Chicago Sky just finished the 2nd-worst season in franchise history. What comes next?

The Chicago Sky concluded their second-worst season in franchise history with a 91-86 loss to the New York Liberty, marking their 34th defeat of the year. Frustrated fans at Wintrust Arena expressed their discontent through signs criticizing team ownership and chants calling for the firing of general manager Jeff Pagliocca.

Under first-year coach Tyler Marsh, the team finished with a 10-34 record (.227 winning percentage), which, while not the worst in Sky history, represents their poorest performance since the inaugural 2006 season. This year also marked the first time the Sky suffered 34 losses, with 16 occurring at home, and their first consecutive playoff misses since 2018.

Despite back-to-back disappointing seasons, the Sky face only a 5-1 chance of securing a top-four draft pick. The team now enters a critical offseason with several unresolved questions, particularly regarding the upcoming WNBA expansion draft for the new Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire franchises.

The expansion draft, expected this fall, presents uncertainties such as the order of selection, the number of players teams can protect, and rules regarding player coring. This draft will be pivotal for the Sky, who anticipate significant roster changes between 2025 and 2026.

Additionally, the WNBA has not yet announced the date for the draft lottery. The Sky do not possess their own 2026 first-round pick due to prior trades but will receive a lottery pick from the Connecticut Sun as part of a previous deal involving the Phoenix Mercury.