One of the most unforgettable plays of Kahleah Copper’s 2022 season came in Game 1 of the semifinals.
With less than five minutes to play and a one-point lead, Copper got tied up with Sun guard Courtney Williams. The official called a jump ball as both guards fought to secure the possession. But as the dust settled, Copper and Williams remained intertwined neither relinquishing the ball.
It wasn’t until they were whistled for double technicals and their teammates stepped in that they were separated. The moment exemplified the grit and toughness that defines both guards’ style of play.
Five months later, they are teammates after coach/GM James Wade made his first official move of free agency by signing Williams.
Signing Williams is a step towards filling out the Sky’s vacant backcourt after the departure of the franchise's longest-tenured players in Courtney Vandersloot and Allie Quigley. As the news broke, Williams shared a message for her new teammate on Twitter.
“Aye, Kahleah Copper,” Williams said. “What’s up! Let’s get to it!”
The move is an answer to Wade’s inability to re-sign a single unrestricted free agent from his 2022 roster.
Azurá Stevens was the latest unrestricted free agent to leave the Sky on her own accord. She will sign with the Los Angeles Sparks, her agent told the Sun-Times on Thursday.
Before that, Candace Parker announced she would be signing with the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces. The Sky’s floor general and motor of the organization for 12 years Vandersloot followed Parker’s news announcing she would not return days later. Less than 24 hours after that, Quigley’s agent told the Sun-Times she would be sitting out of the 2023 season.
Thursday, Vandersloot made her next chapter official when she announced on Twitter her intentions to sign with the New York Liberty.
“I would like to be the first to thank [Vandersloot] for everything she has done for our franchise,” Wade said in a statement. “She has been an integral part of the growth of our organization and I wish her well in her future endeavors.”
The only way to characterize what is going on within the Sky organization is an utter collapse, not unlike what everyone witnessed in their Game 5 semifinals loss to the Connecticut Sun. Williams, a starter for the Sun last year, averaged 11 points, 2.4 assists and five rebounds in the semifinals against the Sky and 11.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.3 assists for the year.
In 2021 she earned her first All-Star nod, averaging 16.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and four assists for the Atlanta Dream.
After the departure of Stevens, who averaged 9.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in three seasons with the Sky, Kahleah Copper is the only remaining starter from the team’s championship run. According to one source, there have been no discussions about trading the 2021 WNBA Finals MVP, but the franchise has a long history of All-Stars who have forced their way out.
The Sky would be foolish to even try and trade her before the start of the 2023 season. Copper is the Sky’s only proven star on the roster as it is currently constructed. The value she brings as far as attracting fans and assuring the Sky are at least somewhat competitive exceeds her trade value at this point in the year. That could change closer to the trade deadline in August, depending on whether or not Wade is confident she would return in free agency.
Copper becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2024 and after using the core tag on her in 2021 and 2022, that designation is no longer available. Instead of gambling on her re-signing, Wade could attempt to get future draft assets by dealing her. Wade could also look to sign her to a contract extension this year, locking her into the Sky’s rebuild era long-term.
Following the Williams’ announcement on Twitter, Copper shared a message of her own.
“Wake ‘em up!” she shared with her followers.
Beyond Copper and now Williams, the Sky do not have a solidified roster.
Dana Evans and Li Yueru are on unprotected contracts. Julie Allemand and Ruthy Hebard are both signed to protected rookie scale contracts, but according to sources Allemand may not play in the 2023 WNBA season.
Emma Messeman, the Sky’s last unrestricted free agent who is unaccounted for is also unlikely to play in the 2023 WNBA season, according to multiple sources.
How Wade fills out the rest of his 2023 roster remains to be seen.
