CHICAGO (April 16, 2026) – The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and the Chicago Sky of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) proudly announce a partnership in which UIC will serve as an Official Training Camp Home for the franchise this season. The training camp and regular season practices, to be held April 19-May 30 at the Flames Athletic Center, and the broader collaboration between UIC and the Sky, bring one of the league's premier franchises back to the heart of Chicago's West Side and further position UIC as a destination for elite athletic performance and high-impact events.
 
The Sky, who return home to the UIC campus after playing their first four seasons (2006-09) at UIC's Credit Union 1 Arena, will utilize the Flames' state-of-the-art athletics facilities as they prepare for the upcoming WNBA season, marking a unique intersection between professional women's basketball and Chicago's College Team.
 
"This is a landmark moment for UIC Athletics and our campus community," UIC Director of Athletics Andrea Williams said. "We are thrilled to welcome the Chicago Sky to the Flames Athletic Center. This partnership reflects our commitment to elevating UIC sports, investing in world-class resources and creating meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes and fans."
 
Hosting the Sky will provide UIC student-athletes with direct exposure to professional-level training, preparation and performance standards. The partnership is expected to include collaborative programming opportunities such as mentorship engagements, clinics and educational sessions connecting Sky players and staff with UIC teams.
 
"We are proud to partner with UIC to offer Sky players a premier training camp facility in downtown Chicago, as we work towards completion of our very own world-class performance center in Bedford Park this season," Chicago Sky CEO and President Adam Fox said. "We are so appreciative of UIC's partnership and look forward to connecting with UIC student athletes, students, and community in a meaningful way." 
 
Beyond the court, the partnership opens the door for a variety of fan and community engagement opportunities, including youth clinics, open practices, and co-branded marketing initiatives designed to connect the Sky with UIC students and the surrounding neighborhood.
 
The agreement also enhances UIC's visibility on a national stage, aligning the Flames with the continued growth and momentum of the WNBA while reinforcing the University's strategic focus on innovation, access and excellence.
 
Additional details regarding training camp schedules, fan engagement opportunities, and collaborative programming will be announced at a later date.
 
About UIC Athletics
The UIC Department of Intercollegiate Athletics supports 18 NCAA Division I sports programs comprised of nearly 300 student-athletes and 85 coaches and staff. Since earning NCAA Division I status in 1981, UIC has captured 77 conference championships and made 49 NCAA postseason appearances. Through the Fall 2025 semester, 21 Flames have achieved All-America status, 89 have been named conference Player of the Year and 60 coaches have earned conference Coach of the Year honors. UIC student-athletes have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for 23 consecutive semesters and boast a 91-percent graduation rate. The Flames compete in the Missouri Valley Conference, one of the nation's most respected leagues, both academically and athletically.
 
About Chicago Sky
The 2021 WNBA Champion Chicago Sky are a professional women's basketball team founded in 2005 by principal owner, Michael Alter. The Chicago Sky were the first independently owned women's professional basketball team to join the WNBA and play at the Wintrust Arena. The WNBA regular season runs from May-September. Follow @chicagosky and tag #WNBAAllStar2026 and #NeverOutdoneChi on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X. Call 866.SKY.WNBA or visit sky.wnba.com for more information.

For more information on UIC athletics, fans are encouraged to visit UICFlames.com, or follow the Flames on social media through X (@UICFlames) and Instagram (@uicflames).