Months into her single-year hiatus, Dales was contacted by Sky consultant Doug Bruno, currently the coach of the DePaul women’s basketball team. After that, things started falling into place.

“Chicago was a good fit for me,” Dales said after being drafted by the Sky. “It presented a welcoming opportunity.”

When negotiations began, Dales was instantly impressed by the treatment she received from all members of the Sky’s front office. Michael Alter, owner of the Sky, personally picked her up from the airport and invited her out for sushi—one of her favorites. Head Coach Dave Cowens came to watch her in a pick-up game and called the next day to see how she was doing.

“Those were some of the luring attributes that I felt were important in my decision to play again,” Dales said.

While Dales did spend a year off the court, she didn’t stray far. Since 2002, she has been working as an analyst for ESPN, specializing in women’s collegiate basketball. She has also taken on football and men’s basketball and has achieved the kind of success one would expect from a driven, former NCAA championship athlete. USA Today’s TV columnist Rudy Martzke recognized these efforts when he named her “Rookie Analyst of the Year,” in 2002 and “Best New Face,” in 2004.

After spending her childhood in Brockville, Ontario, Dales attended college at the University of Oklahoma. After a full year of rehab for an ACL injury her freshman year, Dales eventually fought her way back on to the court, earning Big 12 Conference Player of the Year honors in 2001 and 2002. During her senior year, she led the Sooners to the NCAA championship game, falling to the University of Connecticut (80-72) in the final. Just three weeks after her last collegiate game, Dales she was drafted third overall by the Washington Mystics, kicking off her professional career.

In her three seasons with the Mystics, Dales averaged 9.3 points per game and 2.6 rebounds per game, making her one of the team’s key contributors. In 2002, she was named as a replacement to the WNBA All-Star Team.

“She’s pretty excited, and we’re happy she’ll play with us,” General Manager and Head Coach Dave Cowens said. “She’s got the goods.”

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