Retired WNBA Star Ty Young Returning To Chicago Sky As Assistant Coach
Ahead of the 2024 WNBA season, retired Chicago Sky star Tamera “Ty” Young is returning to the windy city as assistant coach alongside head coach, Teresa Witherspoon.
“I am very excited to welcome Ty to our coaching staff and have her on the sidelines beside me this season,” Weatherspoon said of Ty’s recruitment. “With over a decade of WNBA experience and deep history with the Sky, Ty brings energy, passion, and spirit to inspire us all. I can’t wait to watch her mentor, lead, and coach our players this season.”
On Instagram the WNBA team welcomed back Young, to which the North Carolina commented, “God is the Greatest… I Love You Chicago. Elated to be Back.”
In her own IG post, the 37-year-old pro athlete spoke of the “Full Circle Moment…”
Reflecting on her first start in the league with Atlanta Dream, she captioned a photo of her signing her coaching contract with, “On April 9, 2008, I was drafted to the WNBA. (Atlanta Dream)
On April 9, 2024, I signed my first coaching contract with my most extended tenure team, The Chicago Sky. Exactly 16 years apart.”
She added, “I am grateful for the opportunity then and now.”
Per Chicago Sky’s official press release of the announcement, Young played in the WNBA for over a decade. She played nine years in Chicago out of her 12 on the court. Within that time with the Sky, the 6’2″ player averaged 7.1 points, 3.9 rebounds in 22.0 minutes.
Upon entering the league, Young was drafted No. 8 overall by Atlanta Dream in the 2008 WNBA Draft and went on to play for Las Vegas Aces from 2018-19. She then played nine seasons in Chicago from 2009-17 and retired in 2019. Aside from the WNBA, Young also played overseas in the countries of Latvia, Spain, Turkey, France, Israel, Brazil, China and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Young isn’t the only addition to the Chicago Sky for the upcoming season. LSU star Angel Reese (No. 7), and South Carolina’s Kamila Cardoso (No. 3) were recently drafted to the team.
“I’m just so excited, I get to play with Kamilla [Cardoso],” Reese told the WNBA host. “I been playing against her since high school. T-Spoon is amazing and she’s done some great things and I’m excited to be coached by her.”
Speaking of how she’s bringing her “winning spirit” to the league, she said, “Just coming in and being competitive and having an open mind everyday to just want to work. I’m just excited to learn from my vets.”
“A kid from Baltimore is not supposed to be here,” Reese said of her impact thus far. “My mom is here and my brother is here, and I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”
