New wings Becca Allen and Kia Nurse help reset Sky’s flight path

Allen, a 9-year veteran, suffered a season-ending back surgery last year with the Phoenix Mercury, while Nurse was still battling the lingering effects of a 2022 ACL injury. 

The Sky are also looking to bounce back from their first playoff miss since 2018–and build around second-year dynamos Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Both Nurse and Allen understand their purpose in Chicago: stretching defenses to create room for the budding frontcourt.

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The vision represents a clear shift for the Sky, moving away from the ball-dominant backcourt of Chennedy Carter and Marina Mabrey in favor of Allen and Nurse’s catch-and-shoot styles.

But don’t call it a rebuild. In their introductory press conferences, Allen and Nurse both highlighted the Sky’s roster continuity that includes All-Defensive team center Elizabeth Williams in addition to young stars Reese and Cardoso.

“They had last year and they’re like: ‘Hey, we don’t wanna go in this direction, we want to head in this direction, and that’s why we’ve got the pieces for it,’” Allen told reporters via Zoom on Valentine’s Day. “I’m happy that I suit the identity of what they want to be.”

Becca Allen’s “3-and-D” skillset opens up new possibilities for the Sky

While Allen’s “3-and-D” skill set is now at a premium in the WNBA, it took years of evolution – both for her and the league – to get there. Undrafted out of Australia in 2015, Allen didn’t earn a starting role until her sixth WNBA season. The Next’s Jackie Powell compared her 2021 season with the New York Liberty to an indie artist finally breaking into the mainstream. 

By the 2023 season, Allen had become an integral piece of the Connecticut Sun’s Semi-Finals run. The 6’2 wing showcased her two-way impact, ranking ninth in shot blocking (1.3 per game) during the regular season and providing critical floor spacing in the playoffs.

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The Sky now face the same spacing issues that Allen helped soothe in Connecticut, before injuries limited her to just 18 games in 2024. Last season, Chicago finished last in efficiency at the rim as defenses packed the paint against them. Allen’s shooting touch and off-ball movement – honed under 2023 Coach of the Year Stephanie White in Connecticut – will help create space.

Defensively, Allen’s versatility unlocks new strategic options for the Sky. Former teammate Olivia Nelson-Ododa noted Allen’s “sneaky length,” as she’s able to guard positions 1-4. This flexibility will allow for “small ball” lineups as a counter to the Sky’s bigger starting unit and will help reduce the defensive load for 36-year-old point guard Courtney Vandersloot.

Nurse brings evolved game to Chicago

As the Unrivaled league gained a reputation as a hotspot to recruit free agents, under the radar, another domestic league served a similar purpose. At Athletes Unlimited in Nashville, Nurse gathered intel on new Sky head coach Tyler Marsh and Sky veteran Elizabeth Williams gave her the inside scoop on the organization.

These perspectives helped seal the deal. At her first media appearance as a member of the Sky, Nurse acknowledged she is joining a team in transition–but that it doesn’t scare her. 

Her own playing career has required significant adaptation. After an All-Star appearance in only her second WNBA season, an ACL tear in 2022 forced Nurse to reimagine her game during a lengthy rehabilitation.

This offseason in the Athletes Unlimited league–where she’s shooting 37% from 3–marks the first time she feels like she’s playing instinctual basketball again.

“It was really when I figured out that I’m not going to be the person I was prior to my knee, and I’m OK with that,” Nurse told reporters of her mental shift. “I’m going to be something better.”

As Nurse’s game has changed, she’s leaned on her cerebral approach. That identity is part of what drew her to the Sky, as Marsh has already developed a reputation as a thoughtful tactician. 

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Nurse’s understanding of the game allows her to embrace different roles, which will be key in Chicago. Traditionally a three, Nurse adapted to the shooting guard position last season with the Los Angeles Sparks. She’ll likely fill that role again alongside Courtney Vandersloot at the point and Allen at small forward. 

Strategic shift brings new challenges

The Sky’s acquisition of Allen and Nurse suggest clear lessons from their 2024 campaign. The front office upgraded their outside shooting and sized up on the wing.

While these were reasonable assessments, addressing them came with tradeoffs.

Carter and Mabrey may not have been perfect fits, but they brought crucial offensive creativity and scoring. It’s a void the Sky’s offseason additions may struggle to fill.

Allen and Nurse are effective complementary pieces, but shot creation isn’t their strength. Typically more than 70% of their field goals in a given season are assisted, highlighting their dependence on others to generate offense.

This season, much of the playmaking load will fall on the Sky’s all-time assist leader Courtney Vandersloot. But that alone won’t be enough. For the Sky’s offense to thrive, Cardoso and Reese will have to take major leaps forward.