Free agency hasn’t officially begun, but Angel Reese is already engaging her peers about signing with the Sky.
She has been for some time now. Going back to last season, Reese has been an advocate for her team, using social media to pitch forward Gabby Williams on the idea of putting a Sky uniform back on. This time, it’s her Unrivaled teammate and the Sky’s former franchise player Kahleah Copper, she’s selling.
“Get Kah back!” Reese jokingly chanted while sitting next to Copper during Unrivaled’s first slate of media availability.
Jokes aside, Copper is not returning to Chicago. Aside from requesting a trade out of Chicago less than a year ago, she’s not a free agent. There is a long list of free agents Reese will have time to talk with about the idea while playing in the 3-on-3 league’s inaugural season in Miami.
Atop that list is Wings forward Satou Sabally. The question always comes back to: who does the Sky have a realistic shot at?
Former Sky floor general and two-time WNBA champion Courtney Vandersloot is also an unrestricted free agent this year. Sun forward Alyssa Thomas and guard DiJonai Carrington are two more top free agents competing in Unrivaled. Thomas will be unrestricted but is expected to be cored by the Sun, while Carrington is a restricted free agent.
“Come to Chicago,” Reese said plainly when asked about her pitch to free agents.
Copper was quick to interrupt Reese, saying, “Summertime Chi.”
The reality is it will take more than a season to entice free agents to sign with the Sky, a fact Copper knows all too well. Having a well-respected coach like Tyler Marsh should help, but the Sky are still behind the curve regarding their league-wide reputation.
The team broke ground on a practice facility in October, but it won’t be available until the 2026 season. In the meantime, general manager Jeff Pagliocca will have his work cut out for him on selling free agents on an unproven product.
The Sky finished last season 13-27 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Pagliocca will be responsible for pulling off a quick turnaround in a year when top free agents will have more incentive than ever to sign with well-established franchises. In anticipation of a new collective bargaining agreement in 2026, free agents are expected to sign one-year deals forcing GMs to sell them on a present product.
Reese and Copper will compete for Team Rose in Unrivaled alongside three-time WNBA champion Chelsea Gray, former Sky champion Azurá Stevens, Fever guard Lexie Hull, and Mystics guard Brittney Sykes. They are coached by Nola Henry.
In her rookie season with the Sky, Reese averaged 13.6 points and 13.1 rebounds and set numerous league records, including for most consecutive double-doubles (15). Unrivaled’s season tips off on Jan. 17 on TNT. Team Rose will face Team Vinyl, coached by former Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon, on opening night.
Considering most free agents will be interested in signing one-year deals in anticipation of the new CBA in 2026, WNBA general managers will have one selling point: winning now.
The year wasn’t all terrible, was it? Please — don’t answer all at once.
Let the countdown begin: Grifol … Weatherspoon … Eberflus …
