Chicago Sky General Manager and Head Coach Amber Stocks announced the team has signed rookie center Alaina Coates. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not released.
Coates was selected by the Sky as the No. 2 pick in the 2017 WNBA draft, but was sidelined for the duration of the 2017 season as she recovered from surgery on her ankle. Coates suffered the injury while playing at the University of South Carolina, forcing her to miss out on the NCAA tournament run that led the Gamecocks’ to their first national championship title. Standing at 6’4”, Coates was the first player in program history to be a four-time All-SEC selection.
Heading into the 2018 season, Coates is ready to make her return to the court and has been cleared to play.
“We are all eager for the productivity and depth that Alaina’s imposing physical presence, strength, and accuracy around the rim will bring alongside the other cast of frontcourt players,” Stocks said. “She has made a full recovery and is ready to rock and roll.”
The 2018 WNBA season kicks off in May. The Chicago Sky will play all 17 home games at the new, 10,387-seat Wintrust Arena in the South Loop.