Forget about the depth chart. Guard/forward Gabby Williams’ position is irrelevant.
She’s listed as a forward on the Sky’s official website, but Williams toggles on the position spectrum on a minute-by-minute basis.
Need a more physical presence at point guard? Williams can answer the call.
Need someone who can initiate the offense while also playing power forward during the same possession? Williams is more than equipped to do so.
Williams’ versatility allows her to be whatever the Sky need her to be, which has been necessary with the injury bug sapping the team’s depth at several positions to start the season.
“Gabby’s a basketball player,” coach James Wade said Wednesday. “She is a basketball player, and she’s one of the best to do it, and that’s how we use her. We want her to be comfortable contributing, and when she’s comfortable and contributing, she’s good.”
Williams had five points, four rebounds and three assists in the Sky’s 99-83 victory Friday against the Liberty. Courtney Vandersloot had 17 points and 12 assists, and Jantel Lavender added 17 points.
After being the backup point guard for most of the season, Williams played power forward for significant stretches during the Sky’s comeback attempt in their loss Wednesday to the Lynx and had 12 points, five assists and four rebounds.
Wade said the little things Williams does as a point guard go unnoticed and her defensive versatility is unique.
“She can guard one through four,” Wade said. “There aren’t a lot of players who can do that. If I put her on a point guard every time down the floor or put her on a forward every time down the floor, I think she can do both of those things with the same comfort level.”
Williams’ versatility should allow for a smooth transition after point guard Jamierra Faulkner (two points, one assist, one rebound in six minutes) returned against the Liberty.
Wade said he still plans to use Williams as a backup point guard and envisions Faulkner and Williams together in the backcourt.
“We’re going to help each other, for sure,’’ Faulkner said. “We do it in practice, so it’s only right we do it in a game.”
Williams has leaned on Faulkner’s wisdom to ease her transition as she plays more point guard this season. Though she has a tendency to overthink things, Williams seems to be finding confidence in her game.
“I’m still learning how to play my game and do what I do from any position,” Williams said. ‘‘[Wade] doesn’t want to change my game into a backup point guard. He just wants me to do what I do from the point-guard position now.
“I just have to think of myself not as a point guard, but someone who can play any position.”
