The Chicago Sky added point-guard depth Monday, signing guard Hind Ben Abdelkader. Terms of the contract weren’t released in accordance with the team’s policy.
Ben Abdelkader struggled in her rookie WNBA season last year with the Indiana Fever. She averaged just 2.1 points, .8 assists and one rebound in 14 games, while shooting an abysmal 18.6 percent from the field and 20.7 percent from the three-point line.
After leaving the Fever on July 1, Ben Abdelkader returned to Europe, where she’s been excelling. The 5-foot-8 guard averaging 19.2 points, 4.2 assists and 1.3 steals with Hatay of the Turkish League.
General manager and coach James Wade, who replaced Amber Stocks in November, believes Ben Abdelkader will give the Sky “added security” at point guard.
“She’s had competitive years in EuroLeague and has played well in Turkey, which made us take notice,” Wade state in a statement.
Wade previously told the Sun-Times that said part of the reason the Sky struggled last season is because the “connection wasn’t there.” He also said the team lacked an offensive “identity.”
Wade believes Ben Abdelkader can help the Sky find that identity.
“She has an aggressive rhythm, which is a nice change,” he said.
Wade also praised her ability to space the floor.
Ben Abdelkader will most likely play an off-the-bench role with the Sky, who already has a guard-heavy roster that’s headlined by Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley and Diamond DeShields.
The Sky will get their first look at how Ben Abdelkader will fit in their system when training camp opens on May 5. While the roster is set for the most part, the Sky will add at least one more player to their roster as they hold the fourth overall pick in the WNBA draft on April 10.
Before that, Ben Abdelkader, a native of Brussels, Belgium, has played a significant role on the Belgian national teams since she was 16. She was named the MVP of the Under-16 European Championships in 2011. She played only one season at the University of California, averaging five points, before leaving to play professional basketball in Europe.
