“Deep in my heart, I wanted to come to the Sky,” Hailey Van Lith said after she was picked by the Chicago Sky at No.11 in the draft. She reunited with her old college teammate Angel Reese at Sky, who was excited to play with Van Lith. They only got Van Lith after a series of complicated offseason decisions.
In a bold move, the Sky made a significant decision during the 2025 offseason by acquiring the No. 11 overall pick in the WNBA Draft from the Minnesota Lynx. To complete the deal, Chicago agreed to give up Minnesota’s right to swap first-round picks in the 2026 draft. After that third heavy loss on the trot, you have to take a look at their decisions in the offseason, like bringing in Van Lith when they had the likes of Courtney Vandersloot and Moriah Jefferson.
But here’s the catch. Vandersloot, a Sky legend, did leave for the New York Liberty in 2023, but she returned in 2025 on a one-year deal. Still, expecting her to carry a rebuilding team at this stage in her career raises questions about the front office’s long-term vision.
Jefferson, though a steady veteran presence since her 2024 arrival, hasn’t exactly moved the needle, leaving fans to wonder why the Sky didn’t make a stronger push for a younger, high-upside guard to build around.
Van Lith was ruled out of the game against Sparks with an ankle injury, but has only played 10 minutes in the first two games. It is looking unlikely that she will play a significant part in the season, even if they continue on the losing streak. The 2026 class has emerged to be a very talented and even possibly deeper class, with the likes of Olivia Miles, Flau’jae Johnson, and Lauren Betts among the top prospects. Considering that and the 0-3 start for Sky, the fans are considering their offseason a failure.
Okay so picture this now: Betts, pairing up with Cardoso in the paint. a twin-towers duo built to dominate. Or Johnson, bringing swagger and firepower to spark Chicago’s sluggish offense. Even Olivia Miles, could’ve been the answer to their clunky half-court woes. But none of them entered the 2025 draft.
Betts is running it back at UCLA, Johnson’s staying for her senior year, and Miles shocked everyone by entering the transfer portal. Instead, Minnesota flipped picks and loaded up, leaving Sky fans wondering what could’ve been.
Fans ridicule Chicago Sky’s decision to forego 2026 No.1 pick
Miles was initially going to be a part of the 2025 draft but chose to stay in college for another year. Her playmaking skills and three-point shooting would be a perfect fit alongside Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Another LSU girl, Flau’jae Johnson, will be a part of the 2026 draft and is one of the most recognizable names in the circuit. She was the Tigers’ second-leading scorer with a career-best average as a junior. Her 3-point shooting percentage (38.3) will rank second on the 2024 Sky team. So seeing these options, it’s not surprising the fans are onto them for this blunder.
chicago sky are really about to give the minnesota lynx the number 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft
— correlation (@nosyone4) May 26, 2025
“Trading the 11th pick for the 2026 first round was criminal,” wrote another fan. Considering the caliber of players projected for the 2026 WNBA Draft, the Sky’s decision to forfeit their 2026 first-rounder in exchange for the No. 11 pick in 2025 does seem to be a high-risk move that may age poorly. Even on the face, a No. 1 pick is supposed to be better than an 11th pick any year of the draft. Even if the 2026 draft was somehow worse than 2025, the gap between 11th and 1st is substantial.
“Betts is a Lynx omg we’re winning another 4 championships and more” wrote another fan. Lauren Betts is a top prospect who could eclipse Van Lith and at 6-foot-7, Betts is one of the most physically imposing players in the college circuit. Imagine Betts on a roster that is already well settled and her size will certainly further reinforce this squad, which will likely be among the top teams this year. Betts would have been a great fit for Sky but it doesn’t seem they will end up with her.
“That front office needs to be arrested & charged with crimes against basketball,” a fan joked.
It’s not just hyperbole, fans feel betrayed because the Sky’s moves don’t add up. They’re not contending now, and they’ve mortgaged their future for players who haven’t moved the needle. It’s like the front office can’t decide if they’re rebuilding or chasing a playoff spot, and fans are stuck watching the consequences unfold.
And it has not worked out so far and their loss against the Los Angeles Sparks just further deepened their woes. Chicago lost by a score of 91 to 78 to the Sparks, marking their third straight game that they lost by double figures. But their management has been a little confusing, and it is hard to understand what exactly they were going for.
“They used the 2026 first overall pick on Hailey van lith lol and traded Sonia citron for Ariel Atkins.” Another fan wrote. Hailey Van Lith has not yet impressed the fans but considering she has barely played, we will reserve judgment until she does. Another point of debate on their offseason decisions is the decision to bring in Ariel Atkins, a 28-year-old solid outside shooter and two-time WNBA all-star, in exchange for the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft. The Mystics will also receive 2027 first-round pick swap rights with the Sky, in addition to Chicago’s 2027 second-round pick.
Atkins was brought in to solve their shooting woes from beyond the arc, which was desperately needed but there is an argument that they just put a bandage on a bullet wound. A temporary fix. Sonia Citron ended up being the No. 3 pick for the Washington Mystics and the way she is playing, the Sky fans are furious at the management for passing on her talent for some immediate solution that is not even working out so far.
Citron has formed a formidable partnership with fellow rookie Kiki Iriafen, scoring 15.4 points and providing 2.6 assists per game so far as compared to Atkins’ 9.3 points and 2.7 assists per game. Also, this decision is a little counterintuitive after their call to have the No. 11 and No. 10 drafts. If they believed in this year’s batch, why did they forgo the No.4 pick?
With potentially Citron and two other top players from 2026 instead of Van Lith and Ajva Sivka, in hindsight, they could have been set for at least the next 6-7 years. It seems that the Sky management is still not clear on whether they want to fully rebuild or want instant results. Being somewhere in the middle has cost them a couple of years in squad building. That uncertainty is costing them so far. They continue their journey on the road as they face the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, still in search of their first win.
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