Free agency is a fickle game.
More so when you’re a franchise with little to offer targets other than the idea of potential. The Sky have a young roster, a new coach and a practice facility they’re still a year removed from calling home. Everything Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca has to sell free agents right now is about the future. For free agents who are keen on maximizing the one-year contract they’re likely to sign in anticipation of a new collective-bargaining agreement that’s expected in 2026, the present is what matters most.
So, how, then, might Pagliocca win in free agency?
It starts with the trade market.
Storm guard Jewell Loyd requested a trade out of Seattle — where she’s spent her entire WNBA career — in December. The idea of a homecoming for the Lincolnwood product seemed enticing for many, but in the month since that request was made, talks between the Storm and Sky have cooled substantially, according to multiple league sources.
The expectation is that Loyd will not land in Chicago.
The No. 3 pick in the upcoming draft has substantial value across the league. Mock drafts currently have Notre Dame guard Olivia Miles projected to be selected with the third overall pick, but many league executives believe she could go No. 2. USC forward Kiki Iriafen is a top target that many teams in the WNBA would be enticed to trade for a chance at drafting. The overseas talent, however, could contribute to an even stronger return if the Sky were to shop that No. 3 pick.
The Sky have three positional needs: a point guard, off-ball guard and two-way wing.
Two-time WNBA champion Courtney Vandersloot is Pagliocca’s top target to fill the point guard position. If he’s unable to land her, the Sky have solid options in Lindsay Allen and Moriah Jefferson if she can stay healthy. Finding a strong shooting guard and small forward needs to be Pagliocca’s top priority in an effort to land Vandersloot, and even if they don’t.
Some interesting possibilities worth considering include Dream guard Allisha Gray, Mystics guard Ariel Atkins and Liberty guard/forward Betnijah Laney-Hamilton. Sparks guard/forward Rae Burrell isn’t necessarily worth trading the No. 3 pick for, but is a player Pagliocca could end up asking about.
Loyd is currently in Miami playing for Unrivaled, a new 3-on-3 startup league co-founded by Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart. She’s been transparent about her desire to return to playing with a sense of “joy” that she lost throughout the 2024 season.
“I’m excited,” Loyd told the Sun-Times in Miami when asked about her approach to this transitional period in her career. “I fully believe the next 10 years of my life will be the best 10 years. I’ve learned a lot throughout everything, whether it be in the W, overseas, different business transactions.
“For me, it’s just about finding myself, staying true to who I am, and getting back to having peace throughout everything.”
In Unrivaled, Loyd is on Team Mist with Stewart, with whom she won two WNBA titles. In 2023, Stewart signed with the Liberty as a free agent. While Loyd’s situation differs, Stewart has still provided support as she navigates it.
“The biggest thing we’ve talked about is finding some place where I can just be free,” Loyd said of her conversations with Stewart. “You know, be myself. That’s what she wanted. She wanted to do things with her family, too. So I think the decision is bigger than just basketball.”
Much of Loyd’s immediate family lives in the Chicago area. Despite that, the Sky are still not a desirable destination based on their current circumstances.
When considering potential destinations, the Aces offer one of the most logical landing spots for Loyd because they are expected to need a replacement for Kelsey Plum. Las Vegas is also where Loyd wants to be according to multiple league sources.
The Aces cored Plum on Jan. 11, meaning her only path elsewhere is through a sign and trade. While a clean Loyd for Plum trade might not be the answer between the Storm and Aces, a trade involving multiple teams could lead to both players ending up where they want to be.