The first day of free agency was a swing and a miss for the Sky.
Any hopes of starting it with a bang were doused by news that the Sky’s top two point-guard targets — Skylar Diggins-Smith and Natasha Cloud — were headed elsewhere.
First came reports that Cloud would sign with the Mercury, and by midmorning, Diggins-Smith made her signing with the Storm official. The Sky’s big announcement was the signing of point guard Lindsay Allen.
Terms of Allen’s contract were not provided, per team policy, but the Sun-Times confirmed that the six-year veteran signed a two-year deal. Allen is coming off two seasons with the Lynx in which she averaged 6.3 points, 4.2 assists, 2.2 rebounds and 22 minutes.
Allen fills a hole in the backcourt left by the departure of unrestricted free agent Courtney Williams, who signed a two-year deal with the Lynx. But can she fill the starting point-guard hole?
No is the short answer.
Failing to sign Diggins-Smith means that the starting point-guard job is Dana Evans’ to lose entering the 2024 season — or at least it should be.
There were only three point guards available in free agency who could halt Evans’ promotion for another year: Diggins-Smith, Cloud and Jordin Canada.
After the Sparks used the core tag on Canada, the only way for her to be dealt was by a sign-and-trade, which occurred with the Dream. The Sparks acquired Aari McDonald and the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 draft for Canada and this year’s No. 12 pick.
Evans has steadily improved since being acquired less than a month into her rookie season. In 2022, with Allie Quigley sidelined by a hamstring injury, Evans had a career-high 24 points in the season opener.
Despite a strong start to the season, Evans’ role diminished when point guard Julie Allemand was acquired a month later after completing her overseas commitment.
Last year, Evans was primed for a breakout season, but former coach/general manager James Wade’s free-agent signings kept her out of the starting lineup. Williams was signed to replace Courtney Vandersloot as the Sky’s starting point guard, and Marina Mabrey joined her and 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper in the backcourt.
Despite those additions, Evans’ minutes nearly doubled in 2023, and her stats reflected her readiness for a bigger role. She averaged nine points and three assists last season coming off the bench. Most impressive, though, has been her development on defense.
Despite spending her first three seasons in a limited role, Evans has shown flashes of potential to be one of the league’s top two-way guards.
“The energy is there,” Teresa Weatherspoon said about Evans in October when she was introduced as the Sky’s new coach. “I’ve watched her play. There is zero retreat in her when it comes to defense. She’s in you. That’s what I want. That’s what I like.”
Weatherspoon was named defensive player of the year in the WNBA’s first two seasons and believes that’s an award Evans is capable of earning.
Signing Allen gives the Sky a trusted playmaker, but their real move on the first day of free agency was putting Evans in the starting lineup.
