Sports Psychologist and Mental Performance Coach

This is a Full Time Job

The Chicago Sky are seeking an experienced and athlete-centered Sports Psychologist / Mental Performance Coach to provide psychological skills training, mindset development, and holistic mental performance support to our athletes throughout the WNBA season. This consultant will play a critical role in enhancing focus, resilience, confidence, communication, and emotional regulation within a high-performance basketball environment. The ideal candidate has extensive experience working with elite athletes, understands the demands of the WNBA schedule, and can integrate seamlessly into a collaborative performance and medical team. This role requires consistent weekly presence and a strong in-person commitment during training camp and throughout the season.

Time Commitment & On-Site Expectations
• Mandatory attendance at all home games
• Presence at shootarounds on home game days
• Presence at team practices 2x per week during the season
• Increased availability and on-site commitment during training camp
• Potential travel opportunities for select road trips or events, based on team needs and consultant availability
• Select remote consultation or check-ins as agreed upon with performance leadership

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Player Mental Performance Support
• Provide individualized sessions focused on mental skills such as confidence, focus, adaptability, emotion
regulation, visualization, resilience, and recovery from setbacks.
• Address performance anxiety, role acceptance, motivation, and overall mental well-being.
• Support players returning from injury with strategies for confidence, reintegration, and mental readiness.
• Maintain a confidential, athlete-centered environment that aligns with WNBA mental health guidelines.

Team & Group Services
• Conduct team workshops on communication, leadership, performance mindset, mental preparation, and competitive habits.
• Support coaching staff with tools for delivering feedback, managing group dynamics, and reinforcing team identity.
• Assist with leadership development initiatives and team culture support throughout the season.

Integrated Performance Collaboration
• Work closely with the director of performance, athletic trainers, strength & conditioning staff, and coaching staff to align psychological strategies with physical, tactical, and recovery plans.
• Participate in performance team meetings (in person or virtual) to provide insights on athlete readiness, trends, or recommendations while maintaining player confidentiality.
• Collaborate with medical staff when appropriate to support athletes dealing with stress, anxiety, or life-load management.

Game-Day & Practice Responsibilities
• Provide targeted pre-game preparation strategies (activation routines, focus plans, coping strategies).
• Support in-game needs when appropriate, including emotional regulation guidance or reset strategies.
• Observe practices and games to evaluate communication patterns, body language, role clarity, and competitive behaviors.

Education & Communication
• Educate athletes on coping skills, sleep and recovery mindset strategies, confidence-building methods, and emotional intelligence.
• Offer staff education sessions related to team dynamics, communication styles, mental load, and athlete support.
• Develop mental skills resources, routines, or handouts for players throughout the season.

Compliance & Professional Standards
• Maintain appropriate licensure or certification for mental health and/or applied sport psychology.
• Adhere to all HIPAA, WNBA, and team confidentiality standards.
• Demonstrate professionalism, emotional intelligence, and consistency in a high-performance environment.
• Maintain a flexible schedule, with availability for nights, weekends, home games, and training camp.

Qualifications
• Master's or Doctoral degree in Sport Psychology, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, or related field.
• Certification or licensure as required by state regulations (e.g., Licensed Psychologist, CMPC from AASP).
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience working with collegiate, professional, or elite athletes.
• Strong background in applied sport psychology and mental performance coaching.
• Proven ability to build trust and communicate effectively with diverse athletes and staff.

Preferred
• Experience working within the WNBA, NBA, NCAA Division I basketball, or other elite team sport environments.
• Familiarity with the unique demands of women's professional sports.
• Experience supporting athletes in high-pressure, fast-paced performance cycles.