WNBA | Sky’s focus shifts to coaching camp, which wraps up free company strikes.

Jeff Pagliocca took the least coveted job within the WNBA when he agreed to change into the Sky’s first stand-alone basic supervisor within the fall.

Not solely is the Sky in determined want of a status overhaul, however when Pagliocca was promoted from director of talent growth to GM, he needed to rebuild a roster with little or no draft inventory. First on the to-do checklist was to recuperate what former coach/basic supervisor James Wade had misplaced.

Buying the 2024 No. 3 choose got here at a excessive value because of the Sky’s failure to signal a star in free company. Due to the setback, Kahleah Copper requested a commerce, which put Pagliocca on the clock to finish his first main transfer.

Within the Copper commerce from the Phoenix Mercury, Pagliocca acquired a number of draft picks (together with the No. 3 choose in ’24) and Michaela Onvier and Brianna Turner, together with Diamond DeShields, Dana Evans, Elizabeth Williams and Marina Mabrey. Faces of Sky Reconstruction. On Thursday, Pagliocca added extra draft capital to the Sky’s struggle chest, buying second-round picks in 2025 and 2026 from the New York Liberty for the rights to security Rebecca Gardner.

Shifting Gardner was one thing Pagliocca had been contemplating because the begin of free company, when he prolonged the qualifying provide, making him a restricted free agent. The plan was to do a sign-and-trade, however Gardner tore his proper Achilles earlier than any phrases could possibly be absolutely mentioned and agreed upon.

Gardner’s commerce worth was at all times in query as she was coming off an damage that value her practically your entire 2023 season. After profitable surgical procedure to restore his Achilles, Gardner will miss the 2024 season and shall be a reserve participant with the Liberty in 2025, at which level the 2 sides will negotiate contract phrases.

Buying two second rounders is not a lot about choose worth as it’s about leveraging them in different offers.

With all of Pagliocca’s free company strikes wrapped up, consideration shifts to the 2024 WNBA Draft and coaching camp.

The Sky have $391,887 in cap house and three roster spots to enter camp, which begins April 28.

Pagliocca signed ahead Taya Reimer and guards Chandy Carter and Casey Gondrezic to coaching camp contracts. The gamers he selects with the third, eighth and thirteenth picks will compete with him for a spot on the ultimate roster.

Tennessee ahead Ricka Jackson is the Sky’s probably choose with the No. 3 choose. He’s one of the best wing choice on this 12 months’s draft and may make a direct affect together with his potential to create for himself and defend a number of positions.

Virginia Tech level guard Georgia Amore is one other participant the Sky might goal within the first spherical. The Sky want backcourt depth. Evans is slated to get his first actual likelihood to start out within the backcourt, however what his function shall be remains to be unclear.

She has proven she will be able to run an offense, however past the 2024 season, nothing is assured. Evans shall be a restricted free agent in 2025, and Mabrey, who was acquired by Wade, shall be within the last 12 months of his three-year contract.

Bringing in a backup level guard ought to be a precedence for the Sky.

Among the many Sky coaching camp gamers, Carter — who completed second within the 2020 Rookie of the Yr voting — has an opportunity to re-establish herself within the WNBA. He was suspended by the Atlanta Dream in 2021 for conduct detrimental to the crew and traded to the Los Angeles Sparks in 2022.

Coming into coaching camp, Skye does not have a secure function.

Returning gamers Williams, Evans and Mabrey will probably have a big effect on any success the Sky hope to attain. First-year head coach Teresa Weatherspoon must redefine the function of gamers.

“The one factor I will not do is promise something,” Weatherspoon stated throughout a information convention final month. “What they are going to do shall be their very own promise.”