At the 2024 WNBA Draft, the Chicago Sky got everything they wanted—and then some

It’s said that you go big or you go home. In the case of the Chicago Sky at the 2024 WNBA Draft, they went big and went home very satisfied.

Before a record television audience of more than 2.4 million viewers, the draft brought in a class that many will look back at as their “1997 moment,” when the league began and big names helped usher in a new era. In other words, it is the dawning of a new day—not just for the league but for Chicago as well.

After much speculation as to who the Sky would select at No. 3, with many anticipating that Rickea Jackson of Tennessee would be the pick, the Sky took a chance and came away with South Carolina’s Kamilla Cardoso at No. 3 and LSU’s Angel Reese at No. 7. Originally owners of the No. 8 pick, Chicago made a pre-draft trade with the Minnesota Lynx to move up to No. 7. The team also selected Brynna Maxwell out of Gonzaga with the No. 13 pick.

Chicago looks to build around twin towers

The Sky are ecstatic that two of the most high-profile players in women’s basketball will be taking their talents and marquee value to the Windy City.

Cardoso is coming off a stellar collegiate career, first with Syracuse and then with South Carolina, which culminated with winning the national title and going undefeated at 38-0. She finished her senior year leading the team in points at 14.4 and rebounds with 9.4 per game. She also totaled a team-best 82 blocks and a team-high field goal percentage of 59.4 percent. Cardoso was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2024 NCAA Tournament and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division I Defensive Player of the Year.

Reese left an indelible mark on the game at LSU after transferring from Maryland. She took the Lady Tigers to the national title in 2023 and cemented her place in history. This past year, LSU lost to Iowa in the Elite Eight. But Reese didn’t go away quietly, as she led the SEC in scoring and rebounding, with 18.6 points and 13.4 rebounds per game. She also was named SEC Player of the Year, captured her third AP All-American honor and was selected as a Wooden Award All-American Team member.

Maxwell is a sharp shooter who is coming off a five-year career with Utah and Gonzaga. Over that span, she averaged 12.9 points per game and shot 42.7 percent from the 3-point line. In her last year with the Bulldogs, she achieved a career high 14.2 points per game and was named to the All-WCC First Team. She also took part in 2024 State Farm College Three-Point Championship.

The Sky are raising the ceiling

The Sky got everything they were looking for in terms of scoring and rebounding. Combined, the three bring scoring potential from all spots on the floor, while Reese and Cardoso can work wonders on the boards and on defense. Once they adjust to the W, they can provide some relief for Elizabeth Williams and Isabelle Harrison.

But perhaps more importantly, they will help spur the sea change of renewed interest in the WNBA, as new head coach and WNBA legend Teresa Weatherspoon can attest to. As she shared at the post-draft press conference:

It isn’t all about the X’s and Os. It’s about how we can make them even better people, and to be able to do the things they want to do on the outside of this world, outside the world of basketball. But it’s going to be an amazing opportunity to be able to coach these young women who’s going to get so much visibility. Many people in the stands, many things that they would do for this organization that will elevate this, elevate the game of basketball once again. So it’s going to be an incredible moment for us to have them a part of our organization.

The Chicago Sky tip off the 2024 regular season on Wednesday, May 15 against the Dallas Wings in Dallas at 7:00 p.m. CST.