Tyler Marsh began his reign as the Chicago Sky's newly appointed head coach in an impressive manner. The Sky put on a dominant display and earned a triumphant 89-62 win over the Brazilian National Team in their preseason opening fixture.
Although it may only be the preseason, three high points emerged from the victory that should have the Windy City fanbase ecstatic about the potential of this exciting roster.
Angel Reese stakes her claim to be offensive talisman
In the absence of a leading scorer in Chennedy Carter, who has recently been acquired by Adelitas de Chihuahua in Mexico, the Sky front office has been desperate to find an adequate replacement. Carter averaged 17.5 points per game in their 2024 campaign in a Chicago side that boasted the second-worst points per game average in the WNBA, scoring just 77.4 per matchup.
Despite the star's issues with efficiency in 2024, where she only managed to shoot around 39% from the floor, it appears Angel Reese is willing to shoulder the offensive burden many second-year stars would shy away from. The Unapologetically Angel podcast host showed aggressive intent from the first tip. She bulldozed her way through her opponent to draw a shooting foul ten seconds into the contest.
Reese was relentless during her 17 minutes on the floor. She scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and shot a much-improved 57% on the night. However, it was the manner of the scoring that displayed the steps she has taken to develop her attacking prowess. The physical forward exhibited a composed figure under the basket and finished her opportunities more efficiently through contact.
The 22-year-old has staked her claim to be Marsh's offensive talisman for the 2025 WNBA season. Franchises around the league will have to adjust their defensive game plans if the star continues to score in such imposing fashion.
Marsh implements an offensive identity early in his tenure
In his first year as the head coach of a franchise, Marsh had been tasked with igniting a stagnant offense that ranked 11th out of the 12 teams in the WNBA for offensive rating in 2024. They limped to a worrying score of 97. The 37-year-old has not hesitated in addressing this issue as the Sky dismantled their opponents with a fresh identity.
When the Chicago front office brought back Courtney Vandersloot in free agency after playing a reduced role for the New York Liberty in their championship run, it was clear that the legendary playmaker had no intentions of sitting on the bench. The rookie head coach agreed as he handed the 36-year-old point guard the keys to the offense in this matchup, and she did not disappoint.
Vandersloot showed glimpses of why she is considered one of the greatest playmakers to have ever graced the WNBA. She squeezed through an elegant, inch-perfect pass to find a wide-open Reese under the basket in one of the highlights of the night. It was a clear indicator of how she can elevate the sophomore's game to the next level.
The veteran guard set the tone in the new dynamic offensive game plan, which saw the Sky implement a high-tempo transition offense that did not allow the defensive unit to set up. In moments where the transition was not possible, Chicago would space the floor and swing the ball from left to right. It created more opportunities for Kia Nurse to showcase her importance in this system. She scored 11 points in 12 minutes while sinking three of her five attempts from 3-point range.
It is now clear why Nurse was acquired during the off-season as the Sky will look to adopt a high-volume shooting philosophy from deep as seen throughout the NBA in its current era. This is a far cry from the tactics they displayed in the 2024 season, in which the Windy City franchise ranked last in the WNBA for 3-point shots per game. They attempted just 14.9 per matchup. Marsh's side attempted 29 3-point shots during their fixture against the Brazilian National Team.
Is this the identity Chicago fans will see moving forward in 2025? Or will there be a variation of tactics depending on the opponent?
Hailey Van Lith showed no signs of being unsettled in her new surroundings
It took until the mid-way point of the third quarter before fans were able to catch a glimpse of the highly-rated rookie Van Lith. When she was handed her opportunity, she showed spectators how valuable she could be for this franchise for years to come.
Van Lith was fearless in her Sky debut. She unveiled her explosive style of play from the second she set foot on the court. The 23-year-old showed her intent by driving at defenders at every opportunity and drawing several fouls for her valiant efforts. She made all five of her free-throw attempts.
Not only did the Big 12 Player of the Year show her individual brilliance, but she also presented the rapport she has already established with her colleagues. She provided them with five assists in just 13 minutes on the court.
In addition to all of the offensive capabilities the former TCU guard demonstrated, the star revealed the work rate she will bring on the defensive end of the floor. The rookie point guard was a headache for her opponents as they tried to create separation on the perimeter and from the mid-range. Van Lith could have been mistaken as a shadow of her counterparts as they simply could not escape her grasp.
Chicago's 11th overall pick in the 2025 WNBA Draft will be rewarded with a larger role in the rotation if she can perform at that level on a consistent basis as the campaign progresses.