Teresa Gaye Weatherspoon, a renowned American professional basketball coach, has recently been fired as head coach of Chicago Sky of the WNBA after just one season.
Beginning her professional coaching career as the head coach of Westchester Phantoms and with her years of coaching experience, the [calculate_years datestring=”12/08/1965″] year-old former professional player joined Chicago Sky of the Women’s National Basketball Association as a head coach on October 12, 2023.
However, unfortunately, within less than a year, Chicago Sky fired Teresa Weatherspoon on September 26, 2024, after they failed to qualify for the playoffs, marking the first time since 2018 that the Chicago Sky didn’t make it to the postseason.
BREAKING: The Sky have fired coach Teresa Weatherspoon less than a year after her hire. https://t.co/VouCTo4yQk
— Annie Costabile (@AnnieCostabile) September 27, 2024
Though Teresa Weatherspoon served as the head coach for a short period, she did amass significant earnings from Chicago Sky to her net worth.
The salary of WNBA head coaches reportedly ranges between $150,000 and $250,000 per year, while some high-profile coaches can earn more.
Given her notable reputation as a celebrated Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame player with years of coaching experience, the estimated salary of Teresa Weatherspoon as head coach of Chicago might have been around $200,000 to $250,000.
Previously, Teresa Weatherspoon worked as the two-way player development coach and later as the full-time assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans from 2019 to 2023.
Likewise, she served on the coaching staff of the Lady Techsters of Louisiana Tech in 2008 and soon became the interim head coach from 2009 to 2014.
So, after her over 15-year coaching career, Teresa Weatherspoon might have an estimated net worth of $2 million to $5 million.
Teresa Weatherspoon also accumulated substantial earnings as a former professional basketball player!
In addition to her exceptional coaching career, Teresa Weatherspoon has amassed significant income from her playing career.
Likewise, the Olympic Gold medalist began playing basketball while attending Louisiana Tech in 1988. She led the Lady Techsters to the NCAA national title during her senior season.
After graduating from Louisiana Tech with a bachelor’s degree in physical education and health major, Teresa Weatherspoon played overseas in Italy, France, and Russia for over 8 years with several women’s basketball teams, including Como, CSKA Moscow, and Magenta.
Moreover, Teresa joined the New York Liberty in 1997 in the WNBA’s inaugural season. She debuted on June 21, 1997, and won over the Los Angeles Sparks, becoming the first player in the WNBA’s history to record double-digit assists in a game.
During her tenure with New York Liberty from 1997 to 2004, Teresa Weatherspoon won several titles, including two-time WNBA Defensive Player of the Year, five times WNBA All-Star, and several more.
After leaving New York Liberty, she joined Los Angeles Sparks, where she played for a year only.
Teresa Weatherspoon’s final WNBA game was Game 2 of the 2004 Western Conference First Round on September 26, 2004, against the Sacramento Monarchs. Her team won the game with 14 points, and then retired from her playing career after her 2004 season.
Furthermore, Teresa Weatherspoon played several national games and represented the USA internationally, winning gold medals in the 1986 World Championships, Goodwill Games, and 1988 Olympic Games.
Teresa Weatherspoon has accumulated estimated earnings of around $2 million from her exceptional career as a professional basketball player for over 16 years.
Likewise, considering Teresa Weatherspoon’s diverse playing and coaching career, her estimated net worth is around $2 million to $5 million as of 2024, which might increase over time.
Additional Information
- Teresa Weatherspoon was born on December 8, 1965, in Pineland, Texas, United States, to father Charles Weatherspoon and mother Rowena Weatherspoon.
- She followed her father Charles’ footsteps in sports, who played minor league baseball in the Minnesota Twins’ farm system and became the most grand slam in a minor league game.
- Teresa published her book Teresa Weatherspoon’s Basketball for Girls in 1999. She has five siblings, including two brothers and three sisters.
