Even after getting drafted by the Chicago Sky in April, Kiah Gillespie was aware of how difficult it was going to be to make a WNBA roster. That's why when the opportunity arose for her to sit out the 2020 season and try for a spot on the Sky in 2021, she felt like that was her best move.
"There weren't that many options. It wasn't that hard of a decision to make," said the Meriden native and former Capital Prep standout who was drafted out of Florida State. "I think the best thing for me was to decide to sit out and have an opportunity to get a year of professional playing experience (overseas) under my belt before I came back for training camp in 2021."
This year, it was even tougher for drafted players like Gillespie to land a roster spot. Teams needed to get under the salary cap without holding training camps, with the season having been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and many clubs could only afford to carry 11 players under the league's new salary structure. That confluence of factors resulted in just under half of the 36 draftees landing roster spots by last Tuesday's deadline, some opting to sit the season out and the rest waived before the teams who drafted them could see them play.
"They got their NCAA Tournament taken away, then they don't get to have the in-person draft, and now they don't even get to step foot in training camp. Is there any type of a bright side?" ESPN analyst Rebecca Lobo said. "I just really feel for this class."
