Last year, the Chicago Sky sank to a 13-27 regular-season record and 10th place in the WNBA standings. Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon would be relieved of her duties in September after they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
The Sky showcased a stagnant offense during their turbulent 2024 campaign. They ended the regular season with an offensive rating of 97, which put them towards the bottom of the WNBA alongside the Los Angeles Sparks. Chicago's offense could have fallen further without the scoring prowess of Chennedy Carter. The 26-year-old averaged a team-leading 17.5 points per game and was always a threat in transition, much to the benefit of rookie star Angel Reese.
However, The Windy City will have more work to do after not re-signing its scoring star.
The shrewd acquisition of guard Ariel Atkins could fill the scoring void that Carter has left behind. The former Washington Mystic averaged 14.9 points per game last season. Atkins's leadership abilities, gritty personality and flashes of brilliance will make her a must-watch for the Sky next season. Even with the arrival of Atkins, Chicago must find a way to establish a strong offensive identity if it aims to play in the 2025 postseason. The front office took one step forward with the intriguing hirings of head coach Tyler Marsh and the Sky's recently assembled assistant staff.
Can Tyler Marsh establish an identity on offense?
Marsh will shoulder the responsibility and expectations of being a head coach for the first time this season. Despite the lack of experience in that department, the 37-year-old has proven to be proficient in developing talent as an assistant coach and head of player development with the Las Vegas Aces. He displayed his knowledge of creating a winning culture during their dominant back-to-back WNBA Championship runs in 2022 and 2023.
Marsh will also be able to build a team around the supremely-talented Reese. The 22-year-old can potentially become one of the most feared two-way players in the WNBA. The star has proven to have a commanding presence in the paint after averaging 13.1 rebounds per game in her rookie season.
If Marsh aspires to reshape the franchise's fortunes, he must manufacture an offensive game plan that allows Reese to gain an advantage over the opposition. Marsh must then find a way to build up the forward's efficiency, which can only improve as she progresses through her WNBA career. The Sky may also need to prioritize adding a primary ballhandler who could play behind Courtney Vandersloot on draft night.
Which rookie could be a match made in heaven for the Sky?
Two guards in the 2025 WNBA Draft could redirect the fortunes of a franchise found itself near the bottom of the league's standings following a transitional year.
Georgia Amoore, the explosive point guard from Kentucky, could be a pick coveted in good fortune and sheer negligence from other franchises. The Australian native was in scintillating form for the Wildcats, where she averaged 19.6 points and 6.9 assists per game this season. Her ability to light a spark on offense and make the correct decisions in pivotal moments would make her the perfect fit for Chicago, albeit an unlikely one.
Kansas State guard Serena Sundell showcased her scoring and playmaking prowess for her squad with averages of 13.9 points and 7.3 assists per game. She may be a more realistic selection that could fall into Chicago's laps. The guard would compliment Reese's ability to spot a decisive pass and run an offense.
If the front office can make the correct selections in the draft process, Marsh could have the tools to create a dangerous offensive identity that would catapult the Sky up the regular season rankings.