The Chicago Sky have fired head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after being hired by the team less than a year ago, the Chicago Sun-Times’ Annie Costabile reported on Thursday.
In her first year with the team, she led the Sky to a 13-27 record, good for last place in the Eastern Conference. They won five fewer games this season than in 2023 but dealt with roster turnover after inserting rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso into the lineup and trading star guard Marina Mabrey to the Connecticut Sun.
Weatherspoon, 58, is a basketball Hall-of-Famer who spent eight seasons in the WNBA. She was named an All-Star in five of those seasons and won two Defensive Player of the Year trophies, including the inaugural award in 1997, the first season of the WNBA.
Prior to accepting the lead role with the Sky, Weatherspoon spent three years as an assistant with the New Orleans Pelicans of the NBA from 2020-23.
Reese spoke out about the decision to fire Weatherspoon, taking to social media to share how much the first-year head coach meant to her in her rookie season.
“I’m heartbroken. I’m literally lost for words knowing what this woman meant to me in such a pivotal point in my life. She was the only person that believed in me. The one that trusted me,” Reese said. “Many don’t even know what it’s like to be a black woman in sports when nobody believes in you. You had a tough job. All the crazy circumstances that we went through this year & when your back was against the wall, you always believed.”
“I came to Chicago because of YOU. You were an unsung hero in my life. We built a relationship in a short amount of time that will last forever. I’ll never question God why he brings people in my life and takes them away from me in the capacity that I need them but I’ve always believed everyone is in your life for a reason and a season. You were the best reason & season. You didn’t deserve this but I can’t thank you enough. I love you Tspoon.”
Weatherspoon’s firing comes days after the Los Angeles Sparks mutually parted ways with head coach Curt Miller on Tuesday.
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