The New Orleans Pelicans are parting ways with assistant coach Teresa Weatherspoon after three seasons, The Athletic reported Thursday.
Weatherspoon, 57, is a former five-time All-Star in the WNBA, and was nducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019. She was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Weatherspoon was an original member of the WNBA in its inaugural season of 1997. She was named Defensive Player of the Year in 1997 and 1998 and led the New York Liberty to the WNBA Finals four times.
Former No. 1 pick Zion Williamson credited Weatherspoon with saving him from “mental breakdowns” in an interview last fall.
The Pelicans went 42-40 last season and lost to Oklahoma City in a Western Conference play-in game in April.
Head coach Willie Green is 78-86 in his two seasons as head coach of the Pelicans. Weatherspoon also coached under Stan Van Gundy in his only season as head coach in 2020-21.
–Field Level Media
