Victoria Macaulay is looking to take advantage of limited time with the Sky

Victoria Macaulay wants to be the best role player possible for the Sky during her limited time on the roster.

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Victoria Macaulay said she wants to be the best role player possible for the Sky during her limited time on the roster.

Chicago Sky

Victoria Macaulay understands the importance of opportunities like the one she has in front of her.

After being cut from the Sky’s training camp roster on May 23, the team signed Macaulay on June 13 with the emergency hardship exception after Katie Lou Samuelson’s fractured wrist brought the Sky’s roster down to nine healthy players.

Macaulay appeared to be an obvious recipient of the team’s exception. She impressed the coaching staff before the season — scoring 12 points in the Sky’s final preseason game against the Fever on May 16.

The Sky valued Macaulay’s previous experience with the team and players.

”I think we needed a veteran presence — somebody who knew our system,” coach James Wade said. “I’ve said, if we had 13 roster spots, she would’ve been the 13th pick. We just wanted to stay with a little bit of familiarity.”

Unfortunately for the 6-4 forward, WNBA rosters are capped at 12 and have made it difficult for her to stay in the league.

Macaulay has been invited to four WNBA training camps but has only appeared on one opening night roster after going undrafted out of Temple in 2013. She made her WNBA debut with the Sky in 2015 but was waived after just four games.

Macaulay has primarily played overseas. She most recently averaged 12.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals for Galatasaray of the Turkish Women’s Basketball League during the winter.

A lot has changed since the last time Macaulay was on the Sky’s regular season roster.

The team has had two head coaching changes. Only four other players from the current roster— Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Jamierra Faulkner and Cheyenne Parker — were with the Sky in 2015.

They appreciate having a familiar face and voice back in the locker for the time being.

”My rookie year, she was here and that’s when we became really close,” Parker said. “It’s nice to have her back. She’s a good person with a good heart and a team player.

“She has experience in the league. She already knows the players and what to expect, so it’s not like we have to teach her the ropes like a rookie.”

Even though Macaulay hasn’t made notable contributions to the Sky in the box score, she knows she needs to take advantage of the opportunity.

Every time Macaulay steps on the court is essentially a try-out — for the Sky and the 11 other teams in the league. She won’t be on the roster once Samuelson or Faulkner are able to play again.

Macaulay said she wants to be an energetic player for the team and be the best role player possible.

”It’s tough to play in the WNBA,” Wade said. “To have that opportunity — even if it’s just for one game — you’ve gotta be appreciative because everybody doesn’t get this opportunity. She knows that and she just has to come in and be professional and efficient in the minutes we give her.”

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