The Chicago Sky arguably have the most difficult practice facility in the WNBA. The team currently practices at Sachs Recreation Center. It is a public park facility in the north suburban village of Deerfield, nearly 30 miles from their home stadium, which they share with local residents, students, and others. Fortunately, that is about to change. 

The Chicago Sky have announced that their new $60m practice facility will be fully operational by the 2026 Spring. It’ll measure around 80,000 square feet, a significant uptick over the original plan’s 52,000. The dedicated facility will include two courts and a weight room, among other amenities. It will be the league’s largest facility when it opens .

“This now, especially for the WNBA, is table stakes,” Nadia Rawlinson, co-owner and operating chairman of the Sky, told Sports Business Journal. “What once was sufficient has now become ho-hum, so let’s figure out how we can stay ahead of the curve for the benefit of players. That was the predicate for expanding these conversations; what else can we add, how do we make this even better than what we initially imagined?” 

Even the CEO pointed towards a similar timeline this past week. “A harsh winter slowed progress, but we still expect the practice facility to be operational by late spring,” Adam Fox said in a statement. While many are impressed with the scale and the completion date, there are some doubts among the fans as well.

Chicago Sky News Triggers Mixed Fan Response

“This might be the first Win for the Chicago Sky in a long time. It appears their training facility will open this year, likely this spring. It looks fantastic,” wrote a fan. On the court, the Sky have been struggling. They haven’t reached the playoffs since winning the league in 2021. On top of that, many of their best players have since left, with the lack of an independent facility playing a big part in that decision. That includes the likes of Courtney Williams, Candace Parker, Kahleah Copper, among plenty of others. Some fans love the facility but want a systemic change in the organization. 

The renderings of the Sky facility include a stylish players’ lounge with a large screen and curved seating, a bright hallway highlighting team history and graphics, a clean and contemporary locker room with custom chairs, and a polished media room set up for press conferences. Not to forget a spacious indoor basketball court. 

And yet, the mismanagement remains fresh in the fans’ minds. The Chicago Sky went for a win-now attitude and traded some of their first-round picks to get Ariel Atkins. They could have had Sonia Citron, a rookie all-star on their squad, paired up with Angel Reese. In 2026, one of their top draft picks is owned by the Minnesota Lynx. That’s just one example. 

Angel Reese pointed it out publicly. During yet another disappointing season, Reese asked for accountability and results. “I’m not settling for the same (expletive) we did this year,” she said. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me,” And while she has since committed to staying in Chicago, her points remain valid. However, others think the management is moving in an upward trajectory with this practice facility.

“idk chat maybe angel aiite in chicago afterall,” wrote a fan. The practice facility won’t suddenly change the team’s path. It will be a competitive advantage at least temporarily. The franchise does have a chance for a quick rebuild in a free agency of a lifetime. Almost 80% of the league is a free agent, and the management can drastically leverage this facility to make some smart decisions. Nevertheless, not everyone is convinced of this deadline. 

“This Spring? Y’all clearly don’t know the Sky owners. That location was barely a construction site a few months ago,” commented a fan. “I’ll hold my breath until we have real pictures,” pitched in another. Those concerns aren’t just talk. The Chicago Sky’s new facility has indeed gone through many hoops and delays. First annouced in 2024, it quickly ran into financial hurdles and is now delayed until April 2026.

It was not until September 2025 that the players and coaching staff saw any progress on the construction project. While that delay is supported by a changed design and an expanded cost, the fans will only believe it till the team steps into the facility. 

Moreover, trust in the team’s ownership hasn’t helped matters. A few weeks back, reports surfaced that the majority owner, Michael Alter is being sued by one of the franchise’s original investors, Steven Rogers, who alleges in the lawsuit that Alter engaged in “self-dealing” that reduced the value of minority investors’ stakes in the WNBA club.

All in all, doubts remain, and the team’s ownership still has to prove their promises match the progress. But if the facility opens on schedule, the Sky will boast the largest facility in the WNBA. At least until the Indiana Fever opens in 2027.