WNBA free agency update: Sky sign Elizabeth Williams to two-year deal

Elizabeth Williams is coming back to Chicago.

The 6’3 veteran will sign a two-year guaranteed deal with the Sky, ESPN reported Friday — her third contract with the team since joining in 2023.

Williams was the Sky’s most consistent reserve last season, coming off the bench behind center Kamilla Cardoso. She averaged 8.5 points in 21.1 minutes per game, along with 5.2 rebounds and 0.9 blocks.

Rim protection is her bread and butter — she earned an All-Defense nod her first year in Chicago.

She’ll reportedly earn $600,000 per season in the new contract, or 8.5% of the salary cap, up from 6.6% in 2025.

Once the deal is finalized, the Sky will have four players under contract: Cardoso, Williams, Hailey Van Lith and Maddy Westbeld. The team is also reportedly in talks to trade Ariel Atkins to the Sparks for Rickea Jackson, per Front Office Sports. Even if that deal goes through, the Sky would still have 70% of their cap space available.

That’s enough room, in theory, to add two or three stars. If they can convince any to come.

That’s a big if. Since the Sky’s championship core broke up after 2022, erratic moves have prevented any real momentum.

James Wade — then coach and general manager — left in the middle of the 2023 season, right after trading away a stack of draft capital. The Sky hired coach Teresa Weatherspoon, then fired her in 2024. And after back-to-back losing seasons, they dealt Angel Reese, one of the brightest prospects from the 2024 class.

So why stick around through the turmoil?

Williams had a few answers last season. She’s sold on coach Tyler Marsh, calling him one of the best tacticians she’s ever played for, even in his first year on the job. She also told the Sun-Times she appreciates the smaller steps the organization has taken to improve player experience.

Last season players got access to recovery and massage services at Restore, a local wellness center, and meals were provided on the road.

But the Sky are playing catch-up. Other franchises saw the opportunity years ago — building dedicated practice facilities and investing heavily in performance, medical and analytics departments.

The Sky were still practicing in a rec center in Deerfield as recently as last season, and are only now hiring the kinds of positions — head of athletic performance, nutritionist, sports psychologist — that top-tier teams have had for years.

Which makes the $60 million practice facility going up in Bedford Park all the more critical. It was originally scheduled to open before this season. Now only parts of it will be operational this spring.

At some point, Williams might actually get to play in it.