2023-10-11 21:49:00
Oct 11, 2023, 5:49 p.m. ET
Legendary former WNBA player Teresa Weatherspoon is closing a deal to be the next head coach of the Chicago Sky, a source tells ESPN.
Teresa Weatherspoon finalizing deal to become Chicago Sky’s next head coacha source close to the situation confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday night.
Weatherspoon, one of the WNBA’s most iconic players since its launch in 1997, was Sky’s top target and the candidate Sky was most excited regarding, a source told ESPN. The news was first reported by The Athletic.
Teresa Weatherspoon has been an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans in the NBA since 2020. Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Weatherspoon, who was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019, returns to the league following a long stint working with the New Orleans Pelicans, first as a player development coach in 2019 and then as an assistant since 2020. During Throughout her playing career, Weatherspoon was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year, five-time All-Star and four-time All-WNBA Second Team honoree, playing primarily for the New York Liberty before ending up with the Los Angeles Sparks.
enver>
Weatherspoon also won the 1988 NCAA championship with Louisiana Tech, where she previously served as head coach from 2009 to 2014, and played for the US Olympic team in 1988 and 1992, winning gold and bronze medals in those competitions, respectively.
The Sky were looking for a new head coach following James Wade left midseason to work as an assistant coach in the NBA. The 2021 WNBA champions have appeared in the postseason for five consecutive years, although they finished the 2023 regular season a meager 18-22 before falling to the Las Vegas Aces in the first round of the playoffs.
The organization announced at the end of the season that interim Emre Vatansever would not return as head coach.
Despite a tumultuous 2023 that saw the departures of Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Azura Stevens and Emma Meesseman in the offseason, things are looking up for Chicago. It hired Dwyane Wade as a minority owner in July, re-signed 2021 Finals MVP Kahleah Copper to a two-year extension before hitting free agency and is now bringing in a big-name head coach.
Editorial Selections
2 Related
Weatherspoon was a highly respected voice in New Orleans, and earned immense praise and respect from franchise player Zion Williamson. She was also in the running for the Phoenix Mercury’s head coaching job in 2022 before she reportedly withdrew her name from consideration following the Pelicans successfully fought to retain her.
With the hiring of Weatherspoon, the league will have six head coaching positions filled by former players. The Mercury have the only other vacant head coaching position, with former player Nikki Blue serving as interim head coach this season.
1697118637
#Source #Teresa #Weatherspoon #finalizing #deal #coach #Sky
