In a move that could either revive the Chicago Sky or send them further into WNBA purgatory, Tyler Marsh has been anointed as the new head coach. Marsh, fresh off his gig as an assistant coach/player development maestro with the reigning champion Las Vegas Aces, is now tasked with turning the Sky’s stormy forecast into clear skies. It’s a classic case of “taking the assistant out of Vegas, but can you take the Vegas out of the assistant?” We’re about to find out.
Marsh’s new venture comes as the Sky spin through coaches like a turnstile at a Beyoncé concert. Teresa Weatherspoon was shown the door in September after a one-season stint that barely lasted long enough for her to set up her voicemail. Rookie forward Angel Reese wasn’t too pleased, taking to social media to express her dismay with the subtlety of a bull in a china shop. But Chicago’s brass remained mum, leaving fans to play a guessing game titled Why Did They Fire the Coach This Time?
Marsh’s New Chicago Playground
The 2024 Sky season was about as predictable as a toddler with a marker. A 13-27 record and a playoff miss spelled “rebuild,” but there were bright spots. Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso both earned All-Rookie nods, and Chennedy Carter had a renaissance year, scoring with the confidence of a kid in a candy store with no parents in sight. Still, the Sky’s offense ranked somewhere between “lacking” and “where is it?” Marsh’s pedigree as a player development guru may be exactly what Chicago needs to turn their raw talent into actual W’s.
ESPN’s brain trust—including Alexa Philippou, Kevin Pelton, and Michael Voepel—believes Marsh’s biggest challenge will be herding this group of young players and molding them into a coherent, playoff-ready team. Chicago fans can only hope that Marsh’s meticulous eye for individual growth, showcased in Vegas, translates well to the lakeside.
Marsh’s Vegas Résumé: A Glitzy Backstory
Before swapping neon lights for the Windy City, Marsh spent his time turning Aces players into offensive juggernauts. In fact, he’s unofficially 1-0 as a head coach, leading Las Vegas to a 41-point thrashing of Seattle while Becky Hammon served a two-game suspension for being, well, too Becky Hammon for the league’s taste.
His personal coaching highlight reel features Jackie Young, who under Marsh’s watchful eye evolved from being a hesitant shooter to draining threes as confidently as someone double-dipping at a party. If Marsh can get Reese to finish layups without making the hoop look like it’s surrounded by quicksand, his reputation in Chicago will be golden.
Can Marsh Bring the Glitz Without the Glam?
Marsh now joins the ranks of ex-Aces assistants who think, “Sure, I can handle this.” He’s the second one to leave this offseason, following Natalie Nakase’s appointment as the coach of the new Golden State Valkyries. The Aces’ loss could be Chicago’s gain, provided Marsh can sprinkle some of that Vegas magic dust without the glitzy lights of the Strip to fuel him.
Meanwhile, Becky Hammon, who’s managed to turn Las Vegas into the NBA-lite of the WNBA, now has to find fresh assistants willing to step into her high-octane orbit. Losing Marsh and Nakase is hardly what she envisioned for her offseason, especially with free agency drama and Kelsey Plum’s future hanging in the balance. But hey, when your résumé reads “two-time WNBA champion,” you figure things out.
What’s Next for Chicago?
With Marsh now at the helm, Sky GM Jeff Pagliocca must be breathing a sigh of relief—or at least pausing his frantic online search for “how to build a winning WNBA team.” The duo will bank on their shared knack for player development to transform Reese and Cardoso from promising rookies into franchise cornerstones.
Chicago, once the envy of the league after their 2021 championship run, has been on a turbulent slide down the WNBA rollercoaster. For Marsh, the task is straightforward but not simple: restore stability, teach these young stars how to shoot like they mean it, and avoid being the Sky’s fifth head coach in as many years. No pressure, right?
So, is Tyler Marsh the hero Chicago needs or just the latest in their coaching carousel? The 2025 season can’t come soon enough for Sky fans, who are holding out hope that this new chapter won’t end like an unfinished book.
