CHICAGO – THE Chicago Sky we had to make a gesture that would resonate.

After firing Teresa Weatherspoon after one season, the franchise needed to put in place leadership that could convince fans, returning players and potential free agents that Chicago was a place that could win.

Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca, presenting his head coaching choice on Tuesday, called his

“We promised our fans that we would be extremely intentional and diligent in our coaching search,” Pagliocca said. “I heard you. I felt you. We kept our word.”

The Sky introduced Tyler Marsh as the team’s head coach on Tuesday after announcing his hiring almost two weeks ago. He brings a wealth of experience at all levels of basketball.

He was most recently in the player development system as an assistant coach for the Las Vegas Aces, where he helped Vegas win two straight WNBA championships. His resume also includes an NBA title with the Raptors and years of experience working with championship-winning coaches.

Marsh said on Tuesday that Sky was not the only team he was interviewing with. However, when he encountered Heaven, it didn’t take long to convince him.

“If you know Jeff, he’s very interesting,” Marsh said.

The interest was also mutual.

“As soon as Tyler and I started talking, there was a pretty immediate synergy,” Pagliocca said. “I took it to town and the rest is history.

Marsh would also have had his choice of openings.

Atlanta, Connecticut, Dallas, Los Angeles and Washington, along with the two 2026 expansion franchises in Portland and Toronto, are in need of head coaches after the Indiana Fever hired Stephanie White.

Throughout the process, Marsh did not shake his feeling about Heaven.

“It seemed like the right place,” Marsh said. “I think Chicago is in a perfect position.”

The Sky, with its new training center on the way, its core composed of Kamilla Cardoso and Angel Reesea talented core of returning supporting players and two first-round picks in the 2025 WNBA Draft. There are attractive factors for Heaven.

THE the biggest obstacle was ensuring security for anyone who has taken over the position of head coach; After all, the Sky are on their fourth head coach since July 2023.

That didn’t worry Marsh.

“Everything just kind of fell into place,” Marsh said.

Now, Marsh can work with Pagliocca to build a team that fits the style of play he wants to bring to the field.

When asked what his priority was this offseason, Marsh simply said, “Shooters.”

He wants to coach a style of basketball that fits the modern style of the game.

In Las Vegas, Marsh helped develop players like Jackie Young, A’Ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum, all Olympians who played excellent defense. They also added some high-octane offensive skills.

The Sky, Marsh was keen to point out, does not want to win games by a score of 60-50. His crystal ball doesn’t predict any low-scoring defensive games in the franchise’s future.

“Those days are gone,” Marsh said. We want to score a lot.”

This is part of Marsh’s bigger goal, which is to stay ahead of a league that is growing exponentially.

“For us, we want to set trends,” Marsh said. “We want to be ahead of the curve.”

The players see it too.

Sky center Elizabeth Williams shared the podium with Pagliocca, Marsh and teammate Rachel Banham. Williams, who missed most of the season with a knee injury that prevented Sky from using larger rosters, sees Marsh instilling more than just high-quality basketball in Chicago.

“He comes in with a lot of experience,” Williams said. “He also comes in with the mentality of creating a certain culture.”

Marsh has work to do. That work starts with the team Pagliocca can put together in the offseason.

With this offensive, shooter-friendly style of play in mind, Pagliocca can build the roster that takes the next steps in its rebuild.

Whoever makes the roster when the 2025 season begins, Marsh will be ready to work with them.

“We want to set the tone,” Marsh said.