26. Building the Chicago Sky: Inside the Rise of Women’s Basketball with Michael Alter

This week, we sit down with Michael Alter, principal owner of the Chicago Sky, to talk about what it really takes to build a professional sports franchise from the ground up, and why investing in women’s sports is about so much more than the game.From launching the Sky as an expansion team to winning the 2021 WNBA Championship, Michael shares the highs, the challenges, and the moments that made it all worth it. We explore the league's evolution, the explosive growth of women’s basketball, and how the Sky became a cultural force in Chicago and beyond.We also talk about the realities behind the scenes, from building a brand without an NBA counterpart to navigating media narratives to protecting players in the age of social media. And at the core of it all is a bigger mission: creating visibility, opportunity, and inspiration for the next generation of female athletes.In this episode, we cover:The origin story of the Chicago Sky and why Chicago needed a WNBA teamWhat it takes to build a franchise from scratch, including branding, hiring, and early challengesThe 2021 championship run and why it meant more than just a titleHow the WNBA is evolving, from expansion teams to global growthThe dark side of sports: social media, player safety, and online abuseWhy women’s sports are finally getting the attention they’ve always deservedListen now and don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and comment; it helps us continue to bring you the voices behind the institutions, people, and places that make Chicago extraordinary.Connect with the hosts of DIBS on Instagram, Nick Sarantos and Mallory Waxman