Another bad news hit the Chicago Sky: The head coach of the Chicago Sky shed tears as four of his star players made a final decision to terminate their huge contracts.
INDIANAPOLIS: James Wade was still speaking about the team as if he were a member of it, a day after he officially resigned from his role as coach/general manager of the Sky in order to take an assistant coaching position on the front end of the bench with the Raptors.
Wade said, “We created a culture here,” to the Sun-Times on Sunday. “And we continued to build.”
Wade guided the Sky (8-9) into a rebuilding season, but his building efforts have ceased before the season is even halfway gone. Wade described his choice to quit the Sky after 4.5 seasons as “the hardest of [his] life,” in part because of the actions that remained to be accomplished.
Wade’s departure was sudden, but Sky players weren’t entirely shocked by it.
thrice Before Wade announced his resignation to the squad on Saturday afternoon, All-Star Kahleah Copper informed the Sun-Times that she was aware he would step down. Alanna Smith, a forward, mentioned that the players had an idea.
“We received official notice yesterday,” Smith stated. “But I suppose there’s a vibe when big decisions are being made and stuff.”
Wade claimed that prior to this chance, he had never given NBA coaching a serious thought. He stated he was just approached and given the go-ahead to explore it, although he did not specify when talks with the Raptors started. He was convinced of his potential to contribute to the Raptors and advance his career after speaking with coach Darko Rajakovic and the front office.
Money wasn’t a factor, according to Wade. It was a chance for me to coach at a level where I can grow as a coach. I can still support the women’s game at the same time.
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Wade and Raptors president Masai Ujiri had been acquainted since Wade was employed by the Sky prior to the 2019 campaign.
Wade stated, “He was kind enough to give me his number, spend some time with me over the phone, and go over the ins and outs of what it takes to be an executive.” “Those discussions guided me toward the current way of thinking that I employ.”
Wade stated that the possibility of losing his job at the end of the season had no bearing on his choice. He stated that he has the full support of the ownership in his management of the team as coach and general manager, expressing trust in his relationship with Sky main owner Michael Alter.
Wade’s departure puts the Sky in a risky position. He was a part of the team’s championship players’ departure, even though he assisted the team in hoisting its first WNBA championship banner.
Several players, including Allie Quigley, Courtney Vandersloot, and Candace Parker, decided not to sign new contracts during the team’s 2022 title defense campaign. The franchise is responsible for managing the choices he made in his subsequent role as general manager, such as dealing away two first-round draft picks for guard Marina Mabrey.
Wade was confident in his departure from the Sky, pointing to Copper as a franchise player the team can develop around. However, the 2021 MVP of the Finals is in the final year of the two-year contract Wade persuaded her to sign following the Sky’s championship campaign.
Copper was going about his business as usual heading into the Sky’s first game without Wade on Sunday against the Fever. She was working with such intensity that it seemed like if she stopped for even a brief moment, her blinders would come off and she would have to realize the significance of Wade’s departure.
