Chicago Sky 2026 Media Central

2026 CHICAGO SKY MEDIA POLICIES

Please read fully the 2026 Chicago Sky media policies as there are several new policies for this season. All protocols are subject to change due to league and team guidelines.

Welcome to the Chicago Sky’s media central, a resource for accredited members of the press covering the Chicago Sky.  We have compiled the following resources to assist in your coverage of our 2026 season.

CHICAGO SKY INFORMATION:
Home Arena: Wintrust Arena | 200 E. Cermak, Chicago, IL 60616
Practice Facility (until May 30, 2026): 839 W Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL, 60608

Website: Sky.wnba.com
Email: media@chicagosky.net

CHICAGO SKY MEDIA CONTACTS:

Tristan Tucker - Senior PR Manager (ttucker@chicagosky.com)
Savanah Joaquin - PR Coordinator (sjoaquin@chicagosky.com)

GENERAL MEDIA INFORMATION
Credentials are primarily issued to media members and outlets which regularly cover the Chicago Sky and/or the WNBA and/or are affiliated with an accredited organization/outlet. The Sky PR department, in accordance with the WNBA, shall make determinations with regard to granting credentials. For general media inquiries, email media@chicagosky.com. For interview requests and player relations, email ttucker@chicagosky.com.

CREDENTIAL PORTAL AND REQUEST PROCESS

Credential Requests for the 2026 season will open soon. The portal will not be used for the April 29 preseason game. Please reach out to ttucker@chicagosky.com for questions.

MEDIA CREDENTIALS
All requests for events should be made at least 48 hours prior to the game you wish to cover. You will receive an email regarding approval or denial within 24 hours of each scheduled contest. Credential approval is on a game-by-game basis. 

Please make certain all requests for credentials are confirmed by Sky PR prior to arriving at Wintrust Arena. If you do NOT receive express written approval for credentials, you are NOT permitted to cover the game. 

Credentials must be worn and visible at all times within the arena and are non-transferable. Transferring media credentials without express written consent of the Chicago Sky is a direct violation of media policy. Credential requests must also be made in writing via email and on our single game portal, which can be accessed by emailing Tristan Tucker (ttucker@chicagosky.com).

New outlets applying for credentials with the Chicago Sky must provide a detailed description of their plans for event coverage, including but not limited to:

  • A detailed plan and description for how the credential is to be used along with why media credentials are required for event coverage
  • The specific number of games desired to attend
  • Provide links to prior works produced and where new content will live
  • All other information requested by Sky PR

The Chicago Sky have the final decision on accreditation. Applying for a Chicago Sky event does NOT mean approval. 

NOTE: The Chicago Sky do NOT credential player representatives, marketing companies and independent/freelance content creators.

Your acceptance of a Chicago Sky media credential shall constitute your agreement to these guidelines and other applicable regulations and license terms of Chicago Sky referenced herein.

Having been previously credentialed by the Chicago Sky does not automatically qualify an agency or individual for future credentials.

WHO THE SKY CREDENTIAL

Outlets applying for media credentials must follow a standard editorial procedure complete with deadlines. All reporters applying for access must report to an editor.

Preference will be given to those media members who have demonstrated a history of regularly covering the Sky or WNBA and/or to reporters/photographers/videographers from a regularly credentialed outlet or entity on assignment. Applying media members must also maintain a sizable media following complete with an editorial process, which is subject to the Sky’s sole discretion.

WNBA Media Credentialing: 

Beginning with the 2026 WNBA season, media will be credentialed for games via a “Tier 1” credential” and “Tier 2” credential access system. 

To ensure media are approved for appropriate access in connection with games, and to regulate the number of working media with access to pregame and postgame player interviews, media will be required to meet certain criteria to receive “Tier 1” access. 

All teams will use the same “Tier 1”/Orange-colored credential and “Tier 2”/Gray-colored credential system for consistency. Local-market broadcast and radio crews automatically qualify for “Tier 1”. 

