How the Chicago Sky Found the League's Biggest Revelation

Chicago’s rebuild has already been tested hard this season. The Sky are 12-20 and appear set to miss the playoffs for a second straight year, despite GM Jeff Pagliocca beginning the year describing the team as “win-now.” Injuries have hurt, but management decisions are also under scrutiny, including trading Angel Reese in April and giving up control of their 2027 first-round pick by swapping rights with the Washington Mystics. Still, Chicago found an unexpected standout: undrafted rookie Sydney Taylor. Signed to a training camp deal in April and converted to the WNBA minimum at $270,000, Taylor has become the team’s top scorer, averaging 20.3 points over her last eight games and hitting a season-defining game-winning three against the Las Vegas Aces.