Prominent WNBA head coach James Wade leaving mid-season for NBA assistant job

A prominent WNBA head coach has decided to accept another job. James Wade, who works as the general manager and head coach of the Chicago Sky, is leaving the team to accept an NBA position with the Toronto Raptors.

James Kay of the Skyhook Pod reported the news of the change on Saturday. Wade had been the head coach of the Sky since 2019.

It’s an interesting move for Wade, as the NBA season won’t begin until October. He could’ve finished out the WNBA season before stepping down from his current role. Then again, the Raptors may have wanted a strong commitment from the start.

Breaking per release: James Wade has been hired by the Toronto Raptors as an assistant coach and he will be stepping down as General Manager and Head Coach of the Chicago Sky. Emre Vatansever, Chicago’s top assistant, has been named Interim General Manager and Head Coach.

— James Kay (@James_M_Kay) July 1, 2023

Per the report, Chicago assistant Emre Vatansever will become the head coach and general manager on an interim basis. There are 24 games remaining on the Sky’s schedule in 2023.

The Raptors are undergoing change, moving on from Nick Nurse from the 2022-23 season and hiring Darko Rajakovic, who most recently spent three seasons as an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies.

This will be Wade’s first job in the NBA. He’s been the head coach of the Sky since 2019, totaling an 81-59 mark, which includes a 7-9 record in 2023.

Chicago has reached the playoffs in each of the previous four seasons with Wade at the helm. The team won the WNBA Finals in 2021. Prior to taking the head coaching gig in Chicago, Wade worked as an assistant with the San Antonio Stars (2012-16) and Minnesota Lynx (2017-18).

Toronto hoping to return as NBA contender

The Raptors took home the NBA’s top prize in 2019, winning the championship over the Golden State Warriors. In the four seasons since, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for the franchise.

Toronto reached the playoffs only twice over the last four seasons with just one series victory. This past season, the Raptors posted a 41-41 record and missed the playoff picture for the second time in three seasons.

At the end of the year, the organization opted to make a head coaching change. Will the transition from Nurse to Rajakovic help get the Raptors back near the top of the Eastern Conference?

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