WNBA popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, with more eyes being drawn to women's basketball due to increased visibility. Look at the Chicago Sky, for instance. They were already on the map with their 2021 title, but they experienced a spike in interest after drafting Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso in 2024.
Reese is one of the most popular professional athletes in the country (her Instagram following speaks for itself). Chicago drafted another high-profile player a few weeks ago with the Hailey Van Lith pick. The Sky will once again be one of the most popular teams in the league.
Chicago is home to several big-name players, but unfortunately, not the best facilities. Several teams, including the Aces, unveiled new training facilities over the past few years. Not only do top-notch facilities help attract players in free agency, but they also translate to on-court success by providing players with everything they need — and more — to be at their best.
The tweet below from Whitney Medworth shows the stark difference between Las Vegas' facilities and Chicago's. Someone who isn't familiar with the WNBA would look at the two pictures and think the Aces and Sky played in two different leagues.
the difference in facilities while scrolling on IG 😭😭
— whitney medworth (@its_whitney) April 29, 2025
the new sky building cannot be built fast enough pic.twitter.com/zsECf0mTqQ
Chicago Sky's new facility expected to be ready by 2026
Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune reported on April 21 that Chicago's new $38 million facility will not be ready until 2026, after it was initially expected to be completed by October 2025. The delay is due to altered construction plans to expand the facility. Adam Fox, team president and CEO, stated that it will be completed before next season.
Reese and her teammates will have to wait another season before they get the state-of-the-art facilities they've been waiting for. It should be worth the wait, given where the Sky train now, but it does continue to put Chicago at a disadvantage.
The new Unrivaled league, which debuted in January, provides players with a world-class experience. Sky players, like Reese, who participated in the inaugural season, experienced better facilities and amenities than Chicago currently offers. There shouldn't be such a significant gap between Unrivaled and WNBA facilities.
It won't be too much longer until the Sky are (hopefully) enjoying their new facilities, so it'll no longer look like they're practicing in a high school gym. They'll finally be on the same planet as the Aces.