Sky Trade for No. 7 Pick in WNBA Draft, Nikolina Milić; Lynx Get No. 8 Pick and More

The Chicago Sky traded for the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft and Nikolina Milić on Sunday in a trade with the Minnesota Lynx, sending back the No. 8 pick, Sika Koné, a 2025 second-rounder and pick-swap rights to their 2026 first-round selection.

"We are excited to strengthen our draft position once again in a year with many top prospects," Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca said in a statement. "We thank Sika for her many contributions to the Chicago Sky and wish her success in her next role."

Milić, 30, averaged six points and three points per game for the Lynx across the past two seasons. Koné, 21, averaged 3.6 points and three rebounds per game for the Sky in 2023.

The Sky are going to be one of the busier teams at the WNBA draft, owning the Nos. 3 and 7 picks in the first round.

ESPN's Michael Voepel projected the Sky to take South Carolina center Kamilla Cardoso with the No. 3 overall pick in his latest mock draft, noting "how effective she can be when she gets the ball in scoring position and how much she can control the boards."

He added that "This is going to be a challenging season of change and new faces in Chicago, so the Sky would need patience with Cardoso, just like with the rest of the team."

He had LSU's Angel Reese falling to the team at No. 8, meanwhile, a pair of selections that would seriously bolster the team's frontcourt.

The Athletic's Sabreena Merchant, meanwhile, projected Chicago to take Tennessee forward Rickea Jackson at No. 3 and had Reese off the board at No. 7 to the Lynx before the trade, with Chicago taking Nyadiew Puoch at No. 8 instead.

And Jack Maloney of CBS Sports had Cardoso going No 3. overall to Chicago, Reese off the board at No. 7 to Minnesota and Puoch going eighth.

The Sky are undoubtedly in a rebuild, letting Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith walk in free agency and trading All-Star Kahleah Copper to the Phoenix Mercury. They need to nail their first two picks in this year's draft to infuse the roster with young talent.