Chicago Sky Make Huge Trade With Minnesota Lynx Before WNBA Draft
The Sky made a splash on the eve of the 2024 WNBA Draft, swapping spots in the first round with the Minnesota Lynx.
By Jovan Alford
The 2024 WNBA Draft is set to begin on Monday night as all eyes will be waiting on the official announcement of Caitlin Clark being selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Indiana Fever.
However, a major trade took place on Sunday involving the Chicago Sky and Minnesota Lynx that will shake up the draft board.
The Sky announced on Twitter that they acquired the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and Nikolina Milic from the Lynx for the No. 8 overall pick, Sika Kone, a 2025 second-round pick, and the rights to swap 2026 first-round picks. Milic averaged 5.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in her two seasons with the Lynx.
We have acquired the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and Nikolina Milić from Minnesota in exchange for the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft, Sika Koné, a 2025 second round pick and the rights to swap 2026 first round picks.
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) April 14, 2024
🔗 https://t.co/uBXbqReHAp pic.twitter.com/Mi2vUR19ty
Chicago heads into the WNBA draft with two first-round picks (Nos. 3 and 8) but felt the need to move up ahead of the Lynx. ESPN’s latest mock draft from Michael Voepel had the Sky taking Kamilla Cardoso at No. 3 overall and Angel Reese at No. 8.
Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times reported Sunday that former University of Tennessee star Rickea Jackson is one of the Sky’s top targets.
But if Chicago doesn’t take Jackson at No. 3 for example, they won’t get her as teams such as the Los Angeles Sparks and Washington Mystics could draft her at No. 4 or No. 6.
As for the No. 7 pick, the Sky could take Reese, who was a double-double machine at LSU and one of the better rebounders in this year’s class. The potential idea of a Cardoso-Reese tandem is intriguing for a Sky squad looking to retool under first-year head coach Teresa Weatherspoon.