learning a lot today, mostly that folks outside the midwest don’t know a damn thing about the great lakes
Sabreena Merchant@sabreenajm.bsky.social · 2d agoJulia Poe
@juliapoe.bsky.social
Covering hoops for the Chicago Tribune • USC alum • PBWA member • Kansan 🌻
Sabreena Merchant@sabreenajm.bsky.social · 2d ago“When I feel good, I'm not ducking no smoke.” DiJonai Carrington is nearing a return to the court — and could make her Sky debut tonight. How the guard is feeling after a long, hard stretch away from the court:
DiJonai Carrington prepares for long-awaited Chicago Sky debut: ‘When I feel good, I’m not ducking no smoke’
The Chicago Sky signed DiJonai Carrington to a one-year deal with an understanding that she wouldn’t be available until the latter half of the season.
chicagotribune.com
one beautiful consistency across all professional sports is the universal experience of either losing or gaining 10 to 15 pounds every offseason
Sean Hammond@seanhammond.bsky.social · last wk.A slimmer Caleb Williams aims to "move a little bit better" in Year 3 for Chicago Bears QB Williams said he lost 10 or 15 pounds over the offseason. What will that mean on the field? Here's what to make of it.
DiJonai Carrington says she will be a game day decision for the foreseeable future. Could make her debut for the Sky as early as tomorrow’s game against Connecticut.
I’m not sure if y’all actually read the article, but the point is that the Sky’s involvement in this weekend — players posing for pictures and mascots dancing during commercial breaks in arenas the team doesn’t own — is a direct reflection of their poor leadership and the need for change.
char@accxrdingtochar.bsky.social · 2w agoi just think not caring if there were all star events at the practice facility this year is different than wanting the team to be irrelevant and not caring about their horrid leadership. that’s all!
Chicago is throwing one hell of a party for All-Star weekend. It’s too bad the Sky couldn’t get an invite. Wrote about the contradiction of the hosts not having an All-Star — and what it tells us about priorities within the team’s ownership.
Column: Chicago throws stellar party for WNBA All-Star weekend — but Sky left watching from sidelines
Throughout a WNBA All-Star weekend meant for celebration in Chicago, one absence was undeniable — and inexcusable: the Sky.
chicagotribune.com
Feels like a truly successful weekend for the WNBA in Chicago. Highest attendance in league All-Star history. Truly showcased the city and gave fans a ton of different experiences to enjoy.
Chicago is throwing one hell of a party for All-Star weekend. It’s too bad the Sky couldn’t get an invite. Wrote about the contradiction of the hosts not having an All-Star — and what it tells us about priorities within the team’s ownership.
Column: Chicago throws stellar party for WNBA All-Star weekend — but Sky left watching from sidelines
Throughout a WNBA All-Star weekend meant for celebration in Chicago, one absence was undeniable — and inexcusable: the Sky.
chicagotribune.com
went fairly unremarked upon but Azzi did note in passing that she couldn’t fully practice for the 3-point contest because Dallas only owns two shooting racks
Julia Poe@juliapoe.bsky.social · 2w agoAzzi Fudd out here doing her best Allie Quigley impression
Barack Obama surprises WNBA All-Stars ahead of practice in Chicago: ‘I could not be a bigger fan’
Barack Obama surprises WNBA All-Stars ahead of practice in Chicago: ‘I could not be a bigger fan’
chicagotribune.com
There are many understandable reasons why this project has been delayed so long, but the absolute contempt with which Sky ownership has responded to every concern about their construction timeline becomes more and more baffling with each delay. The new November end date is a full year’s delay.
Maggie Hendricks@maggiehendricks.bsky.social · 3w agoThere will be more on @theixsports.bsky.social very soon but the news from this morning is that the Sky will not move into the practice facility this season.
It can be both. Clearly the front office has not been effective. But ownership and the operating chair have committed most of the unforced errors that fans rail the hardest against: hiring TSpoon before hiring a GM, suspending Angel Reese, allowing facility delays to disrupt a whole season.
@gardenhomesboy.bsky.social · 3w agoIs this an owner issue or GM issue? If GM, why doesn’t the owner make a change? It’s really kind of hard to tell from way outside. It’s definitely a lack of direction. My thinking is the owner just wants to “buy” a team every year and catch lightning in a bottle. I still don’t think the GM is good
Yeah I’ve written about this a bit but the clear push-pull dynamic of this team’s unwillingness to commit to development (even just by maintaining any semblance of roster continuity) has completely eradicated their ability to build culture or learn from mistakes.
@gardenhomesboy.bsky.social · 3w agoWhat I didn’t understand was they bring in Marsh, who is supposed to be good at developing young talent, then get rid of the star player and bring in the 3 oldest starting guards from last season. Just made no sense…
Interpersonal tension is interesting, but I think the thing getting missed in all of the discussion around the Diggins situation is the fact that the Sky committed to FOUR injured players (two who are 35+) in free agency. The Rickea injury was a genuine tragedy, but how was this supposed to work?
Julia Poe@juliapoe.bsky.social · 3w agoThe Chicago Sky are open to making changes at the August trade deadline. But despite recent tension with Skylar Diggins — who sat out again last night — sources say the Sky have no current plans to shop the guard for a trade.
