The Chicago Sky have tabbed Teresa Weatherspoon as their next head coach, as first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
The WNBA legend becomes the seventh head coach in the history of the franchise. A former assistant coach for the NBA’s New Orleans Pelicans, Weatherspoon has been in talks with the Sky since August, but negotiations picked up in September, Chicago Sun-Times journalist Annie Costabile reported.
“To be the leader, as head coach, of an organization in a city with so much history and culture is a dream come true,” Weatherspoon said in a news release. “The things that we are about to do as a team, a business and in the community will be rooted in excitement, excellence and hard work. I am thankful to the entire Chicago organization for going through this process and selecting me. I can’t wait to get to work!”
The Hall of Famer, who was a five-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Defensive Player of the Year, parted ways with the Pelicans in June after four years with the team. She spent seven seasons with the New York Liberty as a player from 1997 to 2003, and she later joined their staff as director of player development in 2015.
Ahead of the 2022 season, Weatherspoon was a finalist for the Phoenix Mercury head coaching job, but she withdrew her name from consideration.
She succeeds interim head coach Emre Vatansever at the helm for the Sky. Vatansever took over in July after James Wade left the team for an assistant coaching position with the Toronto Raptors. While Wade served as the head coach and general manager, the Sky also are planning to hire a new general manager after separating the two positions.
𝐈𝐓'𝐒 '𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐙𝐍@WNBA legend and Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon has been named the next Head Coach for the Chicago Sky.
— Chicago Sky (@chicagosky) October 12, 2023
Welcome to Skytown, Coach @Finisher_11!