The Chicago Sky have parted ways with their head coach, Teresa Weatherspoon, after just one season at the helm, according to reports released on Thursday.
The team itself has not yet made an official statement, and the Sky’s management did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press to verify these reports.
This past season was a challenging one for the Sky, as they finished with a disappointing 13-27 record and missed out on the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Despite selecting promising rookies like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, the team struggled to find success on the court. With Weatherspoon’s departure, Chicago will now be searching for its fourth coach since their WNBA championship win in 2021.
One of the major storylines surrounding Weatherspoon’s firing involves its potential impact on star rookie Angel Reese. Reese, who has become a prominent figure in women’s basketball, played a key role in attracting record ratings and bolstered attendance after transitioning from a heated college rivalry with Indiana’s Caitlin Clark to the professional stage. Their on-court battles were a major draw for fans this season.
Reese made her feelings known after hearing the news, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to express her heartbreak and frustration. “Heartbroken” and “lost for words,” she tweeted, calling Weatherspoon “an unsung hero” in her life. She added, “You didn’t deserve this, but I can’t thank you enough. I love you, Tspoon. @Finisher_11.”
Despite being sidelined for the final six games of the season due to a wrist injury, Reese still managed to leave a significant mark on the league. She was on track to set the WNBA record for most rebounds in a season before her injury. Nevertheless, she still broke several records, including averaging a league-high 13.1 rebounds per game and recording 26 double-doubles—the most ever by a rookie. Reese and Weatherspoon shared a connection dating back to their time under coach Kim Mulkey.
Weatherspoon’s hiring in October 2023 followed a turbulent season for the Sky. Former coach and general manager James Wade left midway through the 2023 campaign to take an assistant coaching role with the Toronto Raptors, and interim coach Emre Vatanseyer finished out the season. Once Weatherspoon took over, the Sky moved quickly to build a team around Reese and Cardoso. Shortly after her hiring, the organization promoted Jeff Pagliocca to general manager, and together, they worked on positioning the Sky for the future.
Their efforts culminated in several bold moves. In February, Chicago traded 2021 WNBA Finals MVP Kahleah Copper to the Phoenix Mercury in exchange for four draft picks, one of which was the No. 3 pick. A couple of weeks later, the Sky also acquired the No. 8 pick from the Los Angeles Sparks and traded up a spot with the Minnesota Lynx. With these picks, the Sky chose Kamilla Cardoso, who had just led South Carolina to an undefeated season and NCAA championship, at No. 3, and Angel Reese, the standout LSU star, at No. 7.
Weatherspoon had returned to the WNBA coaching ranks after spending several years with the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans. Initially, she joined the Pelicans’ staff in 2019 as a player development coach, eventually rising to the role of assistant coach in 2020. However, the Pelicans parted ways with Weatherspoon in June of this year.
As a player, Weatherspoon’s career was legendary. She earned back-to-back WNBA Defensive Player of the Year honors during the league’s first two seasons and helped lead the New York Liberty to the Finals four times, with the last appearance in 2002.
The decision to let go of Teresa Weatherspoon leaves the Chicago Sky facing questions about their future, both on and off the court, as they aim to rebuild and reclaim their status as championship contenders. With new leadership likely to come soon, how the team navigates this transition will be critical to their prospects moving forward.