The Chicago Sky are open to making changes at the August trade deadline. But despite recent tension with Skylar Diggins — who sat out again last night — sources say the Sky have no current plans to shop the guard for a trade.
Chicago Sky are open to changes at August’s trade deadline, but don’t plan to shop Skylar Diggins
Despite tensions with the veteran guard, sources say the Chicago Sky front office is not currently making an effort to trade Skylar Diggins before the Aug. 2 deadline.
chicagotribune.com
Caleb Wilson knows who he is. And he knows who he wants to be. All that’s left is connecting the dots between the two. Went long on what it took to get here, what it will take to keep progressing and (most importantly) what Wilson took away from the first night of the rest of his career:
Caleb Wilson finds relief — and hunger — from his Chicago Bulls summer league debut: ‘He’s hunting these guys’
Caleb Wilson wants to be great — and take the Chicago Bulls with him. The rookie’s 35-point performance in his summer league debut was the first step.
chicagotribune.com
many of y’all are not gay enough to be getting these jokes off this morning
Caleb Wilson knows who he is. And he knows who he wants to be. All that’s left is connecting the dots between the two. Went long on what it took to get here, what it will take to keep progressing and (most importantly) what Wilson took away from the first night of the rest of his career:
Caleb Wilson finds relief — and hunger — from his Chicago Bulls summer league debut: ‘He’s hunting these guys’
Caleb Wilson wants to be great — and take the Chicago Bulls with him. The rookie’s 35-point performance in his summer league debut was the first step.
chicagotribune.com
Caleb Wilson answered plenty of questions about his shooting in his NBA summer league debut. Early takeaways from a 35-point night for the No. 4 pick:
3 things we learned from Chicago Bulls summer league opener, including Caleb Wilson raining 3s in 35-point debut
Rookie Caleb Wilson went 7-for-11 from 3-point range and finished with 35 points in the Chicago Bulls’ 97-96 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday in the NBA Summer League.
chicagotribune.com
Caleb Wilson looks great. He’s shooting with confidence and borderline glee. Moves really well and definitely has the strength to compete at his size with summer league caliber players. Plenty to work on, but the foundation looks rock solid.
Scoring got Dailyn Swain this far. But the Bulls rookie wants — and needs — to redefine himself as a glue player to fit into the long-term vision in Chicago. Here’s how he plans to use summer league as the first step of that transformation:
Dailyn Swain plans to redefine himself as a playmaker with the Chicago Bulls. Summer league is the first step.
Dailyn Swain was known in college for his scoring prowess. Now, the No. 15 pick needs to develop on the ball during his rookie season with the Chicago Bulls.
chicagotribune.com
Talked about this more in the article, but not being ready to host ASW isn’t a huge deal for the Sky’s training facility. The bigger issue is that players have not had consistent access to courts and rehabilitation resources for close to a month — and the team can’t or won’t give a move-in date.
Julia Poe@juliapoe.bsky.social · 4w agoThe Obama Center will host several major Friday events — including media day — for WNBA All-Star weekend. It’s the first use of the new campus for a pro sports event. But the move also highlights extensive delays to the Sky’s training facility, which was originally slated to host community events.
The Obama Center will host several major Friday events — including media day — for WNBA All-Star weekend. It’s the first use of the new campus for a pro sports event. But the move also highlights extensive delays to the Sky’s training facility, which was originally slated to host community events.
Obama Center will host WNBA All-Star events in place of unfinished Chicago Sky facility
The recently opened Obama Presidential Center will play a major part in WNBA All-Star weekend with the Chicago Sky’s training facility in Bedford Park unavailable.
chicagotribune.com
Noa Essengue gets a second chance to make a first impression on Chicago after his lost rookie season. That process starts with his long-awaited return to the court in summer league:
Chicago Bulls’ Noa Essengue gets a 2nd chance at a 1st impression after a lost rookie season
After playing in only two NBA games as a rookie, Chicago Bulls forward Noa Essengue has a lot to prove in both summer league and his second season.
chicagotribune.com
Free agency is here! And the Bulls are getting busy (sort of)! What to think of a lukewarm start to the window:
Chicago Bulls in NBA free agency: Norman Powell joins on a 2-year deal — and center Zach Collins is extended
Amid a hectic free agency window for the NBA, the Chicago Bulls are attempting to restructure their roster for a new era. Here’s the latest news in signings, trades and rumors around the team.
chicagotribune.com
It is very strange that a team helmed by people who come almost exclusively from a PD background seemed to give on the concept of drafting and developing after one season.
Eric@nemchocke.bsky.social · last mo.At least they have, what, the No. 12 pick to look forward to in next year's draft? 🫠
Even more tough to watch because there’s no development backup plan to even pivot into. The Sky don’t have an initiating guard under 34 (unless you want to move Sheldon back on ball). They’re very hurt and already stopped playing Banham. Just have to stick to the plan and suffer through.
Julia Poe@juliapoe.bsky.social · last mo.The Sky are a bit better than their record, but it is really tough watching these stretches where they completely deflate due to veterans making mistakes and disengaging from plays. It’s different if the young kids are making/learning from mistakes but there’s no real timeline for growth here.
The Sky are a bit better than their record, but it is really tough watching these stretches where they completely deflate due to veterans making mistakes and disengaging from plays. It’s different if the young kids are making/learning from mistakes but there’s no real timeline for growth here.