May 12, 2025, Chicago, Il, USA: Chicago Sky center Kamilla Cardoso at media day on May 12, 2025, in Chicago. Chicago USA - ZUMAm67_ 0821117491st Copyright: xEileenxT.xMeslarx

WNBA Reporter sounds off on Chicago Sky's failed practice facility plans

Jul 25, 2026, 8:37 PM CUT

Two years ago, the Chicago Sky promised to provide a practice facility for its players, who were sharing a recreation area with others. The Sky players are still waiting.

According to WNBA reporter Annie Costabile, the plan is delayed because of the reactive nature of the organization.

"Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield is where they practiced… And it was again the one practice court, adequate space to lift, and a locker room that was not private. So they were sharing locker room space with the people who were members of this recreation center. So again, the Sky, I think, took steps because they were forced to," Costabile said on the latest episode of No Offseason.

UNCASVILLE, CT - JUNE 22: Brittney Griner 42 of the Connecticut Sun holds her son Bash as she shows him how to fist bump DiJonai Carrington 7 of the Chicago Sky following the WNBA, Basketball Damen, USA game between the Chicago Sky and the Connecticut Sun on June 22, 2026 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT. The Sun defeated the Sky 92-63. Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire WNBA: JUN 22 Chicago Sky at Connecticut Sun EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260622156

In the fall of 2024, the Sky broke ground for a new practice facility. They said that the facility would be ready by the fall of 2025. The $60 million facility is still not ready in July 2026.

The Sky previously practiced at Sachs Recreation Center in Deerfield. There were growing concerns about sharing the practice court and locker room with members of the center. The Sky's front office announced plans to create a private practice facility.

According to Costabile, the Sky relocated to the Chicago Bulls' Wintrust Arena while construction continued.

The Sky had previously cited weather as an issue for the construction delay. Costabile said that the team has claimed the "storms that happened in the winter" to be the precise reason.

Although weather would add time, the Sky has missed two deadlines and postponed a third, this one to November.

Meanwhile, for the time being, the Chicago Sky will be training at the Wintrust Arena for the rest of the 2026 season while the construction at the Bedford Park facility continues.

Thus, since the team is already experiencing a tough 9-18 season, all that the organization can do is hope for better times in the future.

Off the court, though, there's still progress worth watching.

Chicago Sky president reveals the real reason behind practice facility delays

While the Sky cited weather being a big hurdle in the construction of the new practice facility, according to Adam Fox, the Sky’s CEO, feedback was another reason for the delay.

“There were multiple iterations of what the building would look like, and as we continued to see the evolution...we envisioned in the future, we started to think: Could we do this? Could it be possible?” Fox said to The IX Sports. “And you start bringing in the basketball operations people...player feedback...and imagine what you can do. And then all of a sudden, it starts adding more and more things."

The Sky said that the size of the facility had to be increased from roughly 40,000 sq. ft. to nearly 80,000. Their demands included the construction of spaces like content rooms.

According to IX Sports, Chicago is aiming to open the facility by November this year. The Sky is aiming to use their infrastructure to lure free agents in 2027.

Will Chicago's new facility help land big free agents in 2027? Comment your thoughts.

Written by

Nandjee Ranjan

Edited by

Utsav Gupta