Look, being a Chicago Sky fan right now feels a bit like riding a rollercoaster that's missing a few bolts. Honestly, the 2025 season was a grind. Ten wins. Thirty-four losses. It was a tough watch at times, and if you're looking at the chicago sky wnba roster for 2026, you probably have more questions than a toddler at a museum.
People keep talking about a rebuild, but it’s more like a total architectural overhaul. We've got the pillars—Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso—but the rest of the house is basically under construction. The vibe in Chicago is shifting from "just happy to be here" to "we need to figure this out before the new practice facility opens in Bedford Park."
The Twin Towers: Why the Chicago Sky WNBA Roster Starts in the Paint
Let’s be real. If you aren’t starting your conversation with Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese, you’re talking about the wrong team.
Cardoso really started to find her feet late last year. She finished 2025 averaging 13.6 points and 8.5 rebounds. Those aren't just "rookie-plus" numbers; she was shooting nearly 53% from the floor. She’s 6'7" and finally looks like she knows she’s the biggest person on the court. On the other hand, you have Angel Reese. The double-double machine. She put up 14.7 points and a league-leading 12.6 rebounds per game.
But here is the thing people miss.
Having two elite rebounders is great, but the spacing was, well, cramped. It was like trying to park two SUVs in a one-car garage. For the chicago sky wnba roster to actually work in 2026, Head Coach Tyler Marsh has to figure out how to keep them from tripping over each other.
Who is Actually Under Contract?
This is where it gets kind of messy. If you look at the official books, the list of "guaranteed" players is shorter than a preseason box score.
- Kamilla Cardoso (Center)
- Angel Reese (Forward)
- Hailey Van Lith (Guard)
- Maddy Westbeld (Forward)
That’s basically it for the core young group. Everyone else? It’s a mix of "negotiating," "unrestricted free agent," or "wait and see."
Ariel Atkins and Courtney Vandersloot are the names everyone is watching. Atkins joined via trade from Washington and she’s basically a walking bucket, but she’s also an unrestricted free agent. The Sky need her. Without her 13.1 points per game and veteran presence, the backcourt is basically a bunch of kids and a prayer.
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Then there's "Sloot." The return of Courtney Vandersloot to Chicago last year was a "pinch-me" moment for fans who remember the 2021 championship. But she’s 36. She’s not the 40-minute-a-night floor general she used to be. She’s more like the wise sage who comes in to settle the offense when things go sideways.
The Guard Problem
The Sky backcourt last year was... inconsistent.
Rachel Banham and Kia Nurse provided some veteran stability, but neither is a long-term "point guard of the future." The team really missed that elite, twitchy playmaker who can break down a defense. That’s why the No. 5 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft is so massive.
Jeff Pagliocca, the GM, has been aggressive—sometimes maybe too aggressive, according to the critics. Trading away future first-round swaps to get Reese and Cardoso was a gamble that’s currently paying off in talent but hurting in depth.
The Coaching Carousel and the 10-34 Reality
Tyler Marsh is staying. That’s the word from the front office.
Despite some spicy comments from the players during exit interviews, the organization is doubling down on Marsh’s player development background. He came from the Becky Hammon school of coaching (Las Vegas Aces), so he knows what a winning culture looks like.
To help him out, they brought in Latricia Trammell as an assistant. This is a low-key brilliant move. Trammell has been a head coach in this league (Dallas Wings) and she’s known for a defensive-minded approach that doesn't take any nonsense. If the Sky want to stop being a "fun team to watch" and start being a "hard team to play against," Trammell is the one to make it happen.
What to Watch for in Free Agency
Free agency starts in February. Mark your calendars.
The Sky have cap space, but they also have a reputation problem to fix. Top-tier free agents want to know they’re going to a place that’s stable. The practice facility delays haven't helped, though the word is it’ll finally be ready for the 2026 tip-off.
If they can't land a superstar guard like a Kelsey Mitchell or an Arike Ogunbowale (who are both on everyone's wish list), they might have to look at the trade market again. There are constant rumors about Reese’s long-term happiness in Chicago, but honestly? She’s a competitor. She wants to win. If Pagliocca can put a shooter and a real point guard around her, the drama probably disappears.
Quick Roster Breakdown (Projected)
- The Stars: Reese, Cardoso. (The untouchables).
- The Vets: Atkins, Vandersloot (if they re-sign).
- The Projects: Hailey Van Lith. She had a rocky 2025, but the talent is there.
- The New Blood: Whoever they grab at No. 5 in the draft. Think backcourt depth.
The chicago sky wnba roster isn't broken, but it is incomplete. It's a puzzle with some of the most expensive pieces already on the table, but someone spilled coffee on the instructions and lost the corners.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're following this team, stop looking at the win-loss column for a second and watch the spacing.
- Monitor the Draft: The Sky need a guard who can shoot 38% from deep. If they draft another "interior" player at No. 5, it’s a sign they might be looking to trade one of the bigs.
- Check the Free Agency Flurry: If the Sky don't sign at least one "max" level veteran by mid-February, expect another year of "growing pains."
- The "Sloot" Factor: Watch if Courtney Vandersloot takes a team-friendly deal. If she does, it means she believes in the project. If she walks, the rebuild just got three years longer.
Keep an eye on the defensive rotations. Last year, the Sky were 10th in the league in defensive rating. You can't win in the WNBA if you can't stop a nosebleed. With Trammell on the bench, that has to change. If it doesn't, 2026 will look a lot like 2025—lots of highlights, not many wins.