The Sky have another new timeline for the completion of their practice facility in Bedford Park. This time, it’s November.
That means they won’t move in this season, as Sky executives previously said they would. Instead, they will practice at Wintrust Arena for the rest of the season.
Sky CEO Adam Fox told the Sun-Times that the scope and pace of construction had changed since his last projection that the facility would be operational by ‘‘late spring.’’ He called that timeline ‘‘aspirational’’ and said the organization ultimately decided it was better not to move into a building where construction was still going on.
The expectation now is that the facility will be ready for the offseason, an important window for players who remain in-market and for the next free-agency cycle.
Still, the missed timelines hurt the Sky’s reputation around the league and erode trust with their own players.
‘‘It’s disappointing,’’ center Elizabeth Williams, who is also the secretary of the players’ union, told the Sun-Times. ‘‘I think on their end it is, as well, because they had expectations for us and brought us in with those expectations, as well. On their end, not being able to get that done sucks.’’
Players’ union executive director Terri Carmichael Jackson went further in a statement Friday to Front Office Sports.
‘‘Situations like this and franchises that operate like the Chicago Sky are why the union was laser-focused on securing provisions in the CBA that required minimum standards for team facilities and staffing,’’ Jackson said.
‘‘The players need and deserve consistency in the facilities that they use every day — their health and safety depend on it. After 20 years in this league, it is long overdue for Chicago’s ownership to recognize how to properly resource and support professional women athletes.’’
The expected opening of the facility already had been delayed several times because of weather and an expansion of the project. Its footprint has doubled from the original plan, and its cost has grown from $38 million to $60 million, the Sky said.
Responding to Jackson’s statement, Fox said consistency was why the Sky chose to remain at Wintrust. Moving into the facility before it was finished would create another disruption for players, he said.
He also pushed back on the perception the Sky are lagging behind other organizations.
‘‘By the time we’re done with it, we will be ahead of many, many teams in this league that don’t have it,’’ Fox said.
Should the Sky meet the November timeline, their facility would open before projects being built by the Wings, Fever, Sparks and Liberty, all of which are scheduled to be ready for the 2027 season.
But none of those teams has spent this season bouncing among temporary practice sites. And the consequences inside the Sky’s own organization can’t be dismissed.
Free agents were told the facility would be ready this season. Veteran point guard Skylar Diggins said she expected to practice there and has had to seek out some recovery resources on her own.
Even coach Tyler Marsh said Friday that he accepted the job expecting the facility to be completed this season. He said there was truth in the union’s statement, though he also credited the Sky for making other investments in the player experience, including expanding the performance staff.
Wintrust Arena does offer a number of recovery resources, including hot and cold tubs, a training room and a weight room.
Some players, including longtime franchise stalwart Courtney Vandersloot, still see the finished facility as worth waiting for.
‘‘We’re all frustrated that it isn’t on time,’’ Vandersloot said last week. ‘‘That’s from the very top all the way down. We wish we were in there. But I know that they’re doing it the right way, and it’s going to be a perfect home for us.’’