Since the Chicago Sky’s attempt at winning back-to-back WNBA titles ended in the 2022 semifinals, stability has eluded the organization. Three head coaches came and went, two star players requested trades and top free agency targets signed elsewhere.
As the organization builds a better foundation, they could use a clear voice at the helm.
Enter Tyler Marsh. Marsh brings championship experience as an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces. Importantly, his hiring is the result of a more robust search process than last year’s — one which led to the dismissal of former head coach Teresa Weatherspoon after only a year.
“When you’re trying to re-establish what things will look like, I think he’s great for the job,” veteran center Elizabeth Williams told reporters at Marsh’s first press conference.
After general manager Jeff Pagliocca introduced him, Marsh shared his favorite scripture and promised he wouldn’t preach. But the Sky could use a good sermon — someone to offer clarity of purpose and motivation for change.
Though the organization is trying to catch up to the league standard in player experience and business operations, they often struggle to help outsiders see their vision.
This was on display again at the press conference. Reporters asked Pagliocca about offseason priorities, an opportunity to clarify his approach. Will they use the draft to keep building for the long term, or trade for players that can help them win now?
But Pagliocca deflected the question. Then Marsh leaned into the mic and gave a clear answer.
“Shooting,” he said. “We want shooting. And lots of it.”
Order ‘Rare Gems’ and save 30%
Howard Megdal, founder and editor of The IX Basketball and The IX Sports, wrote this deeply reported book. “Rare Gems” follows four connected generations of women’s basketball pioneers, from Elvera “Peps” Neuman to Cheryl Reeve and from Lindsay Whalen to Sylvia Fowles and Paige Bueckers.
If you enjoy Megdal’s coverage of women’s basketball every Wednesday at The IX Sports, you will love “Rare Gems: How Four Generations of Women Paved the Way for the WNBA.” Click the link below to order and enter MEGDAL30 at checkout to save 30%!
Marsh nodded at Sky shooting guard Rachel Banham and small forward Michaela Onyenwere, saying he wants them shooting more. The Sky averaged less than five three-point makes per game last season and finished at the bottom of the league in offensive rating.
Unlike Weatherspoon, who primarily preached defense, Marsh is unabashedly offensive-minded. In Las Vegas, shooting was his primary focus, helping Jackie Young become an elite weapon from outside.
Young’s 3-point percentage increased from 25% in 2021 to 43% in 2022 when Marsh joined the Aces’ staff. Her attempts rose from 0.6 to 3.4 per game over that same period.
Now Onyenwere, who shot 36.4% from three after the All-Star break last season, seems poised for continued improvement from deep.
Under head coach Becky Hammon, Marsh also built a reputation for his in-game analyses and instincts.
“It’s a very rare combination that you can have someone that excels so much in the player development arena but is actually more wired to be a head coach,” Pagliocca said.
A broader approach to building culture
When imagining the Sky’s future, fans often think of the development of its 2024 first round draft picks, Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reese. Both want to become the league’s dominant bigs. But Marsh has a broader vision for success.
“Even though they’re the cornerstones of this franchise, championship teams are won 1-12,” Marsh said.
Top-to-bottom roster buy-in was an issue during Weatherspoon’s short tenure.
While stars including Reese, Cardoso, and Chennedy Carter connected with Weatherspoon, she struggled to define roles for other players.
Marina Mabrey and Dana Evans — who both started the season for Weatherspoon — ended up asking for trades. Since then, the Chicago Sun-Times’ Annie Costabile reported that Weatherspoon lost the locker room.
Marsh seems to want to build the culture from the bottom-up. He pointed to the importance of timely contributions from role players in recent WNBA Finals.
”That’s what we wanna create here in Chicago,” Marsh said. “We want everybody to know their value.”
