The Chicago Sky are making moves to win a championship next season. They just traded with the Minnesota Lynx to get the 11th pick in today’s WNBA Draft, giving them back-to-back first-round picks (10th and 11th).
Angel Reese, the Chicago Sky’s rising star, has been diligently working in the offseason to enhance her versatility. Participating in the Unrivaled 3-on-3 league, she earned Defensive Player of the Year honors and led her team to a championship. Her training regimen has focused on improving shooting range and layup accuracy, including sessions with WNBA legend Lisa Leslie.
With these draft picks, Chicago can add young talent that fits around Reese. GM Jeff Pagliocca is excited about the deep draft class and the flexibility it gives them as they build toward a championship.
Sky’s Strategic Draft Pick Acquisition
The trade for the 11th pick got lots of attention on social media after Alexa Philippou broke the news on X:
“News: The Chicago Sky have acquired the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA draft from the Minnesota Lynx. In exchange, MIN gets CHI’s 2026 first-round pick, extinguishing its previous pick swap rights with the Sky. Sky now have picks No. 10,11 in 1st round for tomorrow’s draft.”
This move, announced just a day before the draft, got fans and analysts talking about who the Sky might pick from this deep draft class.
The trade also shows different strategies for both teams. The Lynx are betting on future value by taking Chicago’s 2026 first-round pick outright and giving up their previous swap rights from a 2024 deal.
They might be hoping Chicago struggles next year, making that pick more valuable. Meanwhile, the Sky want to improve right now by focusing on this year’s draft. With additional picks at 16th and 22nd in the 2025 draft, Chicago has several chances to add players who can help immediately – crucial for a team looking to make a deep playoff run with Reese leading the way.
Angel Reese’s Growth Signals Bright Future for 2025
Angel Reese had an amazing offseason in the Unrivaled league. She won Defensive Player of the Year and contributing significantly to Rose BC’s successful regular season. This shows she’s ready to lead the Chicago Sky in 2025.
She’s been working on her shooting from farther out, which works well with Kamilla Cardoso who plays close to the basket. This gives the Sky’s offense more options and space.
The Sky are bringing in experienced players to help their young stars grow. Courtney Vandersloot is coming back to Chicago after two years with New York. She’s excited about playing with Reese and Cardoso, saying “Having two post players like that, young stars, is a point guard’s dream.”
During the offseason, Reese played for coach Nola Henry at Rose BC. Henry helped Reese improve her game and get ready for the WNBA season. With their two first-round picks (10th and 11th), the Sky can now add players who work well with Reese’s style. They might look for a good shooter or versatile wing player to make their offense stronger.
The WNBA Draft happens Monday, April 14, at The Shed in New York City. ESPN will show it live starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. Fans can also follow along on the WNBA’s social media for complete coverage.