The Las Vegas Aces suffered a bunch of losses since the conclusion of the 2024 season. Kate Martin was selected by the Golden State Valkyries in the expansion draft, Tiffany Haynes signed with the Valkyries in free agency, Alysha Clark went to the Seattle Storm, and assistant coaches Natalie Nakase and Tyler Marsh took on head coaching jobs with new franchises.
Marsh worked for the Aces from 2022 to 2024, winning two WNBA championships with the franchise. Now, he is the head coach of the Chicago Sky, replacing Teresa Weatherspoon. Weatherspoon coached just one season in Chicago, and her departure was not well received by Sky star Angel Reese, who had a close relationship with her first WNBA head coach.
While Reese seemed happy with the hiring of Tyler Marsh, he will still have to prove himself in the 2025 season, building relationships with the players on the Sky’s roster and helping the team find an identity around Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. During that time, the Sky will make a realization about Marsh that the Aces are already well aware of.
Tyler Marsh can help players improve
Marsh accomplished many things with the Aces, but one of his biggest wins was helping Jackie Young become a legitimate 3-point threat. In her first three seasons, Young barely shot any threes and also did not convert many of them. Then, she started working with Marsh and became a much-improved shooter. The 2024 season marked a down year for Young and the first time since 2022 that she did not shoot over 40 percent from three.
His ability to help players improve individual skills, among other things, made Marsh beloved by the players in Las Vegas. Especially Sydney Colson was vocal on social media about the loss.
Excuse me?! We’re grieving, have some 🤬 respect! https://t.co/NJoGjf4VvU
— Sydney Colson (@SydJColson) November 2, 2024
While Marsh won’t have as much time to work with players individually as a head coach, the Sky should soon learn what the Aces already know: Marsh can help players develop. Since they are still rebuilding and relying heavily on the improvement of their young players, that seems to be just what the Sky need to set the foundation for future success.
Especially Angel Reese should benefit from Marsh’s presence. As a rookie, she established herself as one of the rising stars in the league, but it was also obvious that she needed to work on some things, mostly her shot. WNBA legend Lisa Leslie has already taken Reese under her wing, but she should also widely benefit from Marsh’s ability to improve players’ shots. While Reese does not necessarily have to become a great high-volume 3-point shooter, a serviceable outside shot would help with the spacing in the frontcourt, and she desperately needs to improve her efficiency around the basket.