Tyler Marsh Reveals Plan Which Could Shatter Negative Chicago Sky Perception Echoed by Angel Reese
The WNBA is starting to mirror its NBA counterpart more than ever. Not too long ago, Paige Bueckers echoed Steph Curry’s famous plea, urging fans to stick with the team through the highs and lows. Now, Angel Reese has taken a page straight out of Kobe Bryant’s 2007 playbook. “I’d like to be here for my career, but if things don’t pan out, obviously I might have to move in a different direction and do what’s best for me,” the Chicago Sky star declared. The statement immediately drew comparisons to Kobe’s heated standoff with the Lakers’ front office nearly two decades ago.
For the Chicago Sky, this is more than just words. When your brightest star begins to waver, it’s a red flag. Reese has done everything in her power on the hardwood, stacking up 22 double-doubles in just 29 games. Yet, despite her dominance, the Sky find themselves scraping the bottom of the leaderboard. Reese has been vocal about Chicago’s lack of proper facilities, an issue that finally seems to have rattled the front office.
Head coach Tyler Marsh responded to the issue raised by Reese going into the Connecticut Sun game. “We have really good people here, and I think that pretty soon every organization is going to be able to provide some sort of amenity. Whether it’s in the frame of a practice facility or whatever, this league is going to get to a point where the players rightfully deserve,” he said, addressing Reese’s demand for a training facility.
Earlier, the Chicago Sky’s star player slammed the practice facility provided to them. “You guys saw the Rec that we practice at. I don’t think anybody wants to practice there.” And she isn’t alone. Reportedly, many players who have played with them in the past or as opponents have rated them as the worst franchise in an anonymous poll. “They’re still practicing in a rec center. That’s not … ideal,” a WNBA player pointed out.
However, Marsh has a response ready for them, too. “I think that I don’t put too much [thought] into what that poll is. I mean that I think all you can do is show and prove. And I think that for us, you should talk to our players. I think that there are some who appreciate what we’ve got going on here and what the vision is moving forward. Again, it’s not anywhere near where we want it to be. But there is a vision in place that we want to get to and that we want to achieve.”
Back in June 2024, the Sky approved a $38 million practice facility, set for completion by December 2025. With that deadline just months away, one would think the facility would be in its final stages. Instead, the project has hit multiple delays. The Sky executives arrived to practice on Tuesday to reveal the designs of the facility. But the completion date? No new timeline was provided, with Marsh only insisting that “everything should be in motion before the start of next season.”
The problem? Practice facilities are no longer amenities; they’re necessities. The WNBA is booming more than ever, and with 2026 free-agency nearing, time is running out for the Chicago Sky. Many veteran players will be looking for new teams, and not seeing a proper training facility might hinder the roster plans of Chicago. Especially when your biggest star, Angel Reese, is demanding reinforcements.
Tyler Marsh claims everything is fine in the Chicago Sky despite a forgetful season
Ahead of the Connecticut game, Marsh claimed all is well in Chicago camp. “They enjoy being around each other. And I’ve said that time and time again throughout the year. And again, it’s hard to see that in the midst of what this season has been on the court. But I think that we’re as cohesive as can be, given a 9 and 30-record or whatever it is.” That was a necessary update for the Windy City after what’s happened around the team.
Reese was blunt in her recent interview with the Chicago Tribune: “I’m not satisfied with what we did this year. We need to get good players.” She also openly questioned veteran Courtney Vandersloot’s return to form after her ACL injury, considering her age. And cast doubt on Rachel Banham and Hailey Van Lith’s ability to carry a playoff-caliber team. Those words reportedly triggered a team meeting and talks about Reese’s uncertain future in Chicago.
The young forward, however, later revealed that she had apologized to her team, adding, “I think the language was taken out of context.”
Reese has been respectful of her teammates right for the season’s beginning– be it welcoming HVL, applauding Ariel Atkins for standing up, or wanting to shine the light on the whole roster. So maybe Marsh’s revelation is a balm on the wound for those who rooted for this roster all season long.
The post Tyler Marsh Reveals Plan Which Could Shatter Negative Chicago Sky Perception Echoed by Angel Reese appeared first on EssentiallySports.
Post a Comment