Teresa Weatherspoon was Sky’s top target to fill head coach vacancy

The Sky’s top pick in their coaching search was Teresa Weatherspoon.

Sources reveal that the Naismith Hall of Famer’s initial conversation with the team took place in July. Negotiations for a contract started in September after advancing preliminary discussions in August.

On Thursday, the Sky officially announced Weatherspoon as their new coach, making her the franchise’s seventh coach and the first not to hold general-manager duties. She will be formally introduced on Oct. 24.

Expressing her excitement, Weatherspoon stated, “I’m thrilled to join the Chicago Sky family as the head coach. It’s a dream come true to lead an organization in a city with so much history and culture. Our upcoming endeavors as a team, a business, and in the community will be driven by excitement, excellence, and hard work.”

Adam Fox, CEO of the Sky, shared that they evaluated numerous coaches to replace interim coach/general manager Emre Vatansever but did not disclose the exact number. The hiring process was described as meticulous and rigorous.

Past hiring practices by the Sky included meeting certain players, such as current star Kahleah Copper, who signed a two-year supermax extension without a general manager or coach in place. Ownership assured Copper of the direction the franchise was taking, including the separation of coach and general-manager roles, living accommodations for players, and plans for a practice facility.

The Sky has been vocal about its search for a new practice facility. An official announcement regarding the team’s practice location after its lease expires at Sachs Recreation Center is still pending.

During the playoffs, Copper didn’t confirm if she knew about Weatherspoon’s hiring but did mention that Sky ownership assured her that certain uncertainties would be addressed.

With Weatherspoon, the Sky will prioritize defense, an area in which Copper aims to excel. The partnership between the two seems promising, given Weatherspoon’s experience in coaching and motivating players.

Despite criticism about hiring a coach before a general manager, the Sky is focused on finding the right candidates to lead the team.

As the search for a general manager continues, the Sky remains committed to making the best decisions for the organization, according to CEO Adam Fox.

With the upcoming WNBA competition committee meetings in early November, the Sky can at least boast representation for one of the positions.