‘‘We’re always going to be in win-now mode,’’ said Chicago Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca before the season began in May. ‘‘We had to make some changes. We’re really confident about the group we have, and as long as we’re improving each day — we’ll gauge that internally — the goal is to make the playoffs.” And just like that, Angel Reese and Co. appeared ready to break free from back-to-back losing seasons. Big names like Ariel Atkins, Courtney Vandersloot, and Kia Nurse were brought in, along with first-year head coach Tyler Marsh from the Las Vegas Aces. However, Pagliocca’s vision of being in “win-now” mode has all but crumbled, as the Sky currently sit in 11th place with an 8-23 record. Their playoff hopes are nearly extinguished, and one analyst, in particular, is far from impressed with the job Pagliocca has done since taking over.
WNBA draft analyst Hunter Cruse (@HunterCruse14) issued his verdict on Chicago’s general manager as the regular season nears its end. Pointing back to Pagliocca’s early-season promise to fans, Cruse noted, “The funny part is, if he just wouldn’t have done the Atkins trade, would have got Citron, and drafted better at the end of the first round and in the second round, he’d be in a better win-now position. But he tried to get fancy, make these swap-right trades, and chase proven talent. Doing all that doesn’t guarantee you’re in win-now mode. So, with all of that said, this is why I’m giving him a D-grade.” And he’d have given an F- had it not been for one reason.
The Sky were busy in the offseason, trading Dana Evans for two picks that became the number 16 and number 22 picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft. Instead of opting for prospects like Te-Hina Paopao, JJ Quinerly, or Aziaha James, Chicago chose Maddy Westbeld and Aicha Coulibaly. Westbeld has struggled to make the impact she’d hoped for, averaging just 3.3 points in 12.2 minutes per game, while Coulibaly remains sidelined as she recovers from a knee injury.
But perhaps the biggest blow of them all came when the Sky traded some crucial picks to get Ariel Atkins. They gave away their number 3 pick of the 2025 draft, 2027 second round pick, and rights to swap 2027 first round picks. It goes without saying that Atkins has been a very important part of the Sky side this season, but that number 3 pick of the draft could have seen them get Sonia Citron, a move that, in hindsight, might have served the franchise’s long-term future far better. Still, Cruse appreciates a move Pagliocca, who joined the Sky in 2023, made a year before.
May 29, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky guard Rebecca Allen (9), guard Ariel Atkins (7), guard Courtney Vandersloot (22), center Kamilla Cardoso (10), and forward Angel Reese (5) are seen during the first half against the Dallas Wings at the Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images
Cruse continued, saying, “The only reason it’s not an F-grade is because he drafted Angel at number seven, which was a great eval. I was lower on Angel. He was right there. So, full one credit for that. I was wrong. Chicago was right. Angel was far better than the number seven pick. I’ll give him credit there.”
Angel Reese had been in the form of her life before injuring her back earlier this month, which has seen her miss the last five Chicago Sky games. Averaging 14.2 points, with a league-high 12.6 rebounds and a team-high 3.7 assists per game, it’s safe to say that the Bayou Barbie has stamped her authority as one of the best players in the league. But while the deal to bring in Reese was fantastic for the Sky, it still came with a caveat.
In order to get Reese, the Sky traded their eighth-overall pick, a 2025 second-rounder, Sika Kone, and the rights to swap first-round picks in 2026 to the Lynx in exchange for the seventh pick of the draft. While Reese has already shown promise as a potential All-WNBA player, the prospect of the best team in the league getting a chance at a lottery pick is, in itself, a rare scenario and could be detrimental to the other teams in their pursuit of the championship in the long run!
So, in order to ensure the Lynx don’t get the opportunity to land a lottery pick, the Sky will need to buckle up and deliver in the final month of the season. However, with Reese sidelined because of injury, that will be a tough ask. Still, there might be a small ray of hope for Sky fans.
Angel Reese hints at return
With just eight wins to show for Coach Marsh in his debut season so far, it’s safe to say this isn’t what he envisioned before the season began. Sure, injuries to Courtney Vandersloot, Ariel Atkins, and Angel Reese have had a huge impact on their playoff push, but even with them, the team didn’t have a particularly strong record.
But now, with Atkins back, there’s still a glimmer of hope for the Sky to salvage something from the season–provided Reese manages to make a comeback and have the same impact she did before getting injured. The Chi-Town Barbie is definitely dropping hints about her return, if her recent tweet is anything to go by! “In due time,” she posted on X, leading many fans to believe she’ll be back soon!
Whether or not Angel Reese’s return will help the Sky go on a big run remains to be seen. Coach Tyler Marsh has described her injury as a “day-to-day” situation, yet she didn’t travel with the team. So, it will be interesting to see when she makes a comeback from her back injury or if she makes one this season.
What are your thoughts on the whole Chicago Sky trade situation? How would you rate Jeff Pagliocca’s job so far? Let us know in the comments down below!
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