One WNBA team is surpassing expectations.

Chicago Sky’s Dramatic Turnaround

Last season, the Chicago Sky shared the WNBA’s worst record. In a surprising move, they traded away one of their leading players, Angel Reese, for future draft picks.

However, after a series of astute offseason trades, the team now appears to be one of the top contenders in the league.

At first, the Reese trade left many doubting the Sky’s chances for this season. But general manager Jeff Pagliocca has crafted a new roster that, while perhaps a bit rough around the edges on paper, shows promise. He brought in Jaycee Sheldon and Rikea Jackson, signed Skyler Diggins, De’Jonai Carrington, and Natasha Cloud in free agency, and selected Gabriela Jaquez with the fifth overall draft pick.

It’s still quite early in the season, and Jackson’s future is up in the air following a non-contact knee injury she sustained on Sunday. Yet, the revamped roster has already surpassed many expectations.

Starting off with a challenging four-game road trip, the Sky managed to go 3-1, clinching victories against the Portland Fire, Golden State Valkyries, and Minnesota Lynx, while narrowly losing to the Phoenix Mercury.

In her third season, Jackson emerged as the standout, averaging 18 points per game. Jaquez, despite some critics claiming she was drafted too high, has impressed many, contributing 12.5 points and 5.8 rebounds. In a standout performance during their recent victory over the Lynx, she scored 20 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

“Honestly, it’s tough for me to take her off the court, even when she’s completely out of breath,” commented Sky head coach Tyler Marsh about Jaquez. “She consistently finds ways to make an impact on both ends and stays in her rhythm, even when things get tough.”

Former No. 3 pick Camila Cardoso has also stepped up significantly, solidifying the team’s frontcourt with a double-double average of 12 points and 10.3 rebounds. Diggins’ veteran experience has shone through, while Sheldon has displayed some of the best basketball of her career.

After their 86-79 win against Minnesota, the Sky’s strong performance drew praise from Lynx head coach Sheryl Reeve, who expressed her surprise at the team’s identity and cohesion. “That’s really impressive. They deserve credit for it,” she remarked.

Though there’s still a long season ahead, the uncertainty around whether the Sky’s offseason strategies would translate into success on the court lingered. Additionally, if Jackson were to be sidelined for an extended period, it would likely diminish the enthusiasm surrounding their early achievements.