Keeping Copper will require lots of gold
The 3 things that should be on the Sky’s to-do list this offseason starts with re-signing finals MVP
When the Chicago Sky open the 2022 WNBA season, they will be the reigning champions for the first time in franchise history. There was plenty of talk during the team’s parade and rally Tuesday about being back at Pritzker Pavilion this time next year to celebrate another title, and given their dominant postseason performance, that’s not far-fetched.
The Sky have one of the league’s best in-game coaches in James Wade and at least one more year of Candace Parker, who is signed through the 2022 season.
However, the front office has plenty of work to do entering the offseason.
Here are three items on the to-do list. 1. Give Kahleah Copper the max and don’t look back: Copper was a matchup nightmare for every team the Sky played in the postseason. A first time All-Star in 2021, Copper tortured defenses in transition and slashing to the basket. Her 36 fastbreak points in the playoffs were 19 more than the next-highest mark, and she converted 54% of her non-post-up attempts around the basket.
Wade — who’s also the Sky general manager — should give the WNBA Finals MVP a Mad Libs contract that states, “The Chicago Sky are signing you for (blank) amount of years for (blank) amount of money,” and let Copper fill in the empty spaces.
In actuality, the Sky can offer her a three-year deal worth just north of $705,000. According to the league’s collective bargaining agreement, Copper would make $228,094 in 2022, $234,936 in 2023 and $241,984 in 2024. There’s no question Copper would receive a max contract from some team, and Sky management would be wise to do everything it can to retain its leading scorer.
Even after her stellar last two seasons with the Sky, Copper could get better during her next contract. She improved as a 3-point shooter during the playoffs, and according to Synergy Sports, she shot 44% on catch-and-shoot opportunities in the regular season. Copper also shut down DeWanna Bonner and Diana Taurasi in the last two rounds of the postseason, solidifying herself as one of the best two-way players in the WNBA.
When asked during the finals what the Mercury could do to slow Copper for the rest of the series, Taurasi said, “Hope she doesn’t show up at the gym.”
The Sky do have the ability to tag Copper with the core player designation — which would give them exclusive negotiating rights on a new contract — but the Sky don’t want to be on the other side of Copper’s on-court wrath. They
likely will offer her the max and make sure she is a part of their long-term future. 2. Piece together frontcourt depth: After they re-sign Copper, the salary-cap situation is more complicated for the Sky. They have the secondmost cap space heading into the offseason but have only four players signed through 2022, according to Her Hoop Stats. Multiple teams will have cap space this offseason and could look at the Sky’s deep 2021 roster to find contributors.
While Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley are unrestricted free agents, Vandersloot has said she wants to stay with the franchise that drafted her 10 years ago. It’s difficult to imagine the two franchise cornerstones finding a better situation in free agency this winter after winning a championship in Chicago.
So the Sky likely will have their starting backcourt return in 2022, but the rest of the roster remains in flux. Stefanie Dolson and Astou Ndour-Fall are unrestricted free agents, while Diamond DeShields will test restricted free agency.
Dolson, who has become a fan favorite since her arrival in 2017, gives Wade flexibility as a stretch-five who can play more physical against traditional centers. She also has developed chemistry with Quigley as a screener and has made a name for herself by setting vicious picks.
However, Dolson might be expendable if she and the team can’t come together on a salary figure.
Azurá Stevens is signed through 2022 and emerged as the starting center in the second half of the season. Her versatility allowed the Sky to hard hedge on defense throughout the playoffs.
The Sky also have third-year forward Ruthy Hebard under contract if they decide she is ready to see significant minutes. Hebard had the sixth-highest field-goal percentage for around-the-rim opportunities in 2021 but played only 3.1 minutes per game in the playoffs. The former No. 8 pick is making only $73,011 in 2022 and would be a cheaper option if the Sky can’t afford to bring back Dolson.
3. Decide what to do with
Diamond DeShields: DeShields heads into the offseason as one of the most fascinating free agents in the 2022 class. At times, the 2019 All-Star’s talent is tantalizing and reminds people why she was hailed as a rising superstar two years ago. In other instances she struggles to score consistently in the half court. She was replaced in the starting lineup by Quigley in the second half of the season and had to adjust to a new role coming off the bench.
DeShields said before the 2021 season she was ready to “get back to being the best player on the court.” She has high expectations for herself and has posted on Instagram about her 2024 Olympic aspirations. If there isn’t an opportunity to reestablish her value in Chicago, other teams might bite on her potential in an expanded role. The Indiana Fever have a glaring hole on the wing. The Atlanta Dream could try to persuade DeShields to return home and team up with point guard Chennedy Carter.
In any situation, the Sky have some control in restricted free agency. Whether Wade pursues sign-and-trade scenarios or lets DeShields walk for nothing will be a storyline to monitor.