Chicago Sky 2026 WNBA Season Preview: Roster, DFS Targets & Win Total
Team Snapshot
2025 Record: 10-34 (tied for worst, Eastern Conference)
Playoff Finish: Missed playoffs; worst season in franchise's recent era
Head Coach: [New coach in 2026 expected]
2026 Win Total: 14-18 | Tier: Rebuilding
Team Identity: Young, athletically gifted core pivoting away from Angel Reese to rebuild with draft capital; Hailey Van Lith (#1 pick) as franchise building block
What Changed
2025 Major Acquisitions + Trades
- Courtney Vandersloot ACQUIRED – Traded from New York Liberty; ballhandling veteran + leadership
- Ariel Atkins ACQUIRED – Traded from Washington Mystics; perimeter defense + creation
- Hailey Van Lith (#1 overall pick) – Drafted; young scoring talent; early franchise building block
- Dana Evans DEPARTED – Traded to Las Vegas Aces
2026 Offseason Updates (as of April 10) - DEVASTATING DEPARTURE
- Angel Reese: TRADED TO ATLANTA DREAM 🔥🔥🔥 — Sky gave up 2027 + 2028 1st-round picks + 2028 2nd pick swap
- Ariel Atkins: Received CORE designation ✅ — Retained for negotiating rights
- Ariel Atkins: Potentially being traded to LA Sparks 🔍 (for Rickea Jackson — deal in progress)
- Agreed with Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo: NOT to select from each other's available lists (coordination)
- Hailey Van Lith: New franchise building block — #1 pick now becomes sole focal point (Reese departure)
Key Continuity & Critical Context
Continuity: Low — Reese (franchise cornerstone) traded away. Atkins potentially departing. Vandersloot core intact but Van Lith is now the only young star remaining.
Critical Context: This is a brutal restructuring. Sky traded away their 2025 breakout star (Reese) for draft capital. The message: rebuild toward 2027+, not competitive contention in 2026. Van Lith becomes the sole franchise pillar. This is a long-term play, abandoning the 2026 season for future picks.
Projected Rotation
Starting Five:
PG: Courtney Vandersloot | SG: Hailey Van Lith | SF: [TBD—Atkins likely departing] | PF: [TBD—Reese traded away] | C: [TBD center]
Key Bench: Rotation wings, guard depth, interior depth TBD pending free agency
Rotation Battles: Forward/center positions completely open; significant losses from 2025 roster
Closing Lineup: Van Lith, Vandersloot + supporting cast (veteran + young core)
2026 Draft Selections (April 13)
- Gabriela Jaquez (R1 #5 — UCLA): Athletic wing, sister of NBA's Jaime Jaquez Jr., strong defender and scorer
- Latasha Lattimore (R2 #21 — Ole Miss): Forward, Cotie McMahon's college teammate
- Tonie Morgan (R3 #32): Guard depth
Jaquez at #5 is a quality pick for a rebuilding Sky team. Her size and athleticism fit the rebuild timeline as part of a young core alongside Hailey Van Lith. Solid draft overall.
🆕 Latest News (April 17)
- Rickea Jackson Acquired from LA Sparks: (traded Ariel Atkins) — Jackson was the #4 pick in 2024 WNBA draft, averaged 14.7 points, 3.2 rebounds in 2025. High-upside young scorer.
- Skylar Diggins Signed 2-Year Deal: Left Seattle Storm; averaged 15.5 ppg, 6.0 apg with Seattle in 2025. Veteran playmaker/scorer. Reuniting with the Sky after previous stint.
- Elizabeth Williams Re-Signed 2-Year $1.2M Deal: Defensive anchor up front.
- Ariel Atkins Traded: Departed to LA Sparks (sent Rickea Jackson).
- Pivot to Guard-Heavy Scoring: The Sky went from Reese + Atkins → Rickea Jackson + Skylar Diggins + Gabriela Jaquez #5 — interesting pivot toward backcourt scoring.
Sky are restructuring around Diggins' veteran leadership and Jackson's scoring upside. Rebounding drops significantly without Reese, but guard creation improves.
Statistical Profile
| Stat | 2025 Value | League Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off Rtg | 106.2 | #11 of 13 | Below-average; spacing and creation issues improving with Vandersloot |
| Def Rtg | 109.1 | #10 of 13 | Poor; young team discipline; Atkins addition helps but not sufficient |
| Net Rtg | -2.9 | #11 of 13 | Negative; gap reflects rebuild reality; acquisitions shift dynamic toward positive |
| Pace | 98.1 | #4 of 13 | Fast; young athletic team; transition-heavy play |
| eFG% | 46.1% | #12 of 13 | Below-average; spacing developing; Van Lith shooting volume should help |
| TOV% | 17.2% | #11 of 13 | High turnovers; young handlers; Vandersloot improves ball security |
| ORB% | 29.5% | #1 of 13 | LEAGUE BEST; Reese's dominance; elite second-chance opportunities |
Note: 2025 stats reflect 10-34 disaster season; 2026 projects improvement with Vandersloot, Atkins, Van Lith, Reese core
Playing Style
Primary Identity: Transition-heavy, athletically gifted young team anchored by Angel Reese's elite rebounding. Courtney Vandersloot's veteran ballhandling improves pace + spacing. Ariel Atkins' perimeter defense provides structure. Hailey Van Lith's scoring punch adds offensive dimension. System emphasizes pace and second-chance opportunities over half-court execution.
