u/GlacialTwitch

Because of the Tempo's 11 game losing streak, the Sky have improbably moved out of the top 2 lottery odds for the pick they are giving to Washington. I have said that this is a sunk cost--the pick is gone no matter where it lands in the lottery--but if the Sky hope to make the playoffs next year, it is in their interest that Washington doesn't get a superstar in the draft (as the Sky will hypothetically be competing with them next year).

Per official injury report.

Taylor has been officially out on the injury report for the last several games, so this seems like progress. Questionable means about a 50% chance of playing.

In recent seasons, the options for improving the roster were obvious. They often had players who were no longer W-caliber (Mo Jefferson) or had bench players miscast as starters. This roster is a little different. I'd say Sloot is the only bench player miscast as a starter (Stevens has been playing like it, but hopefully that's just injury/rust). I think everyone on the roster is W-quality, although you could quibble with whether E-Will is facing the end of the line.

They famously are unlikely to have a star parachute in via the draft, having traded rights to their own picks.

According to ESPN Net Points, the worst vets on the roster on a per-minute basis (Williams, Sloot, Stevens, Diggins) are under contract for next year, while the best (Carrington and Cloud) are not. I do not see them unloading any of these contracts for next year.

Sydney Taylor can only negotiate with the Sky, but I imagine that she will command (and has earned) a large salary increase in order for the Sky to secure a long-term contract.

They can make some moves at the margins, but I think the Sky will likely be banking on increased health and better play from the same players next season. This is a plan that typically does not work out.

Yes. they need a new owner and GM, but I wanted to focus on the situation that whoever is in charge will inherit.

2026 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup squads - Wikipedia

Mali's roster is huge. Since there's only one other W player on team, I assume Coulibaly will be in the rotation, but we'll see. Her sister is also on the team. Looks like Sparks and Mystics are the only other W teams with only one player.

I know groin injuries are tricky, but listing Taylor as questionable the first game after she was hurt looks questionable at this point. I hope she didn't aggravate the injury trying to come back for that game.

Stevens participated in practice and is off the injury report. Taylor did not practice. Injury-Report_2026-08-07_06_45PM.pdf

Credit to Chicago State of Mind Sports on the practice participation info.

Per the injury report. https://ak-static.cms.nba.com/referee/wnba_injury/Injury-Report_2026-07-29_06_30PM.pdf

Earlier in the day Chicago State of Mind Sports had reported that Azura missed practice due to personal reasons and might miss the game.

Via Chicago State of Mind Sports:

https://preview.redd.it/rpk8aryn61gh1.png?width=592&format=png&auto=webp&s=4b79e699a0179a027784332b3502b14770ca71b4

14 games, 25 mpg, 17.9 PPG .481 FG% .394 3P% on 6.7 attempts pre game (2.6 makes per game) .844 FT%

Great shooting splits. If she had played the full season with the same minute load and played as well (she's been better since starting), then she would be top 10 in the league in 3 point makes.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/wnba/players/t/taylosy01w/gamelog/2026/#20260617-20260722-sum:wnba_pgl_basic

Edit: Downgraded to questionable
She has been out with an illness, but is off the injury report now.