Women's Fastbreak On SI

Sky Coach Teresa Weatherspoon Criticized For A'ja Wilson Game Winner

Chicago Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon is under fire for a controversial coaching decision she made Sunday.
Grant Young|
Jun 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon reacts during the second half of a basketball game against the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky head coach Teresa Weatherspoon reacts during the second half of a basketball game against the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports | Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Sky fell to 11-18 in the WNBA regular season after suffering a devastating last-second, 77-75 defeat to the Las Vegas Aces on Sunday.

The Sky rallied back from being behind in the fourth quarter before tying the game up at 75 with a clutch three-pointer by Chennedy Carter in the game's final seconds.

The Aces took a timeout after Carter's three was made. During the break, Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon drew up a play that sent superstar A'ja Wilson streaking toward the basket to receive an inbound pass from Chelsea Gray and put a shot up within 1.1 seconds.

Which is exactly what happened. Wilson received the pass, got the shot up right before the buzzer, and watched as it sank through the hoop. Aces win.

While this excellent play drawn by Hammon may have been indefensible, Sky fans are pointing their fingers at Chicago head coach Teresa Weatherspoon for not having 6'7" rookie forward Kamilla Cardoso guarding Wilson (or simply protecting the paint) during this final possession.

Especially considering that Cardoso blocked five of Wilson's shots on Sunday, which is the most Wison has ever been blocked by a single player in a game.

One disgruntled fan wrote on X, "Kamilla's been tossin A'ja's shot all game and Spoon put her on...the inbounder?"

"T Spoon is trash yo how do you not have your bigs protecting the rim," added another.

Regardless of whether Weatherspoon messed up with that choice, the bottom line is that Chicago is now 1-3 in August and slipping in the WNBA standings.

While they're currently still the WNBA's No. 8 seed, they'll need to right the ship soon if they're to make an appearance in the playoffs later this year.

Published
Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young covers Women’s Basketball, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets for Sports Illustrated’s ‘On SI’ sites. He holds an MFA degree in creative writing from the University of San Francisco (USF), where he also graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing and played on USF’s Division I baseball team for five years. However, he now prefers Angel Reese to Angels in the Outfield.

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