunities the last two seasons combined. Meesseman has thrived scoring in the post, where she averaged 58.3 post-up possessions per season from 2014-20. Her numbers dipped slightly in 2020 as she went from scoring 1.13 points per possession on non-post-up attempts around the basket in 2019 to 0.94, according to Synergy Sports. There are a couple of question marks about Meeseman heading into the season. With Meesseman in the fold, the Sky can counter any type of playing style. If the Sky face a smaller lineup, Wade could shift to Vandersloot, Quigley, Copper, Parker and Stevens. The switchability on the defensive end of a lineup featuring Vandersloot, Kahleah Copper, Meesseman, Candace Parker and Azurá Stevens is tantalizing. “But we felt like we were getting a player of such high caliber and quality that it was worth it.”

“We know she is going to come over late, and it is something we have to prepare for,” Wade said. However, she would be available for the entire postseason because the 2022 FIBA World Cup won’t start until after the playoffs. Because the Sky’s season opener is May 6, Allemand likely will miss the start of 2022. According to Wade, Allemand’s season in France with Lyon ASVEL Féminin won’t end until May. 30 Instagram post that she would take time off. The Sky confirmed Allemand will play in the WNBA this season after she said in a Dec. Allemand is the backup point guard Wade has been searching for since he arrived in Chicago, and she will make only $61,049 in 2022. The Sky get an intriguing young guard in Allemand, who was second in the league in assists per game behind Vandersloot in 2020, and a first-round pick in a stronger draft class next season. With both timelines closing in on each other, the Sky made the most of its dwindling leverage with DeShields’ restricted free-agent status. DeShields, a restricted free agent, was also running out of teams with cap space that could offer her meaningful minutes in their rotation. And the Fever landed Bria Hartley, two second-round picks (20 from the Mercury) and two first-round picks (20 first-round picks from the Sky).Īfter Rowe’s report on Vandersloot’s contract status, the Sky front office had to start exploring options before the point guard market evaporated. The Sky received Julie Allemand and a 2023 first-round pick from the Mercury, who got Diamond DeShields. The Sky's Diamond DeShields shoots over the top of Mercury players in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals on Oct.

Chicago sky roster 2022