Chicago Sky officials were vague on details Wednesday while explaining their choice to fire former coach Teresa Weatherspoon after just one season. They mentioned there wasn’t a specific reason and felt it was simply time to move on from the Naismith Hall of Famer.
“First, I want to say I have a lot of respect for ‘Spoon,” general manager Jeff Pagliocca said. “We’re very appreciative of the competitive teams, the resilient teams, the spirit she brought to us on the court every night. As an organization, we just felt it was time to make a change.”
Pagliocca spoke at the groundbreaking for a new practice facility near Midway International Airport, just south of Chicago.
The Sky let go of Weatherspoon two weeks ago after finishing with a 13-27 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018. This was despite strong performances from rookie post players Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
The next coach will be the team’s fourth since they won the WNBA championship in 2021.
“We’re actually here to talk about the practice facility,” Sky co-owner and operating chairman Nadia Rawlinson said. “I have tremendous affection personally, tremendous love, for ‘Spoon and what she’s done for the franchise. But today’s really about the future and where we’re going.”
She added that the Sky are “looking to move quickly” in their search for a new coach.
Chicago hired Weatherspoon in mid-October 2023. Former coach and general manager James Wade left during the previous season to join the Toronto Raptors as an assistant coach and was temporarily replaced by Emre Vatansever.
A few weeks after hiring Weatherspoon, the Sky promoted Pagliocca to general manager. He had spent four years in player development and assisting the head coach, which created an unusual situation since the coach was hired before the GM.
“I don’t know if it contributed to the decision at all, but obviously, it’s rare that a GM is hired afterward,” Pagliocca said. “But we made it work as long as we could.”
Pagliocca recognized that the front office needed to repair some relationships with the players because of the decision to fire Weatherspoon.
Several players showed their support for their former coach on social media. Reese, who, along with Indiana’s Caitlin Clark, helped attract record ratings and attendance after their rivalry moved from college to professional basketball, posted on X that she was “heartbroken” and “lost for words.” She described Weatherspoon as “an unsung hero in my life” who didn’t deserve to be let go.
“I really respect their feelings for ’Spoon,” Pagliocca said. “I had a great friendship with her. I get it. There are players that she had a great connection with. She cared about them a lot. They cared about her a lot. Everything has calmed down quite a bit.”
He mentioned that the team’s relationship with Reese is “in a good spot.”
Center Elizabeth Williams expressed that she has “a great love” for Weatherspoon but did not comment on whether she agrees with the decision.
“It’s more up to what ownership and the organization think is best,” Williams said. “We’re in the business of just moving forward.”
Pagliocca dismissed the notion that Weatherspoon was difficult to work with, saying he didn’t believe she was tough “at all.” He stated that the Sky “will be as forthright as we can” with candidates about why they let Weatherspoon go, but there are “private issues” they want to keep confidential.
Regarding potential candidates who might worry about joining an organization that fired a coach after just one season, Pagliocca said, “It’s a good question.
We felt like it was time to make a change. The next coach that comes in here we would like them to stay for a longer tenure.”
