Teresa Weatherspoon’s firing after a single season in Chicago came as a shock to most, including Angel Reese. But time waits for none and the franchise has already found a new head coach to lead them the next season. Tyler Marsh, formerly assistant coach of the Las Vegas Aces, is ready to create a winning team around the Sky’s 2024 star rookies, Reese and Kamilla Cardoso. And he has already talked to the Chi-Town Barbie about his new plans.

Discussing his new coaching role on the In Case You Missed It With Khristina Williams, Marsh revealed a phone conversation he had had with Reese as soon as he signed with Chicago. “It was about communicating my vision to her, I can only communicate who I am and hope to be, as the coach of the Sky for Angel and be the best for her.”

Then he also referred to the former coach, “I think that’s a similarity me and Coach Spoon have, that we want the best for Angel, we want the best for the team and how I can do that in my own way and empower her and the rest of the team to be successful. That’s my job.” 

Although this will be Marsh’s first job as head coach, he has extensive experience on the 2022 and 2023 championship-winning Aces team. And he wants to do the same with the Sky.

“I wanna help her be the best version of herself and how that fits into the team dynamic as well,” Marsh continued on the podcast. “And some things that I think I can help with and help her expand her game and that’s all it was. She was all for it and communicated to me how important it was for her to be part of a winning environment. And so that’s what I hope to create in Chicago.”

Also talking about how offense was one of the key areas that the Sky lacked in this season, the new HC revealed how he was looking forward to working on it. More than anything, he said, it’s the word ‘championship’ and its deep-rooted meaning that he wants to instill in every Windy City player, the same way it was with the Aces.

It’s certainly a different approach from Weatherspoon, who some have dismissed because of her lack of experience as a WNBA assistant or head coach before coming to Chicago. It was a close relationship she built with Reese, and there were tensions in the team a few days after her firing. But the storm seems to have calmed down now.

Angel Reese and Teresa Weatherspoon are “in a good spot”

When Tyler Marsh’s hiring was announced three weeks ago, Angel Reese had posted a single letter to X, “W.” It seemed to be a positive reaction after she had previously stated on the platform that she couldn’t “imagine playing for the Sky without [Weatherspoon]” and that she “didn’t deserve” to be fired.

But the Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca had previously told the Chicago Tribune that the former coach and her player’s relationship was “in a good spot.” “Emotions were high for a couple days and we can respect that. We can appreciate it,” Pagliocca said. “We understand that there’s bonds that are built with coaches and players, especially the young ones.”

But with Marsh in the mix now, the relationships and team dynamics are bound to change. The Sky executives hope his work with Las Vegas’ Jackie Young and her shooting will also help out an offensively lacking Chicago. From the 2022 WNBA Most Improved Player in Young to now working with a rebounder like Angel Reese, Marsh might make this young team playoff-worthy just yet!