Chicago Sky must back up preseason optimism with results | Opinion

TL;DR

The Chicago Sky must translate their preseason optimism into actual performance to gain respect and prove their championship aspirations. General manager Jeff Pagliocca emphasizes the need for a genuine plan and a more athletic, versatile roster.

Key points

Chicago Sky has struggled historically in the WNBA.
General manager Jeff Pagliocca emphasizes a genuine plan.
The team has a more athletic and versatile roster this season.
Earning respect from free agents is a priority for the Sky.
The Sky aims to prove their championship aspirations.

Mentioned in this story

Jeff Pagliocca

Chicago SkyWNBA

CHICAGO — It’s easy to talk big in the preseason, to style yourself as a team that’s going to be competitive and have championship aspirations.

When you’ve bumbled around as badly as the Chicago Sky has for most of its existence, however, you don’t get the benefit of the doubt. You want to prove you’re serious about winning, that you’re going to do more than the bare minimum?

You’re going to have to actually do it.

“We knew that earning the respect of (free agents) and retaining players that were here was going to take some real sincerity and a genuine plan from our end of who we wanted to be,” Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said during the team’s April 30 media day.

“Looking at our roster now, you see more of an athletic group, shot-creating group, some more size, more versatility than we've had over the last couple of seasons,” he said. “We’re really going to go after being a very, very competitive group.”