WNBA Draft gives Sky fans renewed optimism

Sky fan Ian Walsh had one reaction when he learned the team had traded former franchise player Kahleah Copper in February.

‘‘I was like, ‘What the heck are they thinking?’ ’’ Walsh, who has been a fan since 2012, said at the Sky’s draft party Monday at Revolution Brewing in Avondale.

The vision for the Sky’s future became clearer when the team selected South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso (No. 3) and LSU forward Angel Reese (No. 7) in the first round of the WNBA Draft.

The Sky not only are building a team after trading Copper — one of the last vestiges of the 2021 WNBA championship team — but they’re also trying to build a new identity after hiring coach Teresa Weatherspoon and general manager Jeff Pagliocca after finishing 18-22 last season.

Tim Libretti, who has been a Sky fan since 2014, was enthusiastic about the intangibles Cardoso and Reese will bring.

‘‘They got the best player available for their needs,’’ Libretti said. ‘‘[Cardoso] is an exciting young player, who, like Candace Parker, comes from a great coach and program. It’s really important to bring someone who has not just a spirit of winning but a spirit of what winning is based on.’’

Cardoso averaged 14.4 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocks this season. She’s a two-time national champion and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Tournament, but she didn’t generate the largest applause of the night at the party.

Reese, who was one of the most-talked-about players in college basketball, held that distinction. The crowd applauded, shouted her name and started a ‘‘Let’s go, Sky’’ chant after the 2023 national champion’s name came across the television.

‘‘She’s just so exciting,’’ Libretti said of Reese. ‘‘She brings a lot of personality to the team.’’

Selecting Cardoso and Reese gives Sky fans reason to hope. The team has moved past the days playing at Allstate Arena in Rosemont and now has a fan base that comes out to commiserate over drinks and food in anticipation of whom the Sky will build around.

In addition to Cardoso’s and Reese’s talent, the two play with an energy that will mesh with Weatherspoon’s fiery style. It’s rare for a team to have two top-10 picks and come away with players who can bring as much fanfare as Cardoso and Reese.

‘‘I’m excited for the future of the franchise,’’ fan Ryan Dwyer said. ‘‘There’s such a hype right now around the Sky. [This draft] can propel us to the top of the league.’’