CHICAGO — The Chicago Sky has found its new coach: Tyler Marsh.
Marsh, 36, was an assistant coach under Becky Hammon with the Las Vegas Aces, who won back-to-back WNBA titles in 2022 and 2023.
The decision came just five weeks after Sky fired Teresa Weatherspoon following her first season as a WNBA coach — and a day after the Indiana Fever hired Stephanie White for its vacant coaching position. A league source confirmed the hiring, which ESPN first reported Saturday.
Firing Weatherspoon – a Naismith Hall of Famer who was a founding member of the WNBA – drew the ire of fans, coaches and players around the league. The most vocal critic of the decision was star Angel Reese, who anchored the Sky after being selected No. 7 in the draft.
But Reese issued a simple reaction to Marsh’s hiring on Saturday, issuing a letter to reflect his approval: “W.”
Before joining Hammon’s staff, Marsh was an assistant coach and video coordinator in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers and Toronto Raptors, with whom he participated in another title run in 2019. Prior to his NBA career, Marsh spent five years as an assistant coach. in the G-League.
This is the second member of Hammon’s coaching tree to land the WNBA head coaching job for the 2025 season. Former senior assistant Natalie Nakase was hired by the Golden State Valkyries in October to coaching the expansion franchise in its inaugural season.
Marsh is well regarded throughout the WNBA as a player development coach. The Aces credited him with laying the foundation for Jackie Young’s growth – primarily his 3-point shooting – to win the Most Improved Player award in 2022. His experience will be crucial as Sky strive to developing young talent such as Kamilla Cardoso, Reese and the two first-round rookies are expected to join next year’s team after the 2025 draft.
Over the past two offseasons, Marsh has consistently found himself at the top of short lists of WNBA coaching prospects, a reflection of the excitement surrounding his potential. But it’s another small gamble by Sky, who fired Weatherspoon in part because of a lack of coaching experience that led to a lack of structure on and off the field.
General manager Jeff Pagliocca stressed that structure and discipline are two keys in Sky’s coaching search. As a first-year head coach who has never been a head assistant, Marsh will be relatively inexperienced as he attempts to instill that identity at the Sky.
This hire reflects Pagliocca’s clear belief that Marsh is better positioned to learn quickly in this role — and more closely aligned with his vision for the roster, which was significantly overhauled last season through draft picks and trades.
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