WNBA newcomers Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, both first-rounders for the Chicago Sky in the most recent draft, could be directly helped by what’s going on with the Dallas Wings
Not long ago, the Chicago Sky’s future looked severely hampered by a 2023 trade with the Dallas Wings. It appeared that rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso would get minimal reinforcement through the next WNBA Draft because Dallas, which entered this year seen as a postseason contender, holds the right to swap 2025 first-round picks with Chicago.
But the potential pain from the trade that brought Marina Mabrey to the Windy City in exchange for a boatload of draft compensation has been minimized by the Wings’ recent free fall. In fact, it’s increasingly likely that Dallas’ own 2025 draft pick will be higher than Chicago’s, making a pick swap unnecessary.
The Sky defeated the Wings on Thursday to move two games ahead of them in the WNBA standings, as Reese contributed a career-best performance. On Friday, Dallas announced that star Maddy Siegrest would miss at least eight weeks after undergoing finger surgery.
With Satou Sabally, the reigning WNBA Most Improved Player, already sidelined long-term, the Texas-based franchise might struggle to escape a bottom-dwelling position.
If trends continue, both Dallas and Chicago could receive top-four selections in the 2025 WNBA Draft. After the Sky invested in the defensive end with Reese and Cardoso, they would love to land in that region, where they’d have a shot at a big-time perimeter scorer such as Sonia Cintron or Georgia Amoore.
With forwards Aneesah Morrow and Kiki Iriafen near the top of most early draft boards, the No. 4 pick seems likely to net whoever is deemed the second-best guard after Paige Bueckers, the presumed No. 1 overall selection.
Through their first 14 games this campaign, Chicago appears to have found clear direction and identity.
Under tough head coach Teresa Weatherspoon, the Sky have encouraged Reese and Cardoso to follow the lead of veterans such as Chennedy Carter by taking pride in playing physical defense and crashing the boards.
Marina Mabrey is having a standout season for the Chicago Sky.
( Image: Getty Images)
Reese is in the Rookie of the Year conversation, while Cardoso has reached double-digit scoring tallies in four of her past five appearances after recovering from a preseason shoulder injury.
“She’s always in there, she’s in the right positions, she keeps going, she doesn’t stop fighting,” Mabrey said of Reese this week.
Meanwhile, Mabrey, the player acquired for the Wings pick swap, continues to be an asset after making improvements in overseas play this past offseason. The 27-year-old is averaging career highs in points (15.1), rebounds (5.3) and assists (4.1). She’s also demonstrated a willingness to scrap with opposing players when needed.
“People are going to say what they’re going to say,” Mabrey told the Chicago Sun-Times of the much-discussed trade that brought her to the Sky. “Maybe people agree that they should have traded for me, and maybe they shouldn’t have. I know my value.”
