Breaking down the benefit and drawbacks of extending a qualifying offer to restricted free agents

For WNBA general managers, the extension of a qualifying offer is often a low risk scenario.

The offer, in the case of restricted free agents, comes with a one-year contract and slight salary increase. The player can opt to immediately sign this offer sheet. If they choose not to, their previous team maintains exclusive negotiating rights, meaning if any other team offers the player in question, they have the right to match.

When it comes to the Sky, there are three players eligible to receive qualifying offers: Dana Evans, Chennedy Carter and Michaela Onyenwere.

Re-signing Onyenwere should be a priority for the Sky, especially when considering the pool of small forwards that will be available in free agency. Things get a little bit trickier when evaluating Evans and Carter's future in Chicago.

First, it's important to understand the extension of a qualifying offer does not guarantee a player will re-sign with that team. They could end up receiving a better offer from another team that the Sky are unwilling to match. Secondly, not extending a qualifying offer does not mean that the player can't re-sign under different terms. If a restricted free agent is not extended a qualifying offer, they will become an unrestricted free agent on Jan. 21 and can negotiate with any team, including their former.

In the case of Evans and Carter, whether or not the Sky will extend qualifying offers comes down to a few factors.

For Evans, extending a qualifying offer does not necessarily mean she will be back with the Sky in 2025. Evans was a trade candidate halfway through last year's season and received moderate interest. The Sky could opt to extend Evans a qualifying offer, knowing they could potentially package her in a trade.

Carter's circumstances are slightly different. Last season, while Carter led the team in scoring, averaging 17.5 points per game, there were enough circumstances that created doubt regarding her commitment to being a reliable contributor on the court and to the team's culture off of it. If the Sky choose not to extend a qualifying offer to Carter, it would most likely be because they don't want to fully commit to the one-year contract it comes with, preferring to see how free agency unfolds. This scenario, of course, comes with risks because the Sky would be gambling that other teams won't show significant interest in Carter as an unrestricted free agent.

Because Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca is aiming big in free agency and on the trade market, specifically when it comes to the guard pool, risking Carter as an unrestricted free agent might be one he's willing to take. The other aspect to consider is if the Sky don't deal the No. 3 pick in a trade, they will likely select a guard. One way or the other, the Sky's backcourt will be addressed this offseason, leaving questions about where Evans or Carter fit.

Teams have until Jan. 20 to extend qualifying offers.