The Chicago Sky, who tied for the league’s worst record with just 10 wins last season, have undergone a major roster overhaul as they prepare to face the expansion Portland Fire in the 2026 season opener Saturday night.
The most notable addition is seven-time All-Star Skylar Diggins, while the team traded away standout rebounder Angel Reese. Chicago bolstered its frontcourt with Rickea Jackson and Azura Stevens, and strengthened the backcourt by bringing in Natasha Cloud, DiJonai Carrington, and Jacy Sheldon. In the first round of the draft, the Sky selected Gabriela Jaquez from UCLA, alongside Diggins.
Sky head coach Tyler Marsh is embracing a guard-heavy approach. “I don’t think you can go wrong with a lot of good guards, capable guards,” Marsh told reporters this week. “It’s not like we’re just stockpiling players. They can contribute, and we’ll find ways to use them.”
Diggins, 35, averaged 15.5 points and 6.0 assists for the Seattle Storm last season. Her veteran presence will help fill a leadership gap early in the season while star point guard Courtney Vandersloot recovers from an ACL tear suffered last June. Carrington (foot) and Stevens (knee) will also be sidelined as Chicago begins a four-game road trip. The Sky won’t play at home until May 20 against the Dallas Wings.
Portland begins its expansion season with four straight home games, including a two-game set against the New York Liberty and one versus the Connecticut Sun. Fire coach Alex Sarama is prioritizing defense as the foundation. “I feel pretty good about where our defense is,” the 30-year-old Sarama said. “The offense will take a little longer. It’s a new system, and players are adjusting well.”
The Fire selected forward Bridget Carleton (from Minnesota) with the first pick of the expansion draft, and also acquired guards Carla Leite (Golden State) and Sarah Ashlee Barker (Los Angeles), as well as guard/forward Haley Jones (Dallas), among others. Barker is fully committed to Portland’s building project. “Every day you can tell we come in and work hard, no matter what,” Barker said. “When people make mistakes, we lift each other up. There’s a lot of effort and energy—you can’t teach that. But you can teach mistakes, X’s and O’s, and defense.”
This is the second iteration of the Portland Fire in the WNBA. The original franchise played from 2000 to 2002 before folding.
