This was probably the most important article I wrote this season. Definitely the thing I'm most proud of writing.
Billy Donovan's tenure in Chicago didn't feature nearly half as much winning as he would have preferred, but he was always direct and sincere and incredibly gracious with his time.
Billy Donovan is leaving Chicago after six seasons with the Bulls.
The Reinsdorfs anchored their decision-making on the hopes the coach would stay.
Now, they face two crucial hiring processes on their own.
So happy for you 🙏🏻🥰🫶🏻
Some quick notes from the first day of Sky training camp, including injury concerns and the future of the backup PG position:
Maddy Westbeld and Azurá Stevens also limited today while working through lower body injuries
No Kamilla Cardoso, Elizabeth Williams or DiJonai Carrington on day 1 of Sky training camp.
Cardoso and Williams are fulfilling final duties for their overseas teams.
Carrington is meeting with a team doctor to assess the left foot injury that ended her 2025 season.
beautiful
TIP THEM OVER
As noted in the article, landing top lottery odds is very very hard to do during expansion years. The bottom gets crowded fast.
Yeah this isn’t a full defense of his tactics (like I say in the article, the No. 7 move in 2024 was fairly disastrous in the rearview) but I think folks are getting fairly myopic about their ideas of the JuJu and Sarah Strong drafts.
By trading their natural firsts in the next two drafts, the Chicago Sky likely gave up their shots at JuJu Watkins and Sarah Strong.
Why?
Got into Jeff Pagliocca’s draft philosophy and how it shapes the team’s construction as a whole:
The Sky announce they will host training camp at UIC through the end of May.
The team is still awaiting the completion of its training facility in Bedford Park. Wrote about that last week:
Okay, well, as an openly queer person who covered multiple queer couples captaining their respective pro sports teams, I also find it strange that this topic was explicitly marked off limits by the Wings today. It was a normal question posed in a very normal manner.
“We’re not going to get punked.”
The Sky want to alter their perception.
Skylar Diggins knows that starts (and ends) with her.
On why she trusts the Sky’s new vision, how she hopes to change an identity and what it means to be a good teammate, not an easy one.
I cannot tell you how many times I had to wait 15+ minutes for Andre Drummond to finish his extensive post-practice 3-point shooting drills before he’d come over for an interview. Thank God they’re finally letting him rip.
The play-in tournament is legitimately brutal to cover as a beat writer but man it is so fun to watch as a fan
Would love to take some Sky questions today — partially for a mailbag, partially to see what folks are interested in for training camp.
Hit me with your best!
“We’re not going to get punked.”
The Sky want to alter their perception.
Skylar Diggins knows that starts (and ends) with her.
On why she trusts the Sky’s new vision, how she hopes to change an identity and what it means to be a good teammate, not an easy one.
Ozzie Guillén announced himself a Gabriela Jaquez fan and plans to take his family to Sky games this summer to show support, that's about the biggest stamp of approval you can ask for in Chicago
Would love to take some Sky questions today — partially for a mailbag, partially to see what folks are interested in for training camp.
Hit me with your best!
Absolutely not. Will be something we cover with sensitivity this year, but certainly not a topic for this day or a press conference setting.
Introductory pressers for Rickea Jackson, Skylar Diggins, Jacy Sheldon and Gabriela Jaquez today — lots of good stuff from this group, will have a lot for y’all to read throughout the week!
The Bulls are getting another first-round pick after the Blazers edged out the Suns in the play-in for a playoff spot in the West.
!!!!!!!!!!
Alec Jacoby White!!!
Gabriela Jaquez just got a lengthy shoutout during this play-in game while her brother Jaime balls out for Miami, nice to see it
I found this piece of Azurá’s presser to be extremely moving.
Think we’ll see a similar refrain across the league this week. These women feel these salaries are what they long deserved, but they’re not taking them for granted.
“It’s a new era here in Chicago.”
Azurá Stevens wants to elevate the Sky back to the winning franchise of her prior tenure.
On the pitch that brought her home:
Jeff Pagliocca confirmed yesterday that Ajša Sivka still has not signed/committed to sign with the Chicago Sky for 2026.
Team remains in contact with her, but no guarantee for her availability this summer.
cobra is a beautiful song idc