Where do the Sky go from here? ‘We go up. We gonna kick everybody’s a— next year’

Coach James Wade hopes his pain doesn’t go away. If anything, it’ll drive the Sky for next season.

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The Sky have their work cut out for them this offseason.

Annie Costabile/Chicago Sun-Times

When the Sky deplaned their final commercial flight of the 2019 WNBA season early Monday morning, their hearts were heavy. Their thrilling season filled with so many individual accomplishments and team successes ended in total heartbreak.

As three players — Diamond DeShields, Stefanie Dolson and Katie Lou Samuelson — headed out to train with USA Basketball in Miami, Florida, for the upcoming AmeriCup Tournament, the other nine finished packing up their apartments and began preparing for their overseas commitments.

But that infamous play that ultimately ended the Sky’s season — a 38-foot, game-winning shot on Sunday in Las Vegas by Aces forward Dearica Hamby who intercepted Courtney Vandersloot’s pass — has replayed over and over again in coach James Wade’s head. It’s become somewhat of a recurring nightmare.

He’s watched it from every angle possible and has stared at the photo. He’s certain that shot shouldn’t have counted.

“She caught the ball and her right foot went out,” Wade said earlier this week. “And then her left foot stepped over the line. ... She went out twice.”

Wade, who was named Coach of the Year, reached out to the head of WNBA officiating Monday regarding the play. At that point, Hamby’s shot starred on SportsCenter’s top-10 list and had been viewed more than 1.5 million times on Twitter. 

“You’re sacrificing justice for that buzz,” Wade said. “Because that wasn’t fair ... that they’re in Washington right now and we’re not.

“We like that [the Aces] get publicity, that’s good for the league. We like that they get Nike commercials when Nike sponsors the whole league but they only give them commercials, we like that ... we’re OK with that. But at the end of the day, they still have to play the game.”

Why the play wasn’t reviewed is something Wade still doesn’t understand. But this pain he feels isn’t something he hopes will go away. If anything, it’ll drive the team for next season.

Where do the Sky go from here?

“We go up,” Wade said. “We gonna kick everybody’s a— next year.”

But there’s work to be done this offseason.

Players had exit meetings with Wade this week on what they needed to work on. With the exception of Jantel Lavender, every current Sky player is signed to play overseas.

Wade, who also serves as the Sky’s GM, also has some offseason homework as seven of the Sky’s 12 players’ contracts expire after this season. That list includes team leader Courtney Vandersloot, sharpshooter Allie Quigley, Dolson and forward Kahleah Copper, who provided a spark off the bench and finished the season with a bang, tying her season-high with 16 points against the Aces.

Negotiations can start in January, though free agency doesn’t open until February. However, it’s unlikely deals will be finalized until a new collective bargaining agreement is in place.

New commissioner Cathy Engelbert also has her work cut out for her this offseason. There are numerous issues she must address over the next few months, including players’ salaries, travel and league revenue.

Engelbert has said that players’ experience is her top priority. She showed that’s true earlier this week when she decided the league would pay for charters to fly the winners of the second round to their semifinal destinations, which were across the country.

Engelbert has also shared ideas on ways the league can generate more revenue, including the addition of more corporate sponsorships.

Aces coach Bill Laimbeer believes the league is in good hands with Engelbert in charge.

“I give Cathy, the Commissioner, all the credit,” Laimbeer said before his team flew charter to Washington D.C. “We now have a Commissioner. And she stood up and made a decision for the betterment of the league, and I’m very proud of her.”

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