The 2024 WNBA regular season was a disappointment for the Chicago Sky, mainly due to the team narrowly missing out on a postseason berth. Despite facing setbacks in the form of injuries, leading to the Sky playing with a full roster only twice, they managed to finish with a 13-27 record. This marked a significant step back from the team’s 18 wins last year, even with the addition of the 2024 No. 7 draft pick. And, it certainly came with consequences.

This time, Teresa Weatherspoon has paid a hefty price for the team’s underperformance. According to multiple league sources, the Chicago Sky’s head coach has been fired less than a year after her hiring. The team is expected to make an official announcement by tomorrow, Friday. But even before that, the Sky rookie, Angel Reese took to social media to express her love for Weatherspoon.

“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,” a part of her tweet read. She then followed it up with images of her with TSpoon, her first coach in the professional league, on her Instagram stories. 

Reese reveals the coach has been real strong and supportive against every challenge the team faced this season. Though a 10-14 record prior to the Olympic break, the Windy City managed mere six wins in the second half. So when the pressure was only beginning to mount on her, Reese was there for her too and not just statistically. “She knows it’s not gonna be easy. This is her first year too. So, we kinda have to give her some grace,” Reese had told WGN News post-Olympic break.

Weatherspoon started coaching in 2007 and was coming off as an assistant coach to the New Orleans Pelicans. And so with the NBA experience, the Sky believed to ‘usher in a new era’ upon signing her. But that clearly did not go per expectations, in part due to the injuries that the team suffered in their star players — Chennedy Carter, Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso, and Diamond DeShields.

 Thus starts the next hunt from Chicago Sky.

4th coach in last three years for Chicago Sky

Less than three years removed from their 2021 title, the Chicago Sky are once again in search of their fourth head coach. It all began when James Wade, who guided the Sky to their championship run, left the team in the middle of the 2023 season. Interim coach Emre Vatansever replaced him, believing his ‘interim’ title would soon be removed, but it never happened.

Instead, Weatherspoon was hired last October to lead the franchise into a new era alongside Kahleah Copper. However, that plan fell apart when the team’s former franchise star requested a trade. Still, Weatherspoon did her best with what she had, guiding the team through a tough season. Even the players were outwardly supportive of their head coach throughout the year. But recent report reveals ‘disconnect’ mentioned in exit interview.

“Multiple players noted the changing play style throughout the year and mentioned the learning curve of being a first-year coach,” Anne Cosabile of Chicago Sun-Times’ Tribune writes.

The season marked their worst since 2019, having consecutively made the playoffs and again, not just statistically. Initially, general manager Jeff Pagliocca failed to sign free agents Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith. In the same week, Copper requested a trade. Midway through the season, even guard Marina Mabrey, who is now excelling for the Connecticut Sun, requested a trade. To top it off, they lost 12 of the 14 of their last matches leading to the revelation.

Regardless, Reese says, “You were the best reason & season. You didn’t deserve this but I can’t thank you enough. I love you Tspoon.”