Sky's the limit: Chicago ready for new chapter in wake of high-profile exits

James Wade is well aware of the chatter surrounding the Chicago Sky.

Just two years after guiding the club to its first WNBA title, various outlets have pegged the Sky to finish near the bottom of the standings following a mass offseason exodus of talent.

Five of Chicago's top six scorers from the 2022 campaign have moved on, including future Hall of Famer Candace Parker and lead playmaker Courtney Vandersloot.

Still, the Sky head coach expressed confidence in the players on his roster and is eager to prove the critics wrong.

"I got a little chip on my shoulder," Wade told media, including theScore, prior to Chicago's preseason finale in Toronto against the Minnesota Lynx. "I always feel like a stepchild everywhere I go, so I think our team has kind of taken on that persona."

Wade, who also serves as the Sky's general manager, opted to retool on the fly around All-Star wing Kahleah Copper.

Wade acquired Marina Mabrey from the Dallas Wings in a four-team deal to replenish some of the outside shooting lost with Allie Quigley sitting out the upcoming season.

The reigning Executive of the Year also added veterans Courtney Williams, Isabelle Harrison, and Elizabeth Williams in free agency. The trio has amassed 454 regular-season starts and 38 playoff appearances between them.

Despite a number of new faces, Wade still plans on playing an up-tempo brand of basketball with some tweaks to maximize his current squad's strengths. But more importantly, the Tennessee native sought to fill the locker room with "tough-minded" players that have proven track records in the league.

Copper applauded the franchise's offseason additions, specifically Mabrey and Courtney Williams.

"I think they're some dogs," Copper told theScore. "They want to get after it, and I'm excited to play with them. ... Lots of personality and fire. That's what I like. I want to look to my side and know that I can go to war with them."

Wade shares the same competitive spirit as Copper and her new teammates. That really spoke to Elizabeth Williams during her meeting with Wade in free agency.

The former All-Star and Most Improved Player was looking for a starting gig after spending the previous campaign as the Washington Mystics' backup five.

Williams knew she'd have an opportunity in Chicago, with Parker and top reserve Azura Stevens out of the picture. But it was Wade's vision and the culture he had already established that led the 2020 All-Defensive first-team selection to choose the Sky over the Los Angeles Sparks.

"He talked about the types of players that he's had and that he's bringing in. People that compete, play with a chip on their shoulder, and want to win," Williams told theScore. "Obviously, any time you come into an organization that has a championship, there's just a different level of focus and understanding of what that takes. And so talking to him about that was helpful for me."

There's a chance as well for the few holdovers from last year's franchise-record 26-win team to step into bigger roles.

Dana Evans is poised to be a prominent rotational piece after playing just over 10 minutes per contest across her previous two campaigns in the Windy City.

The third-year guard has shown flashes of potential early in her career. As a rookie in 2021, Evans was a valuable floor-spacer off the bench during the playoffs, draining 41.7% of her 3-point attempts, including three consecutive triples in Game 3 of the WNBA Finals.

Evans subsequently finished 10th in the league with a 44.2% clip on catch-and-shoot opportunities last season. She made the most of her first career start that year, tallying 24 points, five assists, and four steals in 35 minutes of action.

Evans carried that momentum into the 2023 preseason, averaging 7.7 points and 3.3 assists to go along with a 38.5% mark from deep.

As Vandersloot's understudy, the two-time ACC Player of the Year says she learned how to play at different speeds and to exercise more patience when reading opposing defenses.

Evans has also taken inspiration from Copper, who was a reserve for three seasons before her breakout 2020 campaign.

"I remember watching (Copper) play, going to the (Sky) games, and seeing she didn't play much. And then now, I won a championship with her, and she was the (Finals) MVP," Evans told theScore. "It's just about putting the work in, trusting the process, and just staying the course because it's hard. ... But the great ones will eventually separate themselves."

The early returns have been promising, as Chicago finished the preseason with a 2-1 record. The Sky's aggressiveness and ball pressure on the defensive end has helped fuel their transition game. They averaged nine steals, 10.7 fast-break points, and 17.3 points off turnovers through three exhibition matchups.

However, Chicago's success in 2023 will ultimately hinge on Copper. The north Philadelphia native is the focal point of the team's offense, often using her physicality when attacking downhill to bully opposing wings and draw fouls. She's also the new face of the franchise and has spent the past few months adjusting to that leadership role.

During training camp, Copper arranged a team get-together where everyone took part in icebreakers to get a deeper understanding of one another. In the fourth quarter of last Saturday's preseason tilt versus the Lynx, she willingly deferred to rookie Kayana Traylor, who was shooting the lights out in a one-possession game.

While Copper certainly has some big shoes to fill, she feels prepared to lead the next chapter of Sky basketball, thanks to the likes of Parker and Quigley.

"I've played with Hall of Famers. I think that they were amazing on and off the court," Copper told theScore. "I'm just grateful that I got a chance to ... pick their brains and learn from them because I think I'm now fully equipped. I'm ready to handle whatever comes this way this year."