Chicago Sky hope that, for the second-straight year, the No. 3 pick produces a difference maker

In Sunday’s 2025 WNBA Draft Lottery, the Chicago Sky won the No. 3 pick in April’s WNBA Draft. They also have No. 10 pick, a product of a trade with the Connecticut Sun during the 2024 season.

On the opportunity that awaits the franchise in the draft, general manager Jeff Pagliocca said:

We are ecstatic to receive another top-four draft pick, along with our No. 10 pick, to build on our roster and create a winning franchise. As the draft talent pool continues to expand, we look forward to adding exceptional new stars to the Chicago Sky on draft night in April.

The Sky are coming off a 13-27 season, falling short of the playoffs. While benefitting from the high-profile exploits of rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, Chicago was bogged by injuries, losing streaks and player trades. Shortly after the season concluded, head coach Teresa Weatherspoon was abruptly fired.

After hiring Tyler Marsh as the new head coach, the Sky are hoping to heed his call and improve the team’s shooting. As UConn standout Paige Beuckers is likely to be selected by the Dallas Wings with the No. 1 pick, the Sky are setting their sights on shooters, as well as players with height and length. Paigliocca asserted:

The top priority is going to be shooting. I’ll always look at positional size. If we can find a point guard that’s over 6 feet tall, that would be great. If we’re looking at a wing, it could be 6-foot-1 to 6-foot-3 in a perfect world. With that type of length, it gives them a lot of different abilities during the course of a game when it comes to making plays in the paint, seeing over defenses to make plays for other people and getting their shots off over maybe guards or matchups at their size.

The names circulating as potential candidates for the No. 3 pick include forward Kiki Iriafen of USC, guard Azzi Fudd of UConn and point guard Olivia Miles of Notre Dame. Iriafen is averaging 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and shooting 54 percent from the field. Miles is averaging 18.3 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game while shooting 55.1 percent from the field. Fudd has yet to make her season debut.