CHICAGO (March 14, 2024) — The Chicago Sky announced today the team have acquired 2025 and 2026 second round picks from New York in exchange for the rights to Rebekah Gardner.
“We appreciate everything Rebekah contributed to the Sky, and we wish her a speedy recovery and all the best in her next chapter,” Chicago Sky General Manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “We are continuing to strengthen our future draft capital as we build on our strong foundation.”
Gardner signed with the Sky on a training camp contract in 2022, earning a roster spot that season. She appeared in 35 games in her rookie season, averaging 8.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 54.2% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range.
The 6-1 guard recorded career highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds against Los Angeles on July 14, 2022. She helped lead the Sky to the 2022 playoffs, where she appeared in eight games and averaged 5.0 points, leading to a spot on the 2022 WNBA All-Rookie Team and the 2022 AP All-Rookie Team.
The California native re-signed with Chicago in 2023 and appeared in three games, averaging 7.0 points and 2.0 steals before undergoing season-ending foot surgery.
Gardner went undrafted in 2012 after playing four collegiate seasons at UCLA (2008-12). In four years, she averaged 8.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals. During her senior season, she led the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game en route to first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2011-12.
She recently played overseas with Spar CityLift Girona in Spain, where she averaged 9.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 steals in seven appearances with Girona this overseas season.
Chicago now owns the following draft picks in 2024, 2025 and 2026:
2024
2024 First Round (No. 3 overall) – From Phoenix
2024 First Round (No. 8 overall) – From Los Angeles via Atlanta
2024 Second Round (No. 13 overall) – From Dallas via Indiana
2025
2025 First Round – Rights to swap with Dallas
2025 Second Round – From Chicago via Phoenix
2025 Second Round – From New York
2026
2026 First Round
2026 First Round – From Phoenix
2026 Second Round – Rights to swap with Phoenix
2026 Second Round – From New York
2026 Third Round