Sky fires Weatherspoon after one season, according to report

The Sky has fired head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after one season on the job, according to a report by the Sun-Times.

The Sky finished 13-27 in what was expected to be a rebuilding year, so team performance is clearly not the main reason for the dismissal. Weatherspoon was in an unusual position, originally hired to help keep all-star forward Kahleah Copper content to stay in Chicago.

When the Sky struck out with all the major free agents, they pivoted to a rebuild, sending Copper to Phoenix in a trade. The new roster was promising, as rookies Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, along with veteran guard Chennedy Carter, give the Sky a nucleus to build for the future.

Weatherspoon seemed to excel in the role of a role model and den mother. The intricacies of coaching is an area where there was likely room to improve. This was her first coaching job in the WNBA. She previously served as head coach at Louisiana Tech, her alma mater, and was an NBA assistant with the New Orleans Pelicans.

Reese posted a tribute to Weatherspoon on X late Thursday, which read in part: “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. …

“You didn’t deserve this but I can’t thank you enough. I love you Tspoon.”

The next hire will be the Sky's fourth head coach in less than three years. James Wade, who led the team to the 2021 WNBA title, left in mid-season a year ago to join the Toronto Raptors and was replaced by assistant Emre Vatansever.