After a disappointing year, some hard conversations are coming for the Sky.
The big one will be with coach Tyler Marsh about whether he’s earned a third season.
Marsh told the Sun-Times on Thursday he hasn’t yet discussed his job status with general manager Jeff Pagliocca or principal owner Michael Alter, and that those conversations will be reserved for the offseason.
Until then, Marsh is full steam ahead.
“As long as I’m here I’m gonna give my best for this organization and these players and this city,” he said. “I can’t control what happens beyond that, but it’s never a question of if I want to be.”
“This is what I worked my whole life for. I haven’t had any handouts. I’ve worked and earned my way into an opportunity. You never know when these opportunities come the first time, or ever, and you don’t want to let them slip away.”
Should Marsh get the boot? On one hand, the Sky have a 30% win rate during Marsh’s tenure, the roster underperformed relative to its talent this year, and end-of-game management was an issue.
On the other hand, Marsh clearly improved this season, generally has strong relationships with players, and appears to have installed a viable offensive system.
But maybe the most important factor has nothing to do with Marsh. It’s whether Alter, Pagliocca and company think they can actually attract someone better. They do have an appealing young core in Rickea Jackson, Sydney Taylor and Kamilla Cardoso to go along with two first-round picks in 2027; maybe that’s enough to convince a top-tier coach to come on board.
But the organization still doesn’t have the best reputation. Nor do they have an All-Star on the roster or chance at landing one in the lottery. It’s far from a perfect job.
Easy does it
When discussing how he’ll manage rotations to close out the season, Marsh has repeatedly used phrases like “exercising caution,” “not wanting to overload anyone” and “preserving bodies.”
In other words: don’t expect the Sky to be at full throttle during their final week.
DiJonai Carrington missed Thursday’s game against the Mystics managing her foot injury. Natasha Cloud has not been a full participant at practice and left after the first half (knee), and Azurá Stevens also told the Sun-Times that she and the health staff will be managing her knee.
The upside is that rookies Gabriela Jaquez and Aicha Coulibaly will get more playing time, which should be the priority at this point. But it also means any hope of Marsh strengthening his case with some upsets in the final week is probably naive.
Thank you, Chicago
Not only have the Mystics excelled ahead of schedule this season, they’re also on track to receive a 2027 lottery pick from the Sky.
That’s because of the pick swap included in the 2025 trade that brought Ariel Atkins to Chicago.
“Thank goodness [President of Monumental Basketball] Michael Winger and the folks back in D.C. have positioned us to have a lottery pick,” Mystics coach Sydney Johnson said before the game. “We’ll see what happens.”
As things stand, the Mystics are projected to receive the No. 3 pick, while the Sky would get No. 10 in return.
They Mystics also own the Sky’s 2028 pick which they got in return for guard Jacy Sheldon.