The Chicago Sky has parted ways with head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after just one season, during which the team recorded a disappointing 13-27 record. Reports of her firing were confirmed by several sources, including the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.
Rookie standout Angel Reese, who led the WNBA in rebounds per game with an average of 13.1, expressed her heartbreak over Weatherspoon’s dismissal. On social media, she highlighted the significant impact Weatherspoon had on her life and career, emphasizing that the coach was a rare source of support for her as a Black woman in sports.
Reese noted, “I’m literally lost for words knowing what this woman meant to me in such a pivotal point in my life.” She praised Weatherspoon for believing in her during a challenging season filled with difficulties.
In her post, Reese acknowledged the tough circumstances the team faced and credited Weatherspoon for her unwavering belief in the players. “You had a tough job… when your back was against the wall, you always believed,” Reese wrote, adding that she came to Chicago specifically because of Weatherspoon.
Weatherspoon, who was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010, had a diverse coaching background. Before joining the Sky, she served as an assistant coach for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans for several years. She also had stints as the head coach of Louisiana Tech’s women’s basketball team and the Westchester Phantoms in the ABA.
Despite leading the Sky to the highest rebound totals in the league, the team struggled offensively. They ranked among the lowest in points scored and had the worst free-throw percentage in the WNBA.
The Sky’s disappointing season culminated in a 10th-place finish, marking the first time in six years that the team failed to qualify for the playoffs. This is a notable change from their previous success, which included a WNBA championship under former coach James Wade in 2021.
Wade, who had been both head coach and general manager, left the Sky during the 2023 season to take an assistant coaching role in the NBA. His departure and the subsequent coaching change have left the Sky in a challenging position as they look to rebuild.
Weatherspoon’s tenure was brief, but her influence on players like Reese will likely be remembered. The Sky now face the task of finding a new coach to guide them back to playoff contention in the coming seasons.