“Could I have a little bit more energy? Good morning!”
One’s first reaction to this familiar line may be a subtle head shake. This time, however, Sky co-owner Nadia Rawlinson’s sincerity shined brighter than the 80-degree sun on an unseasonably warm October morning.
Introductory press conferences, sure, tend to be cliché-filled snoozers.
Not so for Chicago’s first sight of new coach Teresa Weatherspoon!
Weatherspoon brings a remarkable prophet’s insight to a proud franchise. The new leader sincerely boasted, “I don’t play catch-up to anyone.”
How did this beautiful union come about? One must, as always, look to the past for reference. Not to boast about previous accomplishments, although there are many for T-Spoon. Rather, to appreciate the source of Weatherspoon’s intelligence. Its energy already enlivens Chicago’s skyline, and won’t subside until the arc of basketball glory encompasses the wide world of women’s sport.
More Than a Prayer
Perhaps the greatest play in WNBA history, even 24 years later, remains Weatherspoon’s shot to extend New York’s Finals battle with the mighty Houston Comets. (It was perhaps not so good for the environment to waste confetti with time left for T-Spoon.)
https://twitter.com/WNBA/status/1698726653881356355
Although Weatherspoon remains proud of The Shot, her accomplishments only begin with the buzzer-beater. The fifth-over Hall of Famer won an Olympic gold medal for the US in 1988, a national championship with Louisiana Tech in the same year, and brings over a decade of coaching experience to the Windy City.
However, her startlingly passionate introduction was the most dazzling aspect of her first step as the Sky’s on-court leader.
(Although their new GM also boasts an impressive vocabulary just sayin’.)
Basketball Prophet
In Emily St. John Mendel’s terrific Station 11, the Prophet is a despicable villain who zanily thinks himself a messenger from God, his nefarious deeds somehow notwithstanding.
It’s an atmosphere’s difference, thank goodness, for T-Spoon.
Not more than a minute into her opening remarks, Weatherspoon made a bold observation. “When God solidifies and glorifies your position and your destination, no one can take this away, it’s yours.”
The door to the WNBA championship, closed partially in a quick 2023 playoff exit, swiftly swings ajar with T-Spoon’s entrance.
“My mother said, ‘When doors close, there’s another one that’s gonna open,'” Weatherspoon recounted. “‘You better be ready to get it. If you don’t come down the chimney, you better get in a window.'”
Unlike Saint Nick, T-Spoon is not waiting for Christmas to start the Sky’s reascent to a title.
“The moment starts now,” Weatherspoon passionately stated. “It’s not tomorrow, it’s not the next day, it’s not next year, it’s now.”
Kahleah Copper, deceivingly soft-spoken at the presser, gave her new coach a sparkling compliment.
“I’ve never had a coach that could really match my energy,” the skilled hooper remarked. “And that was just something that really hit me.”
A reminder about the principle rule of the study of history: it never works out as we expect.
Could this vital rule have an exception?
Entropy Defied
The third law of thermodynamics has numerous nuances, but in laywoman’s terms, it means that energy will someday balance to a dull sameness.
But what about Weatherspoon’s passion?
Imagine a year: 2044, 2034, perhaps even 2024. A day when X posts no longer state that basketball is “back” in October.
When women are no longer locked up for ethically needless attempts to supplement American basketball income.
When Weatherspoon’s immense yearning to be the pursued, rather than the pursuer, for dominance culminates in an overdue Chicago dynasty for women’s basketball.
No one knows when that day is. However, just like T-Spoon’s 52-foot winner, only two words will be needed on that destined morning.
Count it.
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