[1][2] The team also hired Jeff Pagliocca as general manager, separating this role from the head coaching position for the first time.
[3] Several starting players from previous seasons including Kahleah Copper, Alanna Smith, Courtney Williams, Astou Ndour-Fall, and Julie Allemand departed in free agency and trades.
[4] Despite preseason predictions that they would be among the league's worst teams,[5][6] the Sky had a promising start to the season with a 3–3 record in May, including a stunning win, 90–81, over the New York Liberty.
[8] Cardoso, who herself had suffered a shoulder injury during the preseason and missed the first six games of the season,[9] was slotted into the starting lineup to play alongside another rookie, Reese.
Other injuries to Reese (broken wrist), DeShields (sprained ankle), and Cardoso (shoulder pain) forced significant changes in the rotation.