WNBA training camps open Sunday, and the Sky are in rebuild mode, regardless of whether they want to describe the upcoming season that way. After the departures of Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley and Azura Stevens, the team’s championship window appears to have closed just as quickly as it opened.
That is, unless guard Kahleah Copper has anything to say about it.
She enters the season on the second year of a two-year contract and as the default face of the franchise. The Sky’s success largely depends on her and whether she stays beyond 2023.
Beyond Copper, the list of developing stars includes guards Marina Mabrey and Dana Evans, alongside established veterans such as center/forward Elizabeth Williams, guard Courtney Williams and forward Isabelle Harrison.
The Sky have 18 players entering camp. Beyond the six previously mentioned, three others should have roster spots: guard Rebekah Gardner and forwards Alanna Smith and Ruthy Hebard who announced the birth of her first sun with media and commerce company Togethxr. The full story of her return to the court will be detailed in a film by the company airing Sunday, April 30.
With center/forward Astou Ndour-Fall opting out of the season and Hebard as well as center Li Yueru’s status up in the air, the Sky have vacancies to fill in the front court. The last two seasons, coach and general manager James Wade carried an 11-player roster to fit under a strict salary cap. This year, he has the space to sign three more players, depending on their experience.
The Sky have six players signed to training-camp contracts, along with their two draft picks this year — guard Kayana Traylor and forward Kseniya Malashka. Given the competitive nature of camps and the number of talented players who will be waived, the Sky could end up signing a player who has cleared waivers.
Sky’s training-camp roster
*denotes player is signed to a training-camp contract
Kahleah Copper, guard
Dana Evans, guard
Rebekah Gardner, guard
Marina Mabrey, guard
Courtney Williams, guard
Kayana Traylor, guard
Feyonda Fitzgerald, guard*
Angel Baker, guard*
Ruthy Hebard, forward
Isabelle Harrison, forward
Alanna Smith, forward
Elizabeth Williams, center/forward
Li Yueru, center
Kseniya Malashka, forward
Robyn Parks, forward*
Anneli Mayley, forward*
Morgan Bertsch, forward*
Kristine Anigwe, forward/center*
