Chicago Sky Face Costly 2027 Draft Pick Swap With Washington Mystics

Chicago’s lottery outlook could make the Mystics swap especially painful

CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky are facing the possibility of surrendering a premium 2027 WNBA draft pick to the Washington Mystics after missing the playoffs, while Washington has clinched a postseason berth. Under a pick-swap provision tied to Chicago’s 2025 acquisition of Ariel Atkins, the Sky will send their lottery selection to the Mystics and receive Washington’s nonlottery pick in return.

The arrangement has become increasingly costly in projection. Chicago’s pick is currently most likely to land third in the lottery, while Washington is positioned around No. 9. The final order will be determined by the lottery, but the disparity could leave the Sky exchanging a chance at one of the draft’s elite prospects for a considerably later selection.

The swap was part of the package former Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca gave up to acquire Atkins in 2025. Chicago also sent away the No. 3 pick in that draft, a selection that became two-time All-Star Sonia Citron. Atkins was dealt a year later for Rickea Jackson, putting greater scrutiny on the long-term cost of the original transaction.

Pagliocca has defended the deal by arguing that a modest slide in the 2027 draft would be an acceptable price for a player with Jackson’s potential. Jackson showed why the organization values her, averaging 22 points across four games before suffering a torn ACL. Her injury, however, has added another layer of uncertainty to a roster still trying to establish sustained success.

The lottery could still soften the impact for Chicago. The Sky’s selection could fall as low as No. 5, which would mean Washington receives a less valuable pick. But Chicago cannot substantially alter its lottery position simply by winning late games because WNBA lottery odds are based on two-year records. At the other extreme, Chicago could win the No. 1 pick and be forced to send it to Washington under the swap.

Close losses remain a central frustration for Sky

Sky coach Tyler Marsh has pointed to close defeats as one of the defining disappointments of the season. Point guard Courtney Vandersloot echoed that assessment in comments to the Sun-Times, saying the team will look back on several games it believes it should have won.

“This is one of those seasons that you’re gonna look back and have games that you just wish you could get back,” Vandersloot told the newspaper. “I think we’re definitely a better team than our record shows, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to win those games.”

Despite the playoff elimination, Marsh and Vandersloot see progress in Chicago’s young group. Jackson, Kamilla Cardoso and Sydney Taylor form a core the franchise believes can develop into a more consistent contender. The Sky have been more competitive than they were a season ago, even if that improvement did not translate into enough wins to reach the postseason.

Vandersloot said the margin separating Chicago from playoff contention often came down to only a few possessions. That reality raises the stakes of the 2027 draft swap: the Sky’s rebuilding timeline could be affected by a lottery result over which they have limited control.

Taylor has also been navigating health restrictions after returning from groin injuries. She has been limited to roughly 16 minutes per game after initially straining her right groin in Atlanta on July 19 and later sustaining a more serious left-groin strain against the Phoenix Mercury on Aug. 3. Chicago’s focus now shifts to player recovery, offseason development and the 2027 lottery, where the final outcome of the Mystics pick swap remains unresolved.