Rumors that Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter is the subject of a lawsuit brought in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, by one of the team's minority owners have been floating around of late, and the story has since been all but confirmed by several outlets as of this week. Alter is accused of an alleged violation of fiduciary duty to his investors, and now the team's practice facility is being called into question.
Per outlets that have reviewed the legal documents pertaining to the case (both Front Office Sports and No Cap WBB have both done so), Village of Bedford Park Board of Trustees is frustrated by alleged costs that have exceeded plans and have also openly questioned the construction contract tied to the team's practice facility. That facility was announced in July 2024; to date, no ground has been broken, and there have been no reports of active construction at the planned site.
The Sky has a lot going for the franchise: a talented roster, dedicated fans, and, theoretically, the ability to provide the resources needed to sustain the team for the long-term. Unfortunately, the allegations against Alter continue a narrative about the team — or, rather, the people around the team — that they just can't seem to shake. No one doubts that the athletes on the Sky's roster want to hoop, but plenty of people are starting to seriously doubt whether the team has the right personnel on board to support those players during the WNBA season.
The Chicago Sky's facility is still set to be built
According to No Cap Space WBB, the planned $38 million facility will still be built as the two sides sort out their issues. Per the team's press release, the facility was originally meant to be completed in December 2025 and to provide "over 40 thousand square feet of exclusive space for an exceptional practice facility to Chicago Sky players and home for staff for years to come."
Unfortunately, that construction date wasn't realized, and Alter did not reply to request for comment from No Cap Space WBB. Per the outlet, Steve Rogers, a minority owner of the team, has referred to Alter as "self-dealing" and also said he has a "blatant disregard for the operating agreement and minimum standards of competence for business operations."
The Sky deserve more from their ownership group, and perhaps this lawsuit is a step toward changing the tide the team's been fighting against for several years.