The Chicago Sky management can’t catch a break. Last year, they were voted the worst-run franchise by the players and it doesn’t seem things have changed. In their first move of the offseason, they traded their No. 17 and No. 21 picks to the two expansions to allow them to protect their players from the expansion draft. The same squad that went 10-34 in the league. Safe to say that decision was questioned. But beyond their front office decisions, a Chicago Sky star has shed light on a bigger problem that has haunted their players for years. 

Chicago Sky does have an image problem. That means no star who has other options wants to go there. Right from legends like Sylvia Fowles to Courtney Williams, Gabby Williams and even Angel Reese last year, the franchise has been the punching bag of the league. Arguably, it’s deservedly so. Rebecca Allen is the latest veteran to join that list and has pointed out the locker room quality and novelty that made her “miserable.”

“I think having your own locker room so you’re not sharing it with the public. That was the first time I experienced that in Chicago,” Allen said on The 6th Woman Basketball Podcast. “So we were at a rec center. I’d never really experienced something like that before, so I was really overwhelmed. I was like, “Oh wow.” I had a random lady getting changed next to me.”

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Until 2025, the Sky practiced at the Sachs Recreation Center, a public facility in Deerfield, Illinois. It is about 30 miles north of Wintrust Arena, where they play home games. That is in massive contrast with the rest of the league. By now, almost everybody has a state-of-the-art center built independently or they share it with their NBA counterparts. 

“I didn’t realize how lucky I had it in New York until I left and went to two other organizations that made me realize it,” She said. “That’s why they have minimum standards, so that organizations like that can raise their level.” Allen further described her time in Chicago as a “little bit miserable.”

However, the situation is about to change as Sky’s new facility is set to become operational in 2026. The facility, which is around 80,000 square feet and costs about $60 million, will feature two full courts side-by-side, weight training areas, recovery spaces like hot/cold tubs and saunas, medical offices, lounges, a chef’s kitchen, a content studio, and more.

It is located in Bedford Park, about 15 minutes from the Wintrust Arena. However, its scheduled opening has already been delayed twice, so many fans won’t believe the start of the new era until they actually see it. Especially after Rebecca Allen publicly called out the owners.

Chicago Sky Owners Have A Lot Of Things To Figure Out 

In Rebecca Allen’s 10-season career, she was at the Sky for just one. And based on her recent criticism, it doesn’t seem like she wants to return. That’s the mood among many free agents because of the reputation. And, while the new facility will help their case, the flak won’t disappear suddenly. 

That is especially important approaching the biggest free agency in league history. The Sky only have 4 rookies on their roster and need to negotiate other contracts and bring new players in. “I’m not settling for the same s−−− we did this year,” said Reese. “We have to get good players. We have to get great players. That’s a non-negotiable for me.” To build a contender, they need good players. To eventually correct their management, the decisions need to start right from the top. 

“I think there are things where, if you’re an owner, you can’t be tight financially,” Allen said. In addition, she called out the owners to prioritize the players. “Put your players first,” Allen said. “You have to put your players first because if people aren’t happy, the performance goes down massively. If people don’t feel valued, if people don’t feel like they’re taken care of, they get frustrated. That was something I experienced in my last season.”

The ownership is already under fire after minority partner Steven Rogers filed a lawsuit in February alleging majority owner Michael Alter “breached his fiduciary duty to the minority investors” by devaluing the WNBA team for his own benefit. “As a business, Alter’s operation has been a mess,” reads the filing. “Throughout his tenure, Alter flouted the agreement’s basic requirements and minimal standards for business operations.” There are a lot of things to figure out in the Sky camp on and off the court.