The Chicago Sky have dismissed head coach Teresa Weatherspoon less than a year after her hiring.
“After thoughtful deliberation, we’ve determined that it’s in the best interest of the organization to part ways with head coach Teresa Weatherspoon,” the Sky said in a statement posted on social media Friday.
Weatherspoon took over as Chicago’s head coach in October 2023, following the exit of James Wade, who stepped down in July 2023 to accept an NBA assistant coaching role after guiding the Sky to a 2021 championship. In her sole season as coach, the injury-riddled Sky ended with a 13-27 record, narrowly missing the playoffs for the first time since 2018, largely due to Angel Reese’s season-ending wrist injury.
“We greatly value Coach TSpoon’s contributions to the Chicago Sky. Her energy and passion made a lasting impact, and she instilled a competitive and resilient mindset in the team,” the Sky said in their statement. “TSpoon will always remain part of the Skytown family, and we wish her nothing but success.”
The Chicago Sky announced today that Teresa Weatherspoon will not retain the role of Head Coach for the 2025 season
Reese, drafted by the Sky out of LSU with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, expressed devastation over Weatherspoon’s firing, stating it was undeserved.
“I’m completely at a loss for words thinking about what this woman meant to me during such a critical moment in my life. She was the only one who believed in me, the only one who trusted me,” Reese shared in a heartfelt social media post on Thursday. “Most people don’t understand what it’s like to be a Black woman in sports when no one believes in you. Despite all the difficult situations we faced this year, and even when your back was against the wall, you always had faith. I came to Chicago because of YOU. You were the unsung hero in my life.”
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. Many don’t even know what it’s like to be a black women 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. @Finisher_11
Reese continued: “We formed a bond in such a short time that will last forever. I’ll never question why God brings people into my life only to take them away, but I believe everyone enters for a reason and a season. You were the best reason and season. You didn’t deserve this, but I can’t thank you enough. I love you, TSpoon.”
Weatherspoon, who played for the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks from 1997 to 2004, was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.
She previously coached at Louisiana Tech from 2009-2014 and worked as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2020-2023.