“Tier 1”/ Orange Credential 

Criteria for Obtaining a “Tier 1” Credential: 

  • Local media outlets that regularly cover a team by attending the majority of a team’s games and practices in the home market (at least 50 percent). 
  • National outlets that cover the league on a consistent basis and travel to a minimum of five games. 
  • Select international outlets plus broadcast and media partners designated by the league office for select games. 
  • Outlets working on a specific project in which the team or league determine that qualifying for “Tier 1” is necessary for the success of the project. 
  • To qualify for a “Tier 1” credential, an outlet must create original content and have a standard editorial process in which the credentialed reporters are governed. For clarity, if an entire outlet qualifies for a “Tier 1” credential, an individual member of that outlet must have prior experience covering WNBA practices or games. For example, if “Outlet X” qualifies for a “Tier 1” credential 

Issuance of a “Tier 1” Credential: 

  • These credentials may be issued as a full-season or single-game pass at the discretion of the home team. 

“Tier 1” Credentials Provide Access To: 

  • All team shootarounds and practices. 
  • Day-of-game press conferences, including team announcements, head coaches’ pregame pressers and standard postgame press conferences with head coaches and key players. 
  • Player interviews, including the 105-to-60-minute pregame media window and postgame “Additional Player Interviews.” 
  • On-court (baselines ONLY) pregame for content capture/TV shots during the 105-60-minute window. 
  • On-court postgame for content capture/TV shots once the court is cleared of players. 
  • A media seat (if available) and a space in the media workroom (if available). 

“Tier 2” / Gray Credential 

Criteria for Obtaining a “Tier 2” Credential: 

  • Outlets/individuals who do not qualify for a “Tier 1” credential but cover the WNBA 
  • Media members issued a “Tier 2” credential may be elevated to a single game “Tier 1” credential given the following:
    • The outlet or individual produces consistent/quality reporting. 
    • The outlet or individual consistently attends games/practices/shootarounds. 
    • If the individual recently obtained an editor and is subsequently subject to a standard editorial process under which they are governed. 

Issuance of a “Tier 2” Credential: 

  • These credentials will be on a game-by-game basis and are at the home team’s discretion. 

“Tier 2” Credentials Provide Access To: 

  • All team shootarounds and practices. 
  • All day-of-game press conferences. (See above reference to examples) 
  • A media seat (if available) and a space in the media workroom (if available). 

“Tier 2” Credentials Do NOT Provide Access To: 

  • Pregame interviews with players 
  • Postgame “Additional Player Interviews” following the postgame press conferences 
  • The court pregame and postgame for content capture/TV shots. 

The Chicago Sky reserves the right to revoke media access privileges if a media member acts in a threatening or combative manner to players or staff. Please respect Sky PR decision-making and assume positive intent. 

In ADDITION to all the above listed violations of Chicago Sky media policy, please be mindful of the following rules:

  • Media must work through the Chicago Sky communications department for any person(s) media wishes to speak to. Contacting an individual (coach, athlete, executive, etc.) on game day outside of media availability directly without prior consent of the Sky is not permissible and constitutes a violation of these guidelines and will be subject to revocation of credentials at the sole discretion of the Chicago Sky
  • Media are not permitted to utilize access for autographs, endorsement messages, or commercial requests. Likewise, media are not permitted to take personal photos with players or staffers of the Chicago Sky
  • Discrimination or hateful comments toward fellow working members of the media and/or players, staffers and arena operators of any kind will NOT be tolerated and will be subject to an immediate revocation of credentials
  • Misrepresenting the organization you are working with is not acceptable by the Chicago Sky. If you apply for credentials for a given outlet, ALL work produced for that given game must be for that outlet, and not for others, unless otherwise approved by the Sky. These approvals must be made in writing and are on a game-by-game basis
  • Media MUST sit in their assigned seat, which will be distributed at the media check-in table and available in the Champions Lounge. A verbal warning will be provided once if a violations occurs during the game, after which the violating media member will be asked to leave and subject to revocation of credentials

PHOTOGRAPHERS
Limited space is available for still photographers along each baseline, with exact locations to be determined on game day. Photographers must stay in their designated areas, and are asked to be considerate of print media and fans directly in their viewing area.

Photographers MAY NOT shoot next to or behind either teams’ bench.

