A few days ago, The Athletic released a poll asking anonymous WNBA players which franchises they thought were the best and worst run in the league. When it came to the best, teams like the Mercury and Liberty led the way. But for the worst? There was a clear winner–the Chicago Sky. Wondering why a team that drafted the likes of Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso got the status? “They’re still practicing in a rec center. That’s not … ideal,” one of the players explained their reason. Well, we might have an update on that!
In July 2024, the Chicago Sky grabbed headlines with a massive announcement. They were confirming a brand new $38 million training facility in Bedford Park. A true game-changer. “It’s not shared. This is ours,” said co-owner and operating chair Nadia Rawlinson. The plan was simple. They had intended to finish the project by October 2025.
But those plans took a hit when Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reported that the Sky’s new training facility in Bedford Park wouldn’t be ready as scheduled. The completion has been pushed back to 2026. The reason given at the time was that significant additions were being made to the original plan, which would cause a considerable delay.
It’s been three months since Julia Poe’s report, and fans have been curious about how much progress has actually been made. Now, thanks to reporter Karli Bell, we have an update. She recently shared a photo of the site on X, and honestly, it’s not looking good for the fans. But it does confirm what the WNBA broadcasters had said about the exterior getting done by August!
From her post, it’s pretty clear that the facility won’t be ready by the original October 2025 deadline. Significant progress has been made on the exterior, but there’s still a lot of work to be done. It can even be argued that the facility won’t be completed by the April 2026 deadline set by the franchise either. But new additions might not be the only reason. There were also suggestions floating around online that the Sky were facing difficulties securing a loan to complete the project.
On the broadcast, it was revealed that the Chicago Sky have started construction on the practice facility with the exterior hoping to be done by mid-August
I drove by the facility on Sunday and captured this photo of what’s been done thus far in Bedford Park. pic.twitter.com/0v0wdO3gqS
— Karli Bell (@KarliBell33) July 23, 2025
Well, those rumors were quickly shut down by the organization. The real story? Changes to the facility plans have pushed back both the construction timeline and the cost estimates. Until those revised details are finalized, Angel Reese’s side won’t move forward with a loan application. That’s why the team and the Village of Bedford Park agreed on a revised payment plan.
While construction on the facility continues, one thing the Sky front office can take comfort in is having a rising star like Angel Reese. Despite the team’s recent struggles, Reese has continued to shine, and she has broken another longstanding W record.
Angel Reese continues to shine for the Chicago Sky
Another game, another loss for the Sky. That’s three in a row now after falling 61-98 to the Lynx. It’s worth noting that the Sky are in all kinds of trouble injury-wise, with players like Ariel Atkins, Courtney Vandersloot, and Michaela Onyenwere all sidelined. But that hasn’t stopped Reese from balling out!
Reese scored 11 points on 4-8 shooting while also grabbing 11 rebounds. That’s not all! She also dished out 3 assists and recorded a block against the Lynx. But the headline? This performance etched her name in the history books once again. As confirmed by the WNBA on X: “ Angel Reese Makes HISTORY… Again! Angel Reese drops her 10th straight double-double, becoming the only player in WNBA history with multiple streaks of 10+ double-doubles.”
It’s unfortunate that while Reese continues to shine, the Sky just can’t seem to find a way to win. With their recent loss to the Lynx, the Windy City franchise now sits at 7-16, and their playoff hopes are quickly fading away. What are your thoughts on the Chicago Sky as a franchise?
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