The Chicago Sky’s new practice facility in Belford Park is still a no-go for the rest of the 2026 WNBA season. Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca told reporters Friday that the construction isn’t finished, so they’re staying put at Wintrust Arena for all their practices, claiming there’s “value in practicing where you play.”
More Delays and a Shifting Timeline
Pagliocca wants to make sure that “when we go in, we go in giving them the experience that we wanted them to have from Day 1.” But let’s be real: this facility, which broke ground back in October 2024 with an original target of opening in 2025, is now aiming for November 2026, just barely in time for the 2027 season. During media day before the 2026 season, Pagliocca had even announced the facility would be ready by summer. Reporters who visited the site on July 9 saw clear progress, but it clearly wasn’t going to be ready this season. What’s behind all these delays? We’re talking construction issues, bad weather, budget hikes from $38 million to a whopping $60 million, and even increasing the facility size from 40,000 to 80,000 square feet. This team has been bouncing around from the Flames Athletic Center at the University of Illinois-Chicago to Loyola University, and before that, the Sachs Recreation Center. It’s a complete mess for a professional squad.
WNBPA Drops the Hammer
Terri Carmichael Jackson, the WNBPA executive director, absolutely laid into the Sky’s ownership for these “continued delays,” and honestly, good for her. She slammed situations like this as *exactly* why the union was laser-focused on securing provisions in the CBA that required minimum standards for team facilities and staffing. Our players deserve consistency, health, and safety, you know? Jackson was clear: “After 20 years in this league, it is long overdue for Chicago’s ownership to recognize how to properly resource and support professional (women) athletes.” She even called for the league and teams to “hold each other accountable.” It’s ridiculous that a professional team, after breaking ground two years ago, is still struggling with basics like this.
A Stark Contrast for the Emerald City
While Chicago is floundering with their multi-million dollar construction project, other teams are showing how it’s done. The source explicitly calls out teams like the Las Vegas Aces, Phoenix Mercury, New York Liberty, and yep, our very own **Seattle Storm** for having “state-of-the-art facilities.” That’s the standard, folks! We know what it takes to support our athletes here in the Emerald City, and it’s a stark contrast to what’s happening out east. Despite all their drama and home-court practice setup, we saw our Storm battle them hard recently, falling just short in a 90-95 road game against the Sky.
So, Pagliocca’s new timeline has this $60 million facility “around November for full completion.” For the Sky, that means another season practicing at an arena that isn’t their own dedicated home. The WNBPA is demanding accountability, and frankly, they should. Our Storm sets the bar high, and it’s time for the rest of the league, including the Sky, to step up and deliver the resources these incredible athletes deserve for the 2027 season and beyond.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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