Sky Trade Second-Round Picks to Protect Roster

Deals with Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo ensure expansion teams won't select Chicago players in upcoming draft.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:34pm

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Ahead of the WNBA expansion draft, the Chicago Sky have made two trades to protect their roster. They traded their second-round picks to the Portland Fire and Toronto Tempo in exchange for the expansion teams agreeing not to select any Sky players in the draft. This allows the Sky to hold onto key players like Hailey Van Lith, Maddy Westbeld, and Aicha Coulibaly, while still retaining the No. 5 overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Why it matters

The Sky are looking to build on their recent success and maintain their core roster. By making these trades, they can avoid losing valuable players to the expansion teams, giving them a better chance to compete for a championship next season.

The details

In the first deal, the Sky traded their No. 17 pick in the second round to the Portland Fire in exchange for the Fire's No. 21 pick. The Sky also sent their No. 26 pick, the final selection in the second round, to the Toronto Tempo. In return, the Tempo and Fire agreed not to select any players from the Sky's Unprotected List in the Expansion Draft.

  • The trades were made ahead of the WNBA Expansion Draft, which will take place on Friday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Hailey Van Lith

A 2025 draft pick for the Sky who the team is looking to protect.

Maddy Westbeld

Another 2025 draft pick for the Sky that the team wants to hold onto.

Aicha Coulibaly

The Sky's 2025 draft pick they are prioritizing keeping on their roster.

Sevgi Uzun

The Sky's starting point guard who the team is looking to retain.

Angel Reese

A higher-value player for the Sky who is likely to be protected in the Expansion Draft.

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What they’re saying

“These trades show the Sky are prioritizing their existing players and keeping their core roster intact for next season.”

— Alissa Hirsh, Sports Reporter

What’s next

The Sky will now focus on the upcoming WNBA Draft, where they hold the No. 5 overall pick. They could potentially select college stars like Kiki Rice, Lauren Betts, or Flau'jae Johnson.

The takeaway

By making strategic trades to protect their roster, the Chicago Sky are demonstrating a commitment to building on their recent success and keeping their core group of players together. This positions them well to compete for a championship in the upcoming WNBA season.