BeyondTeresa Weatherspoon’s Departure from Chicago Sky: A Season of Disconnect and StrugglesBeyond
The Chicago Sky shocked the basketball world with their decision to fire head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after just one season, following a disappointing 13-27 record that saw the team miss the playoffs for the first time since 2018. Weatherspoon, a Hall of Famer and former WNBA star, was hired less than a year ago with high hopes of guiding the team into a new era. Instead, her short-lived tenure was marked by disconnects with players, injuries, and struggles both on and off the court.
The Sky’s season started with hope but quickly unraveled as injuries and changes in playing style contributed to mounting losses. Star rookie Angel Reese, who was brought into the team with high expectations, suffered a season-ending wrist injury in September, while another key player, Kamilla Cardoso, missed the first few weeks of the season due to a shoulder injury. With the team’s roster constantly in flux, Weatherspoon faced significant challenges in keeping the Sky competitive.
Throughout the season, there was a visible “disconnect” between Weatherspoon and some players, as reported by The Chicago Sun-Times. This growing gap became even more apparent during exit interviews, when players expressed concerns about the evolving playing style and their frustrations with the first-year coach’s learning curve. Despite these difficulties, Weatherspoon received unwavering support from Angel Reese, who took to social media to express her heartbreak over the firing.
“I’m literally lost for words knowing what this woman meant to me in such a pivotal point in my life,” Reese wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “She was the only person that believed in me. The one that trusted me. Many don’t even know what it’s like to be a Black woman in sports when nobody believes in you.”
Reese’s sentiments were echoed by other players throughout the season, many of whom praised Weatherspoon for her energy, passion, and commitment to the team. However, those qualities were not enough to overcome the challenges Weatherspoon faced in her debut season as a head coach. The Sky’s offensive struggles were glaring, ranking second-worst in the league with a 97.0 offensive rating. The team also took the fewest three-point attempts per game, a significant shortcoming in the modern era of basketball.
Complicating matters further was the Sky’s poor roster construction, a problem that preceded Weatherspoon’s arrival. The team traded away 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper before Weatherspoon could even coach her first game, and Marina Mabrey was dealt midseason to the Connecticut Sun. These moves left the Sky in a vulnerable position, and Weatherspoon was left to do what she could with a depleted roster.
Despite the adversity, Weatherspoon worked hard to foster development, notably helping Chennedy Carter rediscover her form. But with a roster in disarray, it became clear the Sky were headed for a rebuild. According to The Chicago Sun-Times, Weatherspoon’s firing was in part due to comments from players during exit interviews, with some highlighting frustrations with the team’s inconsistent playing style.
“I can’t imagine playing for the Sky without [Weatherspoon],” Reese told the Sun-Times, adding that the bond she built with her coach was one of the main reasons she chose to join the team.
The Sky now face a difficult offseason, with only two players—Moriah Jefferson and Rachel Banham—on guaranteed contracts for the 2025 season. The team will also make a lottery selection in the upcoming draft, though they are unable to receive the No. 1 overall pick due to a pick-swap with the Dallas Wings.
Weatherspoon’s departure also highlights deeper issues within the Sky organization. Since winning their first WNBA title in 2021, the team has struggled to retain players and build on their success. Free agency failures, such as missing out on signing stars like Nneka Ogwumike and Skylar Diggins-Smith, further compounded their woes. Former Finals MVP Kahleah Copper’s trade request was another blow to the team’s stability.
Teresa Weatherspoon’s firing raises questions about the future direction of the Chicago Sky, a franchise now searching for its fourth head coach since their championship run in 2021. Weatherspoon’s departure marks the end of a brief but tumultuous chapter for the team, and her supporters, like Angel Reese, are left reflecting on what might have been.