The Chicago Sky gave general manager and coach James Wade the ultimate vote of confidence Thursday afternoon, signing him to a four-year contract extension through 2025.
In his first two seasons, Wade achieved the franchise’s highest win percentage (.565) of any Sky coach with a 32-24 win-loss record.
“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,” Sky owner Michael Alter said in a statement.
Beyond the winning percentage, Wade has established an environment and culture that young stars of the league like Diamond DeShields have thrived in.
After leading the Sky to the playoffs for the first time in two seasons in 2019, Wade earned Coach of the Year.
He followed that by leading the team to its first back-to-back winning seasons since 2015-16, an accomplishment the organization has hit three other times in its 15 seasons. This year he became the first coach in Sky history to lead the team to the playoffs every season they’ve held the role.
“I feel like I found a home,” Wade said in a statement. “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.”
Wade’s new contract will make him the longest-running Sky General manager and coach, signing on for a total of seven years with the franchise.