NEW FOR 2026: Photographers MAY NOT share courtside spots without the express consent of Chicago Sky PR. Additionally, photographers must stay in their own, individually assigned lane. 

Photo vests: In addition to requiring an Orange credential for courtside access, photographers who are shooting on the baseline during game action MUST wear a vest distributed by the Chicago Sky communications department. These vests will be distributed in a designated pickup spot and must be grabbed before 60 minutes on the game clock. Upon check-in at the media table, you will be directed to vest pickup if you are on the baseline list for the day. Baseline determinations are made at the sole discretion of the Chicago Sky. Vests MUST be returned to the pickup zone before the end of the postgame news conference. Vests, like credentials, are NON-TRANSFERRABLE. Any transfer of a vest without the prior written approval of the Chicago Sky is a direct violation of media policy and is subject to revocation of credentials.

If you do not have a vest, you are NOT permitted to shoot on the court during game action, even if you have an Orange credential. Those possessing Orange credentials may roam the court level during game action IF ONLY given prior written approval by the Sky, but are not permitted to enter the court unless authorized by the Sky communication department.

NO photographer (vest, Orange or Gray) is permitted to enter the baseline or sidelines of the court at any point during pregame without approval of the Sky so as to not interfere with player or coach pregame routines.

A violation of ANY of these policies is a direct violation of the Chicago Sky’s media policies and is subject to revocation of credentials.

Photographer Policies, Who We Credential, and Our Process:

Photos captured at games of the Chicago Sky must ONLY be used for editorial purposes. 

Chicago Sky photos may only be used for news coverage of the event at which Sky photos are captured. Any other use (including, but not limited to, other coverage of the Chicago Sky) requires the prior written approval of the Chicago Sky (to be given or withheld in its sole discretion). No freelance photographers or personal player photographers will be credentialed.

Due to limited floor space, photographers working for reputable media outlets will be given priority. 

No sponsorship or advertising may be used in a manner that implies any association between any advertiser and the Chicago Sky. Galleries must be limited to a reasonable number of Sky photos and photos may not be included in galleries to be viewed in a high-speed sequential manner so as to approximate video.

Media photographers and camera operators will resume traditional baseline quadrant procedures and sit up to a minimum of 6 feet from the court. As a reminder, camera operators and photographers are generally prohibited from entering escape lanes during play, and thus their seating locations may not block escape lanes. 

Rubber lens hoods must be on all lenses for still photographers, broadcasters, and news and entertainment video and film crews who are authorized to shoot WNBA game action. Photographers using telephoto lenses – which are permitted for both near court and far court photography – may store their cameras on their laps when using another camera, but not next to them or in front of them. Media requesting baseline locations must provide written agreement that a rubber lens hood will be used. Each photographer will be permitted to use one monopod – but no tripods – at courtside. 

Only metal-less, hiking-type photographer seats (e.g. no rolling seats, no swivels, no legs) will be permitted for photographers or television camera operators seated around the perimeter of the court. All other types of seating must be approved in advance by the WNBA. Additionally, no stand-alone remotes or ancillary equipment and accessories (e.g., batteries, lenses, tapes) are permitted on the court at any time. No laptop computers may be used while a photographer is seated courtside for any purpose (e.g. transmitting game photos). 

Distributed vests for courtside media will contain pockets, which can be utilized at a photographers discretion.

The above terms and conditions are in addition to those set forth in any media credential issued to authorized media (and their employees, agents, contractors, etc.). Any violation of these terms and conditions may result in revocation of the violator’s Chicago Sky media credential.

Any use of Sky non-game content or in circumstances not expressly permitted by this policy, requires a separate approval from the Chicago Sky. 

Any online use of any Chicago Sky photos shall constitute acceptance of these terms and conditions.

MEDIA AND PHOTOGRAPHER SEATING

Designated print media with Orange credentials will have designated seats at the baseline tables, sorted at the sole discretion of the Chicago Sky. Name tags are at each seat, with Wifi and inquiry information.

Additional seating for print media and overflow photographers are located in sections 104-106, as well as sections 127 and 128.

