When Tyler Marsh took over as the rookie head coach for the Chicago Sky, he didn’t just get a new job; he got Angel Reese. Straight up, one of the most exciting young players in the league. And from the jump, Marsh had big plans for her. “There’s no limit… We want her to be dynamic. We want her to be able to score inside,” he declared in a preseason interview posted by the team. And why not? This is Chi-Town Barbie we’re talking about. The rebounding queen, who is coming off a historic rookie season that turned heads across the league. But as the 2025 season tipped off, the numbers told a different story. Her scoring efficiency went down while her turnover rate jumped. So, was the sophomore slump real? Turns out, not so much, as the Sky’s sensation has finally understood the assignment!
It all came up as the Chicago Sky took a crucial win by taking down the Connecticut Sun to improve to 3-7 and move a rank above them in the league standings. All thanks to the incredible performance by Reese, who dropped her first career triple-double to help the team cruise to a 78-66 win. She had 11 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, with three steals and two blocks in just 36 minutes of action. While all of her stats remain outstanding, the standout remains her rebounds, as she grabbed 13 out of the team’s 38. And if that performance wasn’t enough proof that Reese is back in her usual form, then she herself puts it better.
“(I’m) trying to get back to being super versatile,” Reese said in a post-game press conference. “And (coach Marsh) made that emphasis early on in the season. And I didn’t understand it, and I really was kinda confused and trying to figure it out. I’m still figuring it out. But I have patience”. Seems like the 23-year-old made sure to give Marsh his due credit, as it’s his inspiration she’s putting to work. And it was much required, too, considering all the flak Marsh has been receiving.
But yes, as the Maryland native admitted, being versatile initially left her confused – and that makes sense. In one of the earlier games against the New York Liberty, she shot 0-of-8 from the field and scored just 2 points, which is her lowest output in her WNBA career. And if you think that was a one-off, it wasn’t. She found herself in a similar situation again against the Indiana Fever, finishing with just 4 points on 2-of-7 shooting.
Still and all, no need to be worried, this game against the Sun gave every Sky enthusiast a much-needed confidence boost. Also, it is not like Reese will stop here. She has made it very clear that she doesn’t wish to live in a castle of roses without thorns. “I was a passer, and I could’ve been a passer all my career,” Reese said after the game. “Like I came out of high school as the No. 1 wing and I’m trying to get back to that. Trying to get back to being super-versatile. And [coach] Tyler [Marsh] made that emphasis early on in the season.”
So yes, Marsh’s vision is finally starting to click. The Sky notched their third win with Hailey Van Lith pouring in 16 points off the bench, while both Angel Reese and Kia Nurse chipped in 11 apiece. That’s exactly how Reese and company padded the win column. And considering how this team ranks near the bottom offensively, averaging only about 76 points per game this season, it is a strong showing regardless. But here’s the question: Is helping deliver a victory over the Connecticut Sun enough for Angel Reese?
The Chicago Sky has set bigger goals for Reese!
When the Sky were thrashed by the Atlanta Dream, GM Jeff Pagliocca didn’t mince words about Angel Reese. Chicago was off to a rough 2-7 start under rookie head coach Tyler Marsh, and Pagliocca admitted he was disappointed, especially since the front office brought in veterans to bolster the roster, and emphasized that it’s high time for Reese to step up.
She’s had flashes of that rookie-year dominance, but the Sky wants it to be more than occasional. They need Angel Reese rolling at full efficiency more consistently. It’s not just about crashing the boards anymore – she’s being asked to stretch the floor, create plays, and lead. And in this last win over the Connecticut Sun, she actually delivered. She showed that she can do more than is asked of her. But the key word here is “consistently.” Today was good, but tomorrow, they want more of the same, and the day after tomorrow, they want something better.
As Jeff Pagliocca had said then, “She’s had some great games, and she’s had some games like everybody else that haven’t been her best…But she’s our best chance at versatility on this roster. We need more production out of her, but we need her to help us in other ways, too.” And to be honest, he’s right.
The Sky clearly needs more offensive output, and they’re counting on Reese’s versatility to help fill the gap left by Courtney Vandersloot’s season-ending injury. Now, the team is preparing to face the Washington Mystics for the first time this season. While the Sky stands at 3-7, the Mystics are 4-7 in the league. ESPN predicts the Sky to win, considering their rebounding edge, but who do you think will come out on top?
The post Angel Reese Opens Up On Struggles With Coach’s Rules Before Historic Chicago Sky Night appeared first on EssentiallySports.