Final accounting came early for the Sky.
For the first time since 2018, there was no postseason appearance to hang their hat on. As the 2021 title season moves further away in the rearview mirror, only one question matters after a failed season: What’s the plan for returning to the top echelon?
“We’re going to make the strongest and most aggressive moves we can this free agency,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said during exit interviews. “We want to get there sooner rather than later.”
The Sky’s descent from the team with the best record to a lottery team was swift. Their return won’t be, despite Pagliocca’s goals, but there is a sensible course that could see the Sky return to the top half of the league by 2026.
It starts with Pagliocca pulling off at least one significant free-agent signing and capitalizing on the Sky’s lottery pick.
The Sky’s most glaring need is in the backcourt. They were last in the league in made three-pointers, averaging only 4.8 per game. One target to keep an eye on in free agency is Fever guard Kelsey Mitchell. She’s represented by the same agency as center Elizabeth Williams, whom Pagliocca just signed to a one-year extension.
Players have until November to opt out of the collective-bargaining agreement. All signs indicate they will, in which case it will expire at the end of the 2025 season. This means that veteran players likely will only be signing one-year contracts with the expectation that salaries and the salary cap will see a substantial increase by 2026.
Pagliocca said Friday that he still wants to sell free agents on a long-term goal despite the assumption that most will be looking to sign one-year deals. He can do that by using the 2025 season to prove the Sky are headed in the right direction.
The Sky will have six players under contract next year and just over $900,000 in cap space to work with after factoring in Williams’ new deal, which is valued at $100,000, according to herhoopstats.com. If Pagliocca is able to sign a player such as Mitchell — who shot 40.2% for the Fever from three-point range — and draft well, the Sky could be on their way back.
Along with the lottery pick this year, the Sky will have the No. 9 pick from the Sun, which Pagliocca acquired in the Marina Mabrey trade. The 2026 draft, however, is one that could prove to be Pagliocca’s best work.
The Sky own the Mercury’s ’26 first-round pick or the Sun’s. When he was forced to trade Kahleah Copper, he acquired the Mercury’s 2026 first-round pick. Months later when he was forced to trade Mabrey, he acquired the right to swap the 2026 first-rounder he got from Phoenix with the Sun. This could amount to a lottery pick because the Sun’s three-headed championship-contending monster of Alyssa Thomas, DeWanna Bonner and Brionna Jones could disband after this season.
The first-year trial run for Pagliocca and coach Teresa Weatherspoon is over, and the takeaway during exit interviews was that this team was inexperienced and young. This time next year, that defense no longer will be viable.
For Pagliocca, ensuring the Sky’s downward spiral doesn’t become their identity will hinge on swinging big in free agency and connecting.