Chicago Sky Investing in Sports Performance with Return of AT Jess Cohen

The Chicago Sky are determined to stop playing from behind. As the WNBA experiences unprecedented growth, the franchise is striving to match the league’s rising standards—particularly in player care. A major step came this season with the hiring of head Athletic Trainer Jess Cohen.

Cohen began her career as a Sky intern in 2013 while earning her doctorate in physical therapy at Northwestern. She later served as head athletic trainer for the Atlanta Dream and the Portland Trail Blazers, becoming the only woman in that role in the NBA, before joining the Milwaukee Bucks.

Returning to Chicago this spring felt like coming full circle—and an opportunity to build something lasting.

“We’ve come a long way, and across the league as a whole, everything is elevating,” Cohen said. “You can’t compete without the ability to provide a safe environment where athletes can continue to grow.”

The Sky have historically lagged behind in sports performance resources. Veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot recalled the early days of makeshift ice baths in trash cans and a revolving door of trainers. Even today, players like Vandersloot and Angel Reese often hire their own dietitians or physical therapists to supplement the team’s small staff. “We just need more of them,” Vandersloot said.

Under Cohen, the Sky now have their largest performance staff yet—three athletic trainers with NBA or USA Basketball experience, alongside longtime strength coach Ann Crosby. Cohen hopes to expand to at least six staffers, add specialists like a dietitian and sports psychologist, and leverage the team’s upcoming Bedford Park training facility.

“The women deserve just as good as the men get,” she said.

For the Sky, Cohen’s return signals a shift—from doing more with less to finally investing in the care their athletes deserve. Read more here!