NFL
By: Stephen PridGeon-Garner
Spanning from Friday to Sunday, we saw the Chicago Sky confirm the signings of three free agents, in Courtney Williams, Isabella Harrison, and Elizabeth Williams.
These signings further emphasize the period of transition that the Sky are entering, and should also help to bring solace to the angst that began to arise among Sky fans and media the same.
With these three signings, they address the guard, the forward, and the center room, directly, with an infusion of veteran presences that that also bring a competitive motor and edge to the mix.
Let’s dive into a little bit of what each of these three players brings to this new rendition of the Chicago Sky.
Courtney Williams
2022 stats: 11.1 PPG – on 42.6/33.8/75.0 shooting – 3.3 APG, 4.6 RPG, 1.0 SPG
The exuberant Courtney Williams had a season that left some to be desired last season.
“We are thrilled to add a player like Courtney Williams,” Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach James Wade said. “She’s a player with extreme talent who has proven to be the ultimate competitor and a proven winner. We are excited to have a player who will fiercely compete alongside her teammates to lead us into a new era.”
She’s a 5’8 guard that plays bigger than her stature suggests, behind an unpredictable suddenness that can leave defenders in the rearview. Add to that an elite and elusive handle, the ability to pull up in the midrange at will (her nickname is “mistress of the mid-range” by the way), and elite-level athleticism, and you get the “lightning in a bottle” presence that is Williams.
She has two seasons where she’s finished top-10 in field goals and four in top-10 in two-point field goals.
Her scoring had also ascended in every season of her career prior to 2022 back in Connecticut.
Even more, compiling three seasons in the 70th percentile or better in rebound percentage, she’s an elite rebounder.
Defensively, she also uses her athleticism to be a nuisance navigating screens both on-ball and off, with activity. Add to that the ability to stick to the ball handler’s hips, and execute dynamic closeouts and rotations (ie the types that make a James Wade defense go, forcing turnovers) and Williams is a match.
Last season, Connecticut was +11.2 per 100 possessions with her on the floor, and she had a +2.7 in her on-off net rating per 100 possessions.
Aye @kahleahcopper what’s up! Let’s get to it! 🤞🏽🦍
— Courtney Williams (@CourtMWilliams) February 2, 2023
She has a competitive edge and scrappiness, combined with an engaging personality and uplifting energy that breaks the mundaneness that can occur over a season, and generally make a workplace more enjoyable.
Isabelle Harrison
2022 stats: 8.7 PPG – 46.6/100/86.7 shooting – 4.3 RPG, 1.3 APG
Harrison is an active presence at the pivot positions, bringing excellent mobility and athleticism to the frontcourt group.
“Isabelle is a fantastic, talented player that will add tremendous toughness and strength to our front court this upcoming season,” Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach James Wade said. “She is one of the most versatile posts in the league and can play both ends of the floor. We cannot wait to welcome Isabelle to Chicago.”
She has exquisite footwork in the post and has a few methods of finessing her way to advantageous angles – via that – to be effective close to the rim.
“Izzy” is also excellent as a roller, with good hands, and the ability to make quick decisions on the catch, for herself or for others.
Defensively she possesses great activity within her mobility.
Her base has been drop coverage, however, she’s shown flashes of being versatile in playing a shorter drop and being up to the level of screens in pick-and-roll defensive coverage.
James Wade’s defense has grown notorious for being able to keep itself in a position of dictating – as one of the most aggressive in the WNBA – via extended pick-up points from guards, guards, and wings being able to execute dynamic and long-range rotations, and frontcourt pieces being able to hedge out/flat hedge/ and play with versatility in pick-and-roll defense.
Harrison gives plenty of ability to execute in the latter statement, adding the dynamic to get out and dill a lane in transition when changing ends of the floor, or even rim run when the opportunity presents itself.
She also draws plenty of fouls on the offensive end and placed in the 87th percentile in offensive rebounding percentage last season.
Last season was a unique one team-wise in Dallas, but the season prior, she registered a 75th percentile mark in player offensive rating (108.8) and defensive rating (98.4).
Excited 😆 Hey Chicago 👋🏽💙
— Isabelle Harrison (@OMG_itsizzyb) February 3, 2023
She’s been good, but seemingly in search of a consistent opportunity. It seems as though, with great timing, she’s found that situation, in Chicago, and it’ll surely pay dividends both for her and the Sky.
Elizabeth Williams
2022 stats: 5.4 PPG – 48.2% from the field – 3.8 RPG
A 2020 WNBA-Defensive team representative, Williams brings a no-nonsense and worker’s mentality to the “less glamorous” end, with sustained activity and energy that keeps her positive on that end.
She has a 2021-22 EuroLeague Women Defensive Player of the Year award on her mantle from recent memory.
“We are so excited to have Elizabeth in a Chicago Sky uniform,” Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach James Wade said. “For as long as she’s been in the league, she’s been the epitome of a player that is a hard worker, a great leader and embodies the values of the WNBA. We know that she will be a valuable piece to everything that we are creating in Chicago.”
As an anchor, she has excellent anticipatory skills and is adept with positioning as well as timing on the backline. She’s a “firefighter;” constantly putting out fires as their defensive dominos fall, and always in positioning to cover and clean up messes, also doubling as an event causer, the type needed to play in transition. It’s the type of activity this team will need to play at the style of pace the roster suggests will be most optimal.
She’s very good with knowing when to rotate off of her matchup to help put a fire out defensively. Then, as the low help in varying scenarios, provides great verticality to contest at the rim in rotation.
Her primary defensive coverage is also drop, but certainly has the versatility to put forth in the scheme that could allow a semblance of sorts to what Wade had in the frontcourt last season, to execute aggressive coverages to help them play in that organized chaos his teams have grown accustomed to showing.
At 6’3, Williams also has a knack for offensive rebounds, averaging 2.4 per game in her career.
She’s also a “stock specialist,” registering two seasons finishing north of a block and a steal per game.
She will certainly infuse the frontcourt with a general level of activity, that will go great in tandem with the frenetic activity levels sure to come from out on the perimeter from the Sky guards/forwards.
