The Chicago Sky have let go of coach Teresa Weatherspoon after just one season, according to reports from Thursday.
The Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune mentioned unnamed sources in their reports about Weatherspoon’s dismissal.
The Sky did not immediately respond to a request from The Associated Press for confirmation of this news.
This past season, Chicago finished with a record of 13-27 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018, even after drafting talented rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. The next coach will be the team’s fourth since they won the WNBA championship in 2021.
Weatherspoon’s firing may impact Reese’s future, as she and Indiana’s Caitlin Clark brought in record ratings and attendance after their college rivalry continued into the pros.
Reese showed her support for Weatherspoon on X, saying she was “heartbroken” and “lost for words.” She described the coach as “an unsung hero in my life” and added, “You didn’t deserve this but I can’t thank you enough. I love you Tspoon. @Finisher_11.”
Reese would likely have set the league record for rebounds in a season if she hadn’t missed Chicago’s last six games due to a wrist injury.
However, she still set several other records, averaging a league-best 13.1 rebounds and achieving 26 double-doubles, the most for a rookie. She and Weatherspoon had a bond, having both been coached by Kim Mulkey.
The Sky hired Naismith Hall of Famer Weatherspoon in mid-October 2023 after finishing the previous season with an 18-22 record and losing in the first round of the playoffs. Former coach and general manager James Wade left mid-season to become an assistant with the Toronto Raptors, and Emre Vatanseyer took over on an interim basis.
