The Chicago Sky's roster will see significant changes for the third consecutive season, with multiple key players leaving and new signings including Skylar Diggins and DiJonai Carrington. Head coach Tyler Marsh and general manager Jeff Pagliocca defended the team's strategy amidst criticism.
Key points
Chicago Sky's roster changes for the third consecutive season
Key players like Angel Reese and Ariel Atkins have left
New signings include Skylar Diggins and DiJonai Carrington
Head coach Tyler Marsh defends the team's strategy
Players are engaged with social media discussions
Mentioned in this story
Tyler MarshJeff Pagliocca
Chicago SkySkylar DigginsDiJonai CarringtonAzurá Stevens
For a third consecutive season, the Chicago Sky's roster will look noticeably different.
Chicago signed guards Skylar Diggins and DiJonai Carrington and reunited with forward Azurá Stevens, who won a 2021 championship with the franchise. It also acquired forward Rickea Jackson in the Atkins trade. So much change all at once has heightened the online chatter about the team. On Wednesday, head coach Tyler Marsh and Pagliocca defended the Sky's moves.
"What I feel good about is that you don't land the players that we've landed without doing something right. Like, we're heading in the right direction. We're doing things the right way. We got the right people in the building," Marsh said.
"Players are aware of the negative things that get said on a daily. We're all engaged in social media. We're all engaged in what's going on around us, and we're aware of it."
Q&A
What changes have occurred in the Chicago Sky's roster for the 2026 season?
The Chicago Sky signed guards Skylar Diggins and DiJonai Carrington, and reunited with forward Azurá Stevens, while also acquiring Rickea Jackson in a trade.
Why are critics concerned about the Chicago Sky's roster changes?
Critics are concerned due to the significant turnover of multiple starters each season, leading to questions about team stability and performance.
Who is the head coach of the Chicago Sky and what is his stance on the team's changes?
Head coach Tyler Marsh believes the team's recent signings indicate they are heading in the right direction and doing things correctly.
How has social media influenced the Chicago Sky's players and management?
Players and management are aware of the negative commentary on social media, which has heightened discussions about the team's changes.
Related Articles
Sports
Collin Chandler shares why he transferred to BYU from Kentucky
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
Phillies predicted to trade for $4.2 million 1.175 OPS breakout All-Star to replace Alec Bohm, be perfect pivot after whiffing on Bo Bichette
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
Robert MacIntyre speaks out for the first time since his appalling behavior at Augusta National
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
Asterisk Talley begins two-week swing on the LPGA, including a major
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
Elite in-state athlete names Florida State his top school
Yahoo Sports·
Sports
Anthony Edwards names Timberwolves' NBA Playoffs X Factor vs. Nuggets
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
Azzi Fudd (R) of UConn hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
Azzi Fudd of UConn celebrates after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Olivia Miles who was selected second overall by the Minnesota Lynx during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
Olivia Miles of TCU celebrates after being selected with the 2nd pick in the first round by the Minnesota Lynx.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Awa Fam Thiam who was selected third overall by the Seattle Storm.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Lauren Betts who was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics.
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Gabriela Jaquez who was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky.
(L-R) Azzi Fudd of UConn and Cotie McMahon of Ole Miss pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
(L-R) Angela Dugalic of UCLA, Kiki Rice of UCLA, Gianna Kneepkens of UCLA, Lauren Betts of UCLA and Gabriela Jaquez of UCLA during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
(L-R) Awa Fam Thiam of Spain and Nell Angloma of France pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft.
Raven Johnson of South Carolina, left, Madina Okot of Kenya, center, and TaÕNiya Latson of South Carolina pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
1 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
1 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Azzi Fudd who was selected first overall by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
2 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
Azzi Fudd (R) of UConn hugs WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
3 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
Azzi Fudd of UConn celebrates after being selected with the 1st pick in the first round by the Dallas Wings during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
4 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Olivia Miles who was selected second overall by the Minnesota Lynx during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards.
5 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
Olivia Miles of TCU celebrates after being selected with the 2nd pick in the first round by the Minnesota Lynx.
6 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Awa Fam Thiam who was selected third overall by the Seattle Storm.
7 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (left) poses for photos with Lauren Betts who was selected fourth overall by the Washington Mystics.
8 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert (right) poses for photos with Gabriela Jaquez who was selected fifth overall by the Chicago Sky.
9 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
(L-R) Azzi Fudd of UConn and Cotie McMahon of Ole Miss pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
10 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
(L-R) Angela Dugalic of UCLA, Kiki Rice of UCLA, Gianna Kneepkens of UCLA, Lauren Betts of UCLA and Gabriela Jaquez of UCLA during the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
11 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
(L-R) Awa Fam Thiam of Spain and Nell Angloma of France pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft.
12 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
Raven Johnson of South Carolina, left, Madina Okot of Kenya, center, and TaÕNiya Latson of South Carolina pose prior to the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed on April 13, 2026 in New York City.
13 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
14 / 14
Scenes from the 2026 WNBA Draft
2026 WNBA Draft prospects pose for a group photo before the event at The Shed at Hudson Yards in NYC on April 13, 2026.
The Sky head coach then listed reasons why players like Diggins, Jackson and Stevens might want to play for Chicago. He noted that Diggins is a veteran who knows "the fake from the real" and has discernment about what's been said. According to Marsh, if Jackson didn't want to join the Sky, she could've acknowledged that during conversations. For Stevens, Marsh said that Chicago would not have been able to land her again if it were not "doing things the right way."
"As much as the negative stuff that people want to speak, make sure that you're speaking about the stuff that we do well just as loudly, too," Marsh said.
Chicago's head coach later added that the Sky communicate from what they feel is an honest, authentic perspective when engaging with players and agents, while also having honest, "tough" conversations behind closed doors about the team and where it wants to be as an organization. Pagliocca backed Marsh's assessment of where Chicago stands as a franchise, saying it was important for the pair to maintain their core values during free agency and the WNBA draft as the Sky added players.
"There's a lot of really good people here, and everyone's gonna have opinions. This league has a lot of eyes on it now. The attention has changed dramatically. So you know, narratives can be fair or unfair, but, you know, we're very self-aware," Pagliocca said. "You know, we're in a new place, and we're excited, but again, we're just gonna keep telling the truth, being honest, and, you know, trust goes both ways, so we're looking forward to it."