Photographers with an Orange credential but NOT a vest are permitted on the court during pregame and postgame activities but do not have a baseline spot. Any in-game floating photos must be taken if ONLY given prior approval by the Chicago Sky. Photographers with Gray credentials are not permitted on the court at any time and MUST shoot solely from overflow media sections.

If you cannot find your designated spot, please contact Sky PR for assistance.

PARKING/ENTRANCE/CREDENTIAL PICK UP:

Media parking is available at Lot A (2301 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago IL, 60616). Lot A is a six-level garage located on Martin Luther King Drive, adjacent to the West Building. Covered walkways from Lot A lead directly into McCormick Place, Wintrust Arena, Marriott Marquis and Hyatt Regency McCormick Place Hotel. 

Sky PR will hand out validated parking tickets for those parked in Lot A ONLY. Please see a member of the PR team for validations.

Media should enter through the Prairie Avenue entrance (across street from Marriott). If you are credentialed, your name should be on the credential list. After going through security, pick up your credential at the media check-in table.

Media check-in opens 2.5 hours before tipoff and no earlier.

ACCESS/INTERVIEW REQUIREMENTS FOR GAMES, PRACTICES, SHOOTAROUNDS 

Each Monday morning during the preseason, regular season and playoffs, teams must provide WNBA Communications and to their respective media lists a weekly calendar with the interview schedule for their head coach and players for shootarounds, practices, and pregame and postgame availabilities. 

FOR FULL ACCESS INFORMATION REGARDING PREGAME MEDIA, POSTGAME MEDIA AND SHOOTAROUNDS

See the WNBA’s 2026 Media Access Policy.

PREGAME MEDIA NOTES

***We ask that all media members interested in participating in any media availability that isn’t already credentialed for game-days RSVP at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled availability. This is separate from game RSVPs***

In accordance with WNBA policy, pregame news conferences consist of both teams’ head coaches. Team PR will work with one another to schedule their respective head coach availability sessions so that they do not overlap one another. In the event that both head coaches request the same time window, priority will be given to the home team.

Any Orange media credential member must congregate in areas on the court that DO NOT interfere with pregame routines for players and staff.

All home news conferences for the Chicago Sky are held in the Champions Lounge, which doubles as the media workroom. All visiting news conferences are held in the visiting media room, which can found via signage at media check-in.

SHOOTAROUND NOTES:

You MUST RSVP for EACH unique shootaround. Your name MUST be on a list provided to security. Again, please enter through the 21ST STREET SECURITY ENTRANCE, as opposed to the typical Prairie Street entrance.

PRACTICE MEDIA POLICY
NEW FOR 2026:

All media looking to attend practice MUST RSVP for practice NO LATER than three hours prior to a given practice on the FIRST day of a given weekly media policy. For example, if the weekly media policy expresses that the Sky are practicing on Monday at 1 p.m. local, media interested in attending must give a written RSVP (email preferred) by 10 a.m. local. ALL other practice RSVPs MUST come 24 hours before a given practice.

Approximately the final 30 minutes of each practice will be open to the media, with players and coaches available for brief interviews immediately following practice. Please contact Sky PR to confirm practice times, sites and the availability of players and coaches.

FOR FULL PRACTICE ACCESS, LONG-TERM INJURED PLAYER MEDIA ACCESS AND TEAM COMPLIANCE WITH THE WNBA MEDIA POLICY

Check the WNBA’s official 2026 Media Access Policy for compliance information.

SKY HOME PRACTICES:

  • Wintrust Arena (Primarily for shootarounds): Members of the media should enter Wintrust Arena through the 21st Street Security Entrance no earlier than the designated time specified in the weekly schedule. Upon entry, please make your way to the Champions Lounge. 
  • Bedford Park Practice Facility:
  • UIC Practice Facility

GAME NOTES AND STATISTICS
A limited supply of printed game notes, rosters and spotter charts are available in the press room 2 hours prior to game time. Statistics are distributed to the working media at the conclusion of each quarter as well as first half boxes and final boxes.

MEDIA DINING

Media dining is located in the Chicago Sky Champions Lounge. Upon arrival to the arena from Prairie Avenue, head straight down the hallway behind, not next to, the media check-in table. The Champions Lounge is on the left upon entering the main atrium.

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