James Wade Is Staying In Chicago

CHICAGO – The Chicago Sky announced this week that General Manager and Head Coach James Wade has agreed to and signed a four-year contract extension with the team. Wade is now under contract with the Sky through the 2025 season.

“I feel like I found a home,” Wade said. “I truly appreciate the organization for trusting in me and seeing me as a part of their future. I feel extremely fortunate and am excited to lead this franchise to what we hope will be many successful seasons to come.”

As the Sky’s sixth general manager and head coach, Wade has built one of the most successful periods in franchise history. Holding the highest winning percentage of any Sky coach, Wade produced a 32-24 win-loss record (.565) across his first two seasons.

“James has done a remarkable job of establishing a winning environment, culture, and team comraderie,” said Sky Owner Michael Alter. “He is an excellent teacher and coach, both on and off the court. This well-deserved extension represents continuity for our team and we are proud to have James lead us forward.”

Under Wade, the Sky finished both the 2019 and 2020 regular season over .500, a milestone the team had only hit three other times in the 15 seasons since the Sky’s 2006 inception. Leading Chicago to back-to-back playoff appearances, Wade is only Sky coach to reach the playoffs in every season they have held the role. Wade also became the first coach for the franchise to reach 30 wins in only 48 games, the fastest in team history.  

The 2019 WNBA Coach of the Year, Wade enters his third season with the Sky this summer following a record-breaking 2020 campaign in which the Sky set the WNBA record for highest field goal percentage (49.1) and led the league in shooting from the field (49.1%).

Under the new contract, Wade will be the longest-running Sky general manager and head coach, signing on for a total of seven years with the franchise (2018-2025).