Chicago Sky Delays Training Facility Opening, Holds Downtown Camp

The WNBA team is adapting to construction delays by prioritizing player privacy and convenience over a new public-private facility.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented WNBA basketball practice, with sharp planes of navy, sky blue, and bright orange intersecting to capture the energy and intensity of the sport.The Chicago Sky's strategic pivot to a private, downtown training camp reflects the team's focus on player performance over flashy facilities.Chicago Today

The Chicago Sky's plans to open a new training facility in Bedford Park have faced delays due to weather, flooding, and structural decisions. In response, the team is holding its preseason camp at an undisclosed private location within the city limits to provide players with a more controlled environment and reduced distractions. The Sky is also housing players downtown to minimize commute times, a strategic move to maximize practice time and recovery between travel, workouts, and film sessions.

Why it matters

The Sky's approach highlights how professional sports teams are increasingly prioritizing player welfare and performance by curating specialized environments that minimize external variables. While the delayed Bedford Park facility represents a setback, the team's adaptations signal a commitment to long-term infrastructure balanced with immediate competitive needs.

The details

The Sky had planned to open the Bedford Park facility early enough to influence the current season, but construction delays have pushed back the timeline. Rather than stick to the original public-private partnership plan, the team is opting for a private, undisclosed practice location within Chicago city limits. This allows the Sky to control the environment and reduce distractions for players. The team is also housing players downtown, cutting commute times and enabling more efficient daily routines.

  • The Bedford Park facility project was originally slated to open early in the 2026 season.
  • Due to weather, flooding, and structural decisions, the opening has been delayed.

The players

Nadia Rawlinson

The co-owner and operating chair of the Chicago Sky, who has publicly spoken about expectations that the Bedford Park facility will be ready before the next season.

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What’s next

If the Bedford Park facility finally opens, the Sky will likely focus on optimizing the first-week acclimation period, including staggered workouts, onboarding rituals, and a revised camp-to-season transition. If delays continue, the team could double down on the benefits of the downtown housing and private practice sites, using them as a selling point for recruits.

The takeaway

The Chicago Sky's approach to their training facility highlights how elite sports teams are prioritizing player-centric environments as a strategic advantage. While the delayed Bedford Park project is a setback, the Sky's adaptations signal a commitment to balancing long-term infrastructure with immediate competitive needs, underscoring the complex choreography behind modern sports facility development.