One day after coach/GM James Wade led the Sky into the semifinals for the second consecutive season, the franchise announced it picked up the options on his previous contract, locking him in through the 2025 season.
Wade signed a three-year contract extension with the Sky in 2021 that carried a fourth and fifth-year option. The 2023 season would have been Wade’s final year of that contract. The Sky had no intention of Wade operating on the final year of his deal with uncertainty. Both parties began discussions as the 2022 season was approaching.
It’s unclear if the financial terms of Wade’s contract were renegotiated. Per team policy, terms of the contract are not disclosed.
“I’m very excited and pleased that the organization has entrusted me to lead this franchise and it’s very humbling to know that I get to coach this group of players and work in this great organization for an extended period of time,” Wade said in a statement. “I’m very honored and I feel very blessed.”
Wade has brought unprecedented stability to the Sky since he was hired in 2018 to lead the organization in his dual role position. The Sky’s sixth general manager and head coach, Wade has the highest winning percentage of any Sky coach, with a 74-50 overall record in his first four seasons.
He was named coach of the year in 2019 after leading the team to a 20-14 record and its first playoff berth in three years. Two years later he signed Candace Parker in what would end up being the first major step of the Sky’s 2021 championship run.
On Monday, Wade was named executive of the year after executing a series of free agency moves that included re-signing his entire core and adding 2019 WNBA Finals MVP Emma Meesseman.
This season, Wade led the Sky to a franchise-best 26-10 record, tying the Las Vegas Aces with the best record in the league.
“We are thrilled and privileged to extend James’ contract with the Sky,” team owner Michael Alter said. “In a very short time, he has proven to be one of the best coaches and executives in the league. He has done an amazing job creating and leading the championship culture of the Sky, where players play hard and unselfishly for each other. We look forward to many more incredible championship seasons under his leadership.”
