Becky Hammon blasts Chicago Sky for firing coach Teresa Weatherspoon: "It seems flat-out wrong to me"

Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon didn’t hold back on Saturday, using strong words to criticize the Chicago Sky for firing coach Teresa Weatherspoon. The Sky parted ways with Weatherspoon less than a year after appointing the former WNBA player to lead the team.

Hammon expressed her disgust with Chicago's decision to dismiss her former teammate Weatherspoon. The Aces coach said that the firing didn’t make much "sense" and praised Weatherspoon for doing an excellent job with the roster she had.

"I mean, I don't know how you make that make sense. It doesn't make much sense to me," Hammon said.

"I though they overplayed their roster, meaning I thought they were in a rebuild. Trade away all your pieces. I don't know what you expected out of that roster. I thought she got the most out of that roster," she added.

Hammon and Weatherspoon were teammates on the New York Liberty from 1999 to 2003. The two have maintained a close bond and have frequently expressed their admiration for each other, particularly throughout the 2024 WNBA season. As a result, the firing of her "close friend" appeared to frustrate Hammon.

The Aces coach criticized Chicago for imposing unrealistic expectations within a short timeframe. She called the Sky’s decision "flat out wrong" but expressed confidence in Weatherspoon’s resilience and ability to bounce back.

"Any organization that thinks you gonna create culture and flip things upside down ... in less than a year, I don't think you have realistic expectations," Hammon continued.

"I think it's wrong. It seems flat-out wrong to me. Spoon is resilient, I know she will land on her feet. But I don't know, make it make sense for me," she added.

---

How the Chicago Sky fared under Teresa Weatherspoon

The Chicago Sky ended the 2024 regular season with a disappointing 13-27 record, despite having two standout rookies, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, on their roster.

Under Teresa Weatherspoon, the team was in playoff contention for much of the season, but the Chicago Sky's campaign unraveled in the second half, where they struggled to secure wins.

Rookie Angel Reese flourished under Weatherspoon, establishing herself as a strong contender for the Rookie of the Year. Although Caitlin Clark eventually won the award, Weatherspoon's influence on Reese's development during her first season of professional basketball was undeniably significant.