In the WNBA facilities race, Sky hold a momentary advantage

It’s been a while since the Sky have had the newest and shiniest recruiting tool in the WNBA.

But look toward the horizon near Midway Airport and a new practice facility is arriving.

In today’s WNBA, infrastructure matters. Player standards have risen, and dedicated practice facilities have become a valued resource and a signal of seriousness. They whisper to stars: We’re investing in you.

The trendsetters on this front were out West. The Aces opened the league’s first dedicated facility in 2023, and the Mercury, Storm, and Valkyries quickly followed. Meanwhile, the Sky were stuck practicing in a suburban recreation center in Deerfield, miles from downtown and miles off the pace of league progress.

Not any longer.

The Sky’s new practice facility in Bedford Park will be “operational” this spring, according to CEO Adam Fox and Village of Bedford Park officials. It will be one of only two WNBA practice facilities opening this year. A spokesperson for the Portland Fire told the Sun-Times that their new facility is set to open in June.

Full details on the Sky’s facility haven’t been released, but the basics are clear: modern amenities, a nearly $46 million price tag, and a footprint roughly double the original plan.

Take that, Aces and Storm! Once the talk of the town, the first wave of facilities is old news now.

For a change, the Sky have a head start, racing past the Dream, Sun, Wings and Toronto Tempo, who still practice in shared spaces. (Though provisions in the next CBA might mandate they hurry up and build something of their own.)

The Sky better enjoy the moment while it lasts. Because the rest of the league is on the move, and they’re not exactly thinking small.

The Fever unveiled plans in January 2025 for a massive 108,000-square-foot complex. Construction is underway, with the Caitlin Clark–Aliyah Boston pick-and-roll expected to move in “ahead of the 2027 season,” according to a team spokesperson.

The Liberty followed in May 2025, announcing an $80 million facility in Brooklyn. It features what they call a “revolutionary locker room concept” — private player suites with full-height wardrobes, sneaker storage, and a seven-foot daybed for recovery. A team spokesperson told the Sun-Times that a 2027 opening is still the expectation.

Last but not least, the Los Angeles Sparks jumped into the mix in September 2025, announcing a $150 million investment in El Segundo. The promotional video showed renderings of a “first-of-its-kind player sanctuary” complete with outdoor spa pools.

Hear that, Sky fans? Pools and suites and hundreds of thousands of square feet! In a few short years, the Sky’s once-shiny palace could be known as "that pool-less building down the road from Magoo’s Bar."

But don’t start crying in your beers yet.

For fans hoping to land a big star — someone to help elevate the team back into playoff contention — there’s still a window of opportunity.

Everyone expected the 2026 offseason to be historic, since all but two veterans are free agents. Instead, prolonged CBA negotiations mean that offseason business will get rushed. League stars like Breanna Stewart and Kahleah Copper have suggested players may stay put or sign short-term deals rather than make hurried commitments.

That means the 2027 free agency period, rather than 2026, could be the year ripe for landing a superstar looking for a long-term home.

That’s when the Sky can pounce. While other teams are pointing at renderings or hiding behind construction delays, the Sky can walk free agents through a fully operational, still-new facility.

No, the Sky might not have spent the same amount as the Sparks, but remember what they teach you in Finance 101: A humble building now is worth much more than a glossy video of a future pool.

Of course, the Sky won’t be able to land a Jackie Young with facilities alone. Stars care about more than just buildings. As head coach Tyler Marsh told the Sun-Times last summer: “It’s how you take care and treat your players once they’re in [the new facility]. You have the building; now what are you doing inside of it?”

Hopefully the answer is: learning how to win. In 2026, the Sky need to build a record to match the real estate.