Emre Vatansever out as coach/general manager of Sky According to multiple sources the Sky have spoken with Hall of Famer Teresa Weatherspoon regarding the coaching position. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 20, 2023
Sky to split coach, general manager roles this offseason “I know for sure the positions are going to be separate,” Kahleah Copper said during team exit meetings. “Which is great.” Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 19, 2023
Sky coaching search tops offseason priorities The team also has two of their starters, Courtney Williams and Alanna Smith, set to become free agents and four others hitting the market as reserved or restricted free agents. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 18, 2023
Sky emphasize discipline and communication in first practice since Game 1 battering “It was good,” Interim coach/general manager Emre Vatansever said. “We got a lot done and I saw some improvements in our game. We’ll see if we can apply this to on the court.” Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 16, 2023
Game 1 against Aces exposes Sky ceiling with roster as currently constructed Marina Mabrey is signed to a three-year deal, one of James Wade’s final moves as general manager before departing for the NBA. Courtney Williams will be an unrestricted free agent in the new year, as will Alanna Smith. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 15, 2023
Sky ink Kahleah Copper to two-year supermax extension Terms of the extension include the veteran supermax, $241,984 in Year 1, according to Copper’s agent, Zack Miller, and $248,134 in Year 2. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 10, 2023
Sky forward Alanna Smith in tight race for most improved player with Sparks’ Jordin Canada “She wasn’t on a roster last year,” Sky guard Courtney Williams said of Smith. “Now she’s a starter and she’s giving us quality minutes.” Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 6, 2023
Late-game execution failures result in Sky’s loss to Liberty “We couldn’t execute this game,” Interim coach/general manager Emre Vatansever said. “They really turned it up and we just couldn’t respond to it. We should have, but we couldn’t.” Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 3, 2023
Sky’s small-ball game proves effective “You gotta be scrappy,” Dana Evans said. “You have to have something to you, and I think that’s what makes the group special.” Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 2, 2023
Sparks’ mishaps put Sky back in driver’s seat Under interim coach/general manager Emre Vatansever, the Sky have gone 8-12 with two losing streaks of four games or more. Chicago Sun-Times · Sep 2, 2023
Dana Evans is making a strong case for sixth woman of the year in her third season In the last five games, Evans’ production has spiked. She’s averaging 14.4 points and 4.4 assists in 21 minutes Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 29, 2023
Sky forward Ruthy Hebard set to become a restricted free agent in new year “For me, [the remaining schedule] is about playing hard and showing them what I can do,” Hebard said. “Hopefully, I’ll be in Chicago because I love Chicago.” Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 28, 2023
Sky have spoken with potential coach/general manager candidates, including Teresa Weatherspoon: sources The Pelicans hired Weatherspoon, 57, as a two-way player-development coach in 2019, the same year she was inducted into the Hall of Fame, and kept her as an assistant for four years before releasing her in June. Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 26, 2023
Sky drop critical game to Aces in playoff push, fall two games behind Sparks “We need to take care of business,” interim coach/general manager Emre Vatansever said. “We play Seattle and Los Angeles on the road now. That’s our focus.” Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 25, 2023
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 23, 2023 What will the Sky’s backcourt look like in 2024? While the Sky puts off addressing the two of the most critically important roles to a professional sports franchise — coach and general manager — questions about their roster only grow more concerning.
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 23, 2023 Sky snap five-game skid in ‘turning point’ game against Storm Dana Evans led the Sky with 23 points, shooting 7-for-11 from the field, including 4-for-6 from three-point range. Marina Mabrey added 19 points and Alanna Smith 14.
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 23, 2023 Storm assistant Pokey Chatman’s name belongs in mix when Sky answer who next head coach will be “You always take the call,” Chatman told the Sun-Times. “But I’m also not chasing a chair.”
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 17, 2023 Sky’s upcoming stretch can make or break playoff hopes Since interim coach/general manager Emre Vatansever took over for James Wade after his abrupt resignation, the Sky have gone 5-9. Their most recent three-game losing streak has them on the brink of falling out of playoff contention with just 10 games left in the season.
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 14, 2023 Sky fall into tie with Sparks for last playoff spot with 10 games left “We weren’t prepared well, and that is my responsibility,” interim coach/general manager Emre Vatansever said. “I take ownership of that. I could have prepared them well, and I didn’t.”
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 13, 2023 As playoff race heats up, Sky need to figure out fourth-quarter struggles “Experiences are your best teachers,” Courtney Williams said, “being so close, getting our feelings hurt by the end of the game. We are just going to keep getting our feelings hurt until we figure it out.”
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 12, 2023 Sky’s zone defense improves communication “We forced them to have a high level of communication,” Sky interim coach/general manager Emre Vatansever said. “That shows us in the game that we can talk to each other during huddles, during actions. That was our goal.”
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 12, 2023 Sky’s loss to Liberty loosens grip on final WNBA playoff spot “When you look at the fifth and sixth seeds, you only have three wins [separating us],” coach/general manager Emre Vatansever said. “We’re right there.”
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 11, 2023 Sky need bench to step up for postseason push In the Sky’s 12 victories, the bench averaged 20 points while shooting 43.7% and 44% on threes. In their 16 losses, it averaged 17 points, shooting 36% and 27.5% on threes.
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 9, 2023 Lynx snap Sky streak, keeping them at eighth in the league standings with 13 games left After three straight games eclipsing 100 points, the Sky lost 88-79 to the Lynx.
Chicago Sun-Times · Aug 9, 2023 Sky players respond to Courtney Williams being fined after Sunday’s ‘altercation’ in win over Wings “I wanted to verbalize that there should never be a situation where her character is misinterpreted or anything involving the past is brought up in a situation that she had nothing to do with,” Elizabeth Williams said.