Sky sign forward Victoria Macaulay after receiving emergency hardship exception

Down to nine healthy players, Sky coach James Wade had no choice but to bring in reinforcement from the outside.

With first-round pick Katie Lou Samuelson, center Astou Ndour and guard Jamierra Faulkner out for the foreseeable future, the WNBA granted the Sky an emergency hardship exception this week. As a result, they brought back a familiar face Thursday, signing forward Victoria Macaulay. Terms of the contract weren’t disclosed.

The Sky received the exception after their victory against the Mercury on Tuesday, when Wade confirmed Samuelson suffered a small fracture in her wrist. Though she won’t need surgery, she’ll be out for at least three weeks. Samuelson’s injury came at a time when the Sky were already without Ndour, who’s training with Spain’s national team for EuroBasket this month, and Faulkner, who’s recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Macaulay seemed to be the obvious choice for the Sky. The 6-4, 165-pound forward, who played this winter in Turkey, impressed Wade and his coaching staff in training camp. In her last preseason game May 16, Macaulay made a statement, scoring 12 points.

Because of roster constraints, the Sky couldn’t keep Macaulay, who has played in only four WNBA games since she went undrafted out of Temple in 2013. They released her before the season began.

“The coaches and I talked about it. If we had a roster of 13 or 14, she would’ve made this roster,” Wade said. “Her being someone that was familiar with this system and she had a last good preseason game, we kept her in our memory in case we needed another player.”

Macaulay flew to Chicago on Wednesday night and was at practice Thursday at the Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield. She’s expected to play Saturday against the Fever.

“We expect her to be ready when she’s called on,” Wade said.