Editor’s note: The video in this story is from a previous report.
The Chicago Sky on Friday morning confirmed they fired head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after a disappointing 2024 season in which the club narrowly missed out on a postseason berth.
The announcement comes a day after other outlets said Weatherspoon had been fired, with reference to reports.
“After careful consideration, we have determined that it is in the best interest of the organization to part ways with head coach Teresa Weatherspoon,” Chicago Sky co-owner and president of operations Nadia Rawlinson said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for Coach TSpoon’s contributions to the Chicago Sky, and the energy and passion she brought to the head coaching role. We thank her for inspiring a competitive, resilient spirit throughout the team, synonymous with Chicago Sky basketball.”
Rawlinson’s statement went on to say that the organization remains one “determined to be a play-off and championship contender every year”, and that the club will soon begin a “thorough” search for the Sky’s next head coach.
On Thursday, Chicago Sky star Angel Reese wrote an emotional farewell to Weatherspoon, saying she was “heartbroken.”
“She was the only person who believed in me” Reese’s post said in part. “A lot of people don’t even know what it’s like to be a black woman in sports when nobody believes in you.”
Weatherspoon, who played in the WNBA from 1997-2004, was hired as the team’s head coach in October 2023 after three seasons as an assistant coach with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Despite missing the playoffs by a narrow margin, the Sky finished 2024 with a 13-27 record, a step back from the team’s 18 wins in 2023, despite the addition of Angel Reese, who set the WNBA single-season record. rookie year.
The Sky were coached under James Wade to begin the 2023 season, although he resigned in July 2023 to take an assistant coaching position with the Toronto Raptors.
The Sky finished 2023 under interim head coach Emre Vatansever, with the team 11-13 under his leadership.