WNBA trade news: Insider reveals reason behind Angel Reese-led Sky's failed attempt to land $249,032 All-Star

The Angel Reese-led Chicago Sky reportedly wanted to acquire former wantaway Seattle Storm star Jewell Loyd. Per Annie Costabile of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Sky engaged the Storm in trade talks centered around Chicago’s No. 3 pick for the six-time WNBA All-Star. The discussion didn't go through, though, after the Storm agreed to a blockbuster three-team deal with the LA Sparks and the Las Vegas Aces.

Costabile gave the reason why the Sky-Storm talks didn't progress:

“Those discussions fell apart after it was made clear that Loyd’s preferred destination was Las Vegas.”

The Aces got Jewell Loyd, who will earn $249,032 next season, and the No. 13 pick from the LA Sparks. LA received Kelsey Plum and the No. 9 pick from the Seattle Storm, who took the No. 2 pick from the Sparks and Li Yueru.

The Chicago Sky, which wanted to bolster their backcourt, could use the No. 3 pick to improve their perimeter. UConn star guard Azzi Fudd could boost their woeful outside shooting last season. Olivia Miles of Notre Dame, considered the second-best point guard behind Paige Bueckers, is another option.

The Sky could also keep looking for a veteran who could reinforce the supporting cast around Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. Chicago refused to give Chennedy Carter a qualifying offer, which made Carter, the team’s leading scorer last year, an unrestricted free agent.

Courtney Vandersloot, Erica Wheeler, Kia Nurse and Tiffany Hayes are only a few of the unrestricted free agents the Sky could go after.

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Angel Reese and the Chicago Sky need a point guard and a reliable perimeter scorer

The Chicago Sky only have six players under contract for next season. Besides Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, they have Elizabeth Williams, Moriah Jefferson, Rachel Banham and Lindsay Allen.

Jefferson, Banham and Allen, the remaining guards, aren't playmakers with reliable scoring. Jefferson hardly played last season. Banham played 16 games and averaged 6.9 points and 1.6 assists per game, while Allen started in 28 of 40 games and averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 assists.

Chicago needs a better point guard to run the offense of new coach Tyler Marsh. The Sky traded Marina Mabrey in July and moved Chennedy Carter to the starting lineup. Mabrey and Carter, who led the team in assists, aren't walking back to help the Sky.

Marsh could also use a player who could open the paint for Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. The Sky attempted 14.9 3-pointers per game last season, the worst in the WNBA by a significant margin. Chicago’s 32.3% from deep was ninth in a 12-team league. Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca knows what his team desperately needs, which is why he went after Jewell Loyd.