Tempo: Fast; fourth-fastest in league; transition basketball emphasized; young athletic roster thrives in open court.
Three-Point Volume: Moderate-to-high (34% of FGA); spacing improving with Van Lith addition; accuracy still developing.
Rebounding: LEAGUE-BEST; Angel Reese dominance (29.5 ORB% league-leading); second-chance opportunities elite; positioning and conversion remain concerns.
Transition Game: Primary strength; Vandersloot's initiation + Reese's athleticism create pace advantages; execution improving.
Defensive Identity: Learning system; aggressive perimeter pressure; Atkins provides stability; young roster discipline improving under new coaching environment.
DFS Impact Analysis
Legendary Rebounder + #1 Pick Integration
Angel Reese (Power Forward)
- Status: TRADED TO ATLANTA DREAM — No longer Sky asset; removed from 2026 roster
- DFS Impact: No longer a Chicago play; now an Atlanta Dream asset (see Atlanta preview)
Hailey Van Lith (Shooting Guard) — #1 OVERALL PICK
- Minutes: 24-32 (ramping as rookie progresses)
- Usage: High (20-22% USG)
- Categories: Points (18-22 PPG potential), three-pointers, scoring punch
- DFS Impact: #1 pick discount pricing; elite scoring upside; LSU reunion with Reese; monitor rookie progression; tournament gold if development on track
Courtney Vandersloot (Point Guard)
- Minutes: 28-32
- Usage: High (21-23% USG)
- Categories: Assists (6-8 per game), scoring, ballhandling creation
- DFS Impact: Veteran ballhandling; mid-tier salary; high-floor assist consistency; discount relative to playmaking elite
Ariel Atkins (Small Forward)
- Status: Potentially being traded to LA Sparks (for Rickea Jackson — deal in progress) 🔍
- If traded: No longer Sky asset; removed from roster
- If retained: Mid-tier rotation player; elite defensive metrics; role-dependent minutes
Fantasy Targets
- Core Play: Angel Reese — League-best rebounding; 35+ DFS floor common; double-double machine; game-script proof; daily lock
- Ceiling Play: Hailey Van Lith — #1 pick discount; scoring punch upside; 40+ ceiling in favorable matchups; LSU reunion angle; tournament gold
- Value Sleeper: Courtney Vandersloot — Underpriced veteran ballhandler; assist consistency; high floor at mid-tier salary
- Fade: Backup guards (depth TBD) — Minutes volatile; Vandersloot dominance caps secondary creation; avoid overpaying depth
- Rotation Risk: Van Lith's rookie progression critical; monitor development trajectory; coaching changes create uncertainty; daily injury reports essential
Three Big Questions
- Is the Reese trade a wise long-term investment, or a missed contention window? Sky traded a franchise cornerstone for draft capital (2027 + 2028 1sts). Are those picks worth more than a Reese-led contention window? Big bet on future vs. present.
- Can Hailey Van Lith carry the rebuild as the sole star? She's now the only young anchor. Massive expectations on a #1 pick in a weak draft class. Can Van Lith grow into an All-Star?
- How bad is 2026 going to be without Reese? Losing your best player mid-core development is brutal. Is this a 14-18 win season, or worse? Vandersloot's experience can only do so much.
Health Watch
- Angel Reese: Durability tracked closely; load management possible; rebounding volume critical for DFS value
- Hailey Van Lith: Rookie injury risk standard; monitor for any early-season concerns
- Courtney Vandersloot: Veteran durability; typical season-long availability expected
- Ariel Atkins: Clean health profile; role-dependent minutes
Season Outlook
Best Case: 18 wins — Van Lith steps into scoring role; Vandersloot veteran stability; free agency surprises; bubble consideration
Base Case: 16 wins — Young core struggles without Reese anchor; Van Lith rookie development; continued lottery; draft capital invested wisely
Worst Case: 13 wins — Atkins also departs; complete roster collapse; Vandersloot only veteran; disaster year; top-3 pick secured
Win Range: 13–18 wins
Playoff Odds: 8%
Prediction: 15 wins, 15th seed (East), full rebuild. Chicago made the brutally tough call to trade Angel Reese to Atlanta for draft capital. This signals "we're not contending in 2026" and "building for 2027+." It's a long-term play that sacrifices present competitiveness. Without Reese's elite rebounding, the Sky are one of the WNBA's weakest rosters. Hailey Van Lith becomes the sole young anchor—massive pressure on a #1 pick. Courtney Vandersloot provides veteran floor-leading, but bench depth is thin. If Ariel Atkins also departs (LA trade pending), the roster is skeletal. DFS value concentrated on Van Lith's upside (rookie discount); Vandersloot provides assist floor; avoid depth plays entirely. This is a painful but strategic rebuild year. The 2027-2028 window (when the traded draft picks become young talent) is the real focus.