Sky make trades to protect players from expansion draft

The Chicago Sky, looking to protect their roster from the upcoming expansion draft, made a pair of moves to guarantee that none of their players will be selected.

The team announced Wednesday night that it agreed to send the No. 17 pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft to the Portland Fire and the No. 26 pick to the Toronto Tempo. In exchange, the Fire and Tempo agreed not to take a player from the Sky.

The Sky also will receive the No. 21 pick from the Fire.

Such trades are allowable under WNBA rules.

The Sky still hold the No. 5 and No. 32 overall picks, in addition to the No. 21 selection from Portland, in the draft, which is scheduled for April 13.

The free-agent signing period will begin after the draft on a date yet to be announced.

The Sky finished the 2025 season at 10-34, tied with the Dallas Wings for the worst record in the WNBA.