A delayed arena threatens Chicago's basketball narrative
The Chicago Sky will welcome the league’s brightest stars to Chicago for the 2026 WNBA All-Star Weekend, but the celebration is tempered by an incomplete practice facility that remains under construction.
In an effort to connect with the community, the franchise has painted three‑point lines on local courts and is distributing 500 tickets to the Three‑Point Contest and Skills Competition to youth programs across the city.
Construction setbacks, blamed on unpredictable weather, supply‑chain constraints and design revisions, have pushed the opening from a planned fall 2025 date to a tentative November launch, leaving the team to continue training at Wintrust Arena for the remainder of the season.
The postponement hampers the Sky’s ability to present Chicago as a true basketball town, a narrative the organization has been building around the promise of a state‑of‑the‑art practice complex.
Team officials have cited the unfinished facility as a factor in retaining free agents such as Skylar Diggins and Azurá Stevens, and they hope the November opening will make the city more attractive for future signings.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and former player Awvee Storey have publicly voiced support for the project, emphasizing the long‑term benefits for youth participation and local basketball culture.