Another WNBA head coaching position has opened up. Despite a late-season push to make their fifth consecutive postseason, the Chicago Sky announced Wednesday that Emre Vatansever would not return as its general manager/head coach.
Vatansever had been with the Sky since 2018, going from a player development coach to an assistant coach to eventually the team’s top basketball decision-maker, elevating to the GM/coach role when James Wade resigned in July to take another job with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.
Chicago has gone through a number of changes in recent years, adding new members to its ownership group with NBA legend Dwyane Wade among them. Key components of its 2021 championship team, including Candace Parker, Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Azurá Stevens and Stefanie Dolson, have left the franchise as well. Three-time All-Star Kahleah Copper, however, has continued her ascension within the WNBA and signed a two-year extension with the Sky earlier this month.
Copper said during her exit interview that the franchise would “for sure” be splitting the top two decision-making roles going forward. So it wouldn’t be surprising for the Sky’s next coach to be hired only after the new general manager takes over. Still, here are five candidates to possibly replace…
