The Sky are directionless again.
Less than a year ago, the franchise touted Teresa Weatherspoon as the perfect person to lead their team into a new era. One that would include another title built on the foundation rooted in her defensive tenacity, grit and overall understanding of players that was heralded by the franchise throughout the season.
On Thursday, Weatherspoon was fired, according to multiple league sources setting the franchise, which won its first title less than three years ago, adrift again. The team is expected to make a formal announcement Friday.
In her first year, Weatherspoon — a Hall of Fame player and two-time defensive player of the year — led the Sky to a 13-27 record, resulting in the franchise’s first missed postseason since 2018.
The biggest question left to answer is why?
Weatherspoon’s inexperience was apparent. She was hired by the Sky with six seasons of coaching experience at Louisiana Tech from 2009-2014 and four seasons as a player development coach for the Pelicans from 2020-2023.
Players were outwardly supportive of Weatherspoon throughout the year. However, during exit interviews, it became apparent there was some disconnect. Multiple players noted the changing playing style throughout the year and mentioned the learning curve of being a first-year coach.
Compounding Weatherspoon’s coaching inexperience were injuries. The Sky played two games with a completely healthy roster.
“No matter what we went through, the injuries, the sicknesses, everybody stepped between those four lines and they played hard,” Weatherspoon said last week during exit interviews when asked what was her biggest takeaway from her first season. “They gave everything they had. You can’t help but be proud of your team leaving it all out there.”
Sky rookie Angel Reese took to social media on Thursday night to express her adamant support for Weatherspoon.
The value she placed on playing for Weatherspoon was apparent all season. She often referenced how both were coached by four-time NCAA championship-winning coach Kim Mulkey when sharing how understood and supported she felt by Weatherspoon.
Her firing undoubtedly will affect Reese’s future in Chicago.
“I can’t imagine playing for the Sky without [Spoon,]” Reese told the Sun-Times. “She’s the one reason I wanted to come here.”
The Sky now will begin a search for their fourth head coach in two years.
Former coach/general manager James Wade resigned midseason last year to take an assistant coaching job in the NBA for the Raptors. His lead assistant, Emre Vatansever, replaced him on an interim basis. At one point, Vatansever believed that the interim tag would be removed. However, after the Sky were swept by the Aces in the first round of the 2023 playoffs, he was fired to make way for Weatherspoon.
Players’ disinterest in being part of the Sky is longstanding. However, this year, it was more apparent, beginning in free agency when first-year general manager Jeff Pagliocca failed to sign top targets Skylar Diggins-Smith and Nneka Ogwumike. Former franchise star and Finals MVP Kahleah Copper requested a trade within the same week.
Midway through the 2024 season, guard Marina Mabrey asked to be traded and she was.
Last year, unrestricted free agent Jewell Loyd told the Sun-Times that the Sky are always, “one step away.” After being traded to the Mercury, Copper told the Sun-Times that after years of believing her practice environment and other amenities associated with being a professional athlete didn’t matter, they do in fact make her job easier.
This season Copper was third in the league in points per game, averaging 21.1, and she won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
The reality is the Sky’s failures did not start with Weatherspoon’s losing season. Luring a new coach and free agents will be a tall task for a franchise amidst the turmoil that has followed them since their title run.
