On Sunday, the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx made a trade 24 hours prior to the 2025 WNBA Draft.
The Chicago Sky have acquired the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft from the Minnesota Lynx in exchange for their 2026 first-round selection, in which Minnesota will have the right to swap the pick. The news comes after Chicago traded the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft to the Washington Mystics in exchange for guard Ariel Atkins in February.
With the acquisition, the Sky will be selecting at both the No. 10 and No. 11 positions in the first round. Chicago will join the Connecticut Sun, Dallas Wings, and Washington Mystics as teams with multiple selections in the same round.
“We believe the 2025 draft class is deep and we’re excited about the flexibility we obtain by acquiring another first-round pick this year,” Chicago Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said in press release. “The No. 11 pick represents another route to improve our roster.”
The Chicago Sky Continue To Rebuild Under Tyler Marsh
Last year, the Chicago Sky executed a trade with the Washington Mystics just one day before the 2024 WNBA Draft. Through this trade, they acquired the seventh overall pick, which they used to select LSU Tigers forward Angel Reese to pair with No. 3 overall pick, center Kamilla Cardoso from South Carolina.
Reese made a significant impact in her rookie season, leading the league in total rebounds, which signaled a new league record. In addition, Reese earned a spot on the All-WNBA Rookie Team. Reese additionally was named Unrivaled Defensive Player of the Year, and won a championship with Rose BC in the offseason.
Throughout the offseason, the Sky brought back two-time WNBA Champion Courtney Vandersloot and acquired Rebecca Allen, Atkins, and Kia Nurse through trades and free agency. After missing the postseason the year prior, Chicago is looking to make a playoff run under new head coach Tyler Marsh.
The Minnesota Lynx fell to the New York Liberty in the 2024 WNBA Finals last year, where New York secured their first ever championship in a game 5 thriller. The Lynx have retained their core players throughout the offseason as they look to make another WNBA Finals run.
The WNBA Draft will take place on Monday, April 14, starting at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.
