Teresa Weatherspoon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Teresa Weatherspoon

Weatherspoon introduction as Chicago Sky Head Coach, 2023
Vinyl BC
Head coach
Personal information
Born	(1965-12-08) December 8, 1965 (age 59) Pineland, Texas, U.S.
High school	West Sabine (Pineland, Texas)
Listed height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight	161 lb (73 kg)
Career information
College	Louisiana Tech (1984–1988)
Pro career	1988–2004
Coaching career	2007–present
League	Unrivaled
Career history
As player:
1988–1992	Busto Arsizio
1992–1993	Magenta
1993–1994	Como
1994–1996	CSKA Moscow
1997–2003	New York Liberty
2004	Los Angeles Sparks
As coach:
2007–2008	Westchester Phantoms
2008–2009	Louisiana Tech (associate HC)
2009–2014	Louisiana Tech
2020–2023	New Orleans Pelicans (assistant)
2024	Chicago Sky
2025–present	Vinyl BC
Career highlights and awards
NCAA champion (1988) 2× WAC regular season champion (2009, 2011) WAC Tournament champion (2010) Wade Trophy (1988) Honda Sports Award for basketball (1988) 2× Kodak All-American (1987, 1988) America South Player of the Year (1988) Broderick Cup winner (1988) 2× WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (1997, 1998) 5× WNBA All-Star (1999–2003) 4× All-WNBA Second Team (1997–2000) WNBA assist champion (1997) 2× WNBA steals champion (1997, 1998) WNBA 15th Anniversary Team (2011) WNBA 20th Anniversary Team (2016) 6× Italian League All-Star (1989–1994) Louisiana Tech Athletic Hall of Fame (1995)
Career Unrivaled statistics
Overall record	99–71
Medals Women's Basketball Representing  United States FIBA World Championship for Women Gold 1986 Moscow Team Competition Olympic Games Gold 1988 Seoul Team Competition Bronze 1992 Barcelona Team Competition

Teresa Gaye Weatherspoon (born December 8, 1965) is an American basketball coach and former player. She is currently the head coach for Vinyl BC in the Unrivaled basketball league. Before this, she coached the Chicago Sky in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

As a player, Teresa was a star for the New York Liberty and Los Angeles Sparks in the WNBA. She also coached the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters college team. Teresa Weatherspoon is a true legend in basketball. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010 and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. Fans also voted her as one of the Top 15 players in WNBA history in 2011. In 2016, she was named to the WNBA Top 20@20, a list of the league's best 20 players ever.

Playing Career Highlights

Teresa Weatherspoon was born in Pineland, Texas. She studied health and physical education at Louisiana Tech and was an amazing basketball player there. In 1988, during her final year, she led her team, the Lady Techsters, to win the NCAA national championship! After college, Teresa played basketball overseas for eight years in countries like Italy, France, and Russia.

Playing in the WNBA

Teresa Weatherspoon was one of the very first players in the WNBA when it started in 1997. She joined the New York Liberty for the league's first season. Her first game was on June 21, 1997, where the Liberty beat the Los Angeles Sparks 67–57. In that game, Teresa made history by being the first WNBA player to get double-digit assists (10 assists) in a single game!

Teresa was known for her amazing ball-handling skills and her strong leadership. Her energetic playing style quickly made her a favorite among fans and the media in New York. The Liberty made it to the first-ever WNBA Finals, but they lost to the Houston Comets. Even so, Teresa was recognized for her defense and became the first winner of the league's Defensive Player of the Year Award.

In 1998, the Liberty finished the season with 18 wins and 12 losses. Teresa averaged 6.8 points, 4 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game. She won the Defensive Player of the Year Award again, becoming the first player to win it two years in a row!

"The Shot" and Finals Appearances

Teresa had another great season with the Liberty in 1999 and was chosen as an All-Star. The team made it back to the Finals with an 18–14 record. During the 1999 WNBA Finals, Teresa made one of the most unforgettable plays in WNBA history.

In Game 2 on September 4, 1999, the Liberty were losing 67–65 to the Houston Comets. There were only 2.4 seconds left, and the Liberty had no timeouts. After getting the ball, Teresa dribbled it quickly to half-court and shot it from about 50 feet away! The ball went in, winning the game for the Liberty and forcing a Game 3. This incredible moment is still remembered as "The Shot."

From 2000 to 2003, Teresa was an All-Star every year. She continued to play with great skill and toughness for the Liberty. The team reached the Finals two more times, in 2000 and 2002. This meant Teresa and the Liberty played in four WNBA Finals in total. However, they lost both times, first to the Comets in 2000 and then to the Sparks in 2002.

