The WNBA's Chicago Sky announced plans Thursday to break ground on a $38M training facility in the fall, the second major sports facility to be announced in the Chicago metro this week.
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The team will build the 40K SF performance center in partnership with the Village of Bedford Park on land next to the Wintrust Sports Complex at 5499 W. 65th St., according to a team press release. The facility will feature two regulation-sized WNBA courts, private facilities for the players, lounges, a film room and a training room, among other key features.
“We could not be more excited to announce a practice facility that will raise the bar on athletic performance, set the standard for player amenities, and support our players with exceptional resources built exclusively for them,” Nadia Rawlinson, Chicago Sky co-owner and operating chairman, said in the release.
The facility's expected delivery date is December 2025.
The Sky's new performance center is the latest in a series of WNBA teams pouring millions into facilities for their players as women's sports continue their meteoric rise.
The Seattle Storm opened its $64M training facility in April, funded privately by its all-female ownership group. The 50K SF building will also regularly host community events. The Phoenix Mercury, in collaboration with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, is developing a $100M project that includes a new business headquarters and a 58K SF practice facility for the women’s team.
The Sky's announcement comes just two days after owners of Chicago's United Center unveiled a massive $7B entertainment district project that would replace parking lots and other land around the arena.
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