Rising Stars: The Tyler Marsh Effect on Angel Reese & Chennedy Carter
Marsh-ing Toward Success: The Sky’s Winning Recipe
by: D’Joumbarey A. Moreau
A Coaching Legacy
Tyler Marsh was born to coach. As the son of Donnie Marsh, a prominent name in the basketball world, it’s clear that basketball and coaching more in particular runs in his veins.
Donnie Marsh has an extensive coaching resume that includes head coaching positions at Florida International University (one of the best schools in the country) and Alabama A&M University. He has also served as an associate head coach under Mike Davis at Texas Southern, in addition to roles at South Florida, UAB, Indiana, Virginia Tech, and Florida State. Currently, he is an assistant coach at Florida Gulf Coast.
The Path to Head Coach: A Unique Journey
Marsh’s journey to becoming a head coach in the WNBA is distinct. After having traversed through men’s college basketball, the G League, and the NBA. Before joining the Sky, he was a vital part of the 2018-19 NBA champion Toronto Raptors as the assistant video coordinator and player development coach. His time with the Indiana Pacers further continued his expertise in developing talent.
In Las Vegas, Marsh helped all star point guard Jackie Young become a standout success story. Under his tutelage Young transformed her shooting ability, increasing her three-point attempts from just 22 in her first three WNBA seasons to an impressive 70 over the last three seasons while shooting nearly 40% from beyond the arc. This level of skill development will be critical for the Sky, especially after they averaged just 4.8 three-pointers made per game last season—1.1 fewer than any other team.
Building a Connection with Angel Reese
For Tyler, establishing a solid connection with Angel Reese is paramount.
With the two of them both committed to long-term contracts with the Chicago Sky, maximizing Reese’s talents on the court is essential. Reese, a burgeoning superstar in the WNBA, has the potential to become a serious MVP candidate in the near future.
In the previous season, Reese made a significant impact with her rebounding ability, leading the league with an impressive 13.1 rebounds per game. However, her field goal percentage of 39.1% indicates areas for improvement. Marsh’s track record in player development will be crucial as he works to enhance Reese’s shooting consistency, building upon her 13.6 points per game average.
Rebuilding with Chennedy Carter
Next on Marsh’s agenda is bringing Chennedy Carter back into the fold for the franchise. As a free agent, Carter has numerous options, especially because of her play, making it essential for her to align with Chicago’s vision. Last season, she often found herself embroiled in controversy, from her hip check on Caitlin Clark to her candid remarks about opponents. A focused Chennedy Carter is an absolute game-changer for the Sky.
Carter’s recent ranking as the 21st best player in the league and 7th best guard showcases her potential, with expectations that her standing could rise significantly before the upcoming season.
A New Era for the Sky
As Tyler Marsh steps into his role as head coach of the Chicago Sky, the franchise stands at a turning point moment. With promising talents like Angel Reese and Chennedy Carter, combined with Marsh’s proven coaching prowess, the Sky have the potential to turn their franchise around. The focus especially this season will be on player development, building chemistry, and implementing an efficient offensive system that capitalizes on their strengths.
As fans eagerly await the new chapter, the hope is that this combination of talent and leadership will transform the Sky into contenders once more.
The sky is the limit for this team—it’s time for them to soar.