The 2003 season was the first time the Liberty had a losing record, finishing 16–18 and missing the playoffs. Teresa had started every single one of her WNBA games until the 2004 season. From 1997 to 2003, she played in 220 games and started them all!

Moving to Los Angeles

Teresa left the Liberty in 2004 and signed with the Los Angeles Sparks. This was a big change for her, as she started coming off the bench for the first time in her career. She played about 8.6 minutes per game, compared to over 31 minutes with the Liberty. The Sparks had a great record of 25–9 but were eliminated in the first round of the 2004 playoffs.

Teresa's last WNBA game was on September 26, 2004, in Game 2 of the Western Conference First Round against the Sacramento Monarchs. The Sparks won that game, but Teresa did not play in Game 3, and the Sparks lost the series. After the 2004 season, Teresa Weatherspoon retired as a player.

Coaching Career

After her playing career, Teresa Weatherspoon began coaching.

Westchester Phantoms (2007-2008)

In 2007, Teresa became the head coach of the Westchester Phantoms in the American Basketball Association.

Louisiana Tech (2008-2014)

In April 2008, she joined the coaching staff of the Lady Techsters at Louisiana Tech. She was promoted to interim head coach in February 2009 and then became the official head coach in April 2009.

New Orleans Pelicans (2019–2023)

On September 26, 2019, Teresa Weatherspoon was named a two-way player development coach for the New Orleans Pelicans. She was later promoted to a full-time assistant coach in November 2020. The Pelicans coaching staff changed in June 2023.

Chicago Sky (2023-2024)

On October 12, 2023, Teresa Weatherspoon was hired as the Head Coach of the Chicago Sky in the WNBA. She coached the team for the 2024 season. On September 26, 2024, after the Sky did not make the playoffs, Weatherspoon was no longer the coach. Sky player Angel Reese shared how much Weatherspoon meant to her, calling her an "unsung hero."

Unrivaled (2025–present)

On November 15, 2024, it was announced that Teresa Weatherspoon would be one of the six new head coaches for the Unrivaled basketball league. She started this role in 2025.

National Team Career

Teresa Weatherspoon also played for the United States national team.

Goodwill Games (1986)

She was chosen to represent the US at the first Goodwill Games in Moscow in July 1986. The US team, coached by Kay Yow, won all their games, including a big 83–60 victory over the Soviet Union in the final. This earned the US squad a gold medal.

World Championship (1986)

A month later, Teresa was part of the National team for the 1986 World Championship, also in Moscow. Although she was injured and couldn't play, the US team was very strong. They won all their games, including the final against the Soviet Union with a score of 108–88, taking home another gold medal.

World University Games (1987)

In 1987, Weatherspoon was selected for the team representing the US at the World University Games in Zagreb, Yugoslavia. The US team won four out of five games and finished in fifth place. Teresa averaged 8.6 points per game and led the team with 21 steals.

Head Coaching Record

Weatherspoon coaching for Louisiana Tech in 2012

WNBA Coaching Record

Personal Life

Teresa Weatherspoon was born to Charles and Rowena Weatherspoon in Pineland, Texas. Her father, Charles Sr., played minor league baseball. Teresa has two brothers and three sisters. She often says her family, especially her mother Rowena, was the biggest help in her basketball journey. Fans sometimes call her by her nicknames, "T-Spoon" or "Spoon." She is also a second cousin to former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon.

In 1999, Teresa wrote a book called Teresa Weatherspoon's Basketball for Girls. It shares fun stories and tips to help young girls improve their basketball skills.

Awards and Honors

Teresa Weatherspoon has received many awards and honors for her amazing career:

• 1986 Goodwill Games Gold Medalist (with Team USA)
• 1986 World Championships Gold Medalist (with Team USA)
• 1987 World University Games Gold Medalist (with Team USA)
• 1988 Olympic Games Gold Medalist (with Team USA)
• 1988 Wade Trophy
• 1988 Honda Sports Award for basketball
• 1988 Honda-Broderick Cup winner (for all sports)
• 1992 Olympic Games Bronze Medalist (with Team USA)
• 2010 Inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
• 2010 Inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame
• 2011 Inducted into the New York Liberty Ring of Honor
• 2011 Named one of the top 15 WNBA Players of All-Time
• 2019 Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame
• 2020 Inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame

As a coach for the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters, she also earned:

• 2009 WAC Regular Season Champions
• 2010 WAC Tournament Champions
• 2010 Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year
• 2011 WAC Regular Season Champions

See also

In Spanish: Teresa Weatherspoon para niños

• List of female NBA coaches
• 1987 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament