The last time Cheryl Reeve and the Minnesota Lynx faced off against the Chicago Sky, they practically ran them off the court. Sky head coach Tyler Marsh summed it up bluntly: “When you look at the box score, we won a lot of areas in this game. Where we got hurt was in transition.” But the Sky stuck to the basics. They trusted the process, kept the receipts, and today, they cashed in. Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, the Chicago Skyscrapers, combined for an electric 36pt, 26reb frontcourt performance as Ariel Atkins exploded for 27 points.
But make no mistake, this win didn’t come easy. The Napheesa Collier-led Minnesota Lynx are no joke. They’re sitting atop the Western Conference with a stellar 18-4 record, and their star player is a bona fide MVP candidate. And their defense? It’s something out of this world. This game was no exception, with Alanna Smith racking up six steals and Collier swatting away three shots. However, all the credit doesn’t necessarily belong to the Lynx.
After all, Chicago played very loosely in the second half. A tweet by reporter Karli Bell pointed out the turning point in the game and where exactly Tyler Marsh’s team went wrong. “Sky had 7 turnovers in the 3Q after having just 7 in the entire first half. Minnesota got real pesky defensively and created some chaos to help chip into the Sky’s lead.” She said on X, bringing the Sky’s major red flag to light.
Sky had 7 turnovers in the 3Q after having just 7 in the entire first half.
Minnesota got real pesky defensively and created some chaos to help chip into the Sky’s lead.
Biggest test for Chicago is right now: can they close out the game and not let go of the lead?
— Karli Bell (@KarliBell33) July 12, 2025
The Sky recorded an unfortunate 19 turnovers in the game, and 6 of them belonged to sophomore sensation Angel Reese. Even though her performance today was efficient, disciplined, and very impactful. Still, the 6-foot-3 forward handed the Lynx more opportunities than she’d like. Considering that Chicago won 87-81, even after conceding 16 points off turnovers alone, it was still a major victory.
Also, it wasn’t the first time Chicago came close to beating Minnesota. Earlier this week, the Lynx ended up snagging a five-point victory over Angel Reese and company. A large factor behind that win? The whistle that just wouldn’t blow. Reese’s team barely reached the free-throw line, and the refs? They flat-out said it wasn’t their job. And history looked like it was about to repeat itself today, as there were some serious no-calls for the Sky, while the Lynx were getting just about anything they wanted. Surprisingly enough, Chicago HC Tyler Marsh made a scene about the officiating, earning questions and praise alike from the WNBA community.
Fans react to Tyler Marsh’s immense frustration during Angel Reese and Chicago’s monumental performance
Let’s be real, the Chicago Sky head coach isn’t the most liked person out there. Marsh has been criticized for his coaching style and his leadership as the HC. There has been no aggression, no desperate desire to win, and the tactics he used at times? They rubbed a lot of fans the wrong way. He also caught a lot of flak for the times he benched Angel Reese at crucial moments, leading to tough situations. However, this time around? Tyler Marsh was not taking the shoddy officiating lying down!
The Chicago Sky HC was seen making a scene in front of the game officials – yelling, cursing, calling them out! And as expected, social media went crazy. “Tyler Marsh of all people having to be nearly restrained is hilarious to me. Mans was heated.” A fan on X said, pointing out the hyper behavior of the head coach. And honestly? Better hyper and reactive than soft and docile. Another fan agreed with the thought, asking a gleeful question through their tweet. “Who is this Tyler Marsh? I’m so unfamiliar with this version of the man.”
Chicago has been getting buried in no-calls for the last few games. Angel Reese even spoke up about it after the last Lynx game. “I don’t give a damn if I get fined because that sh– cheap and I’m tired of this sh–,” Reese said after only getting two free-throw attempts in the entire game! As a post player and someone who takes a whole lot of contact in the paint, it simply does not make sense.
May 22, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh directs his team against the New York Liberty during the first half at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images
Fans agree, obviously. “Tyler Marsh is getting real tired of these refs lately he’s been letting them have it these last few games, and you know what……Hell yeah, because that whistle has been real nasty……..,” one fan said, appreciating the vigor and the aggression shown by Marsh. It was a common sentiment amongst Chicago supporters. “I’ve never seen Tyler Marsh this fired up at the refs, let’s go.” Another fan said.
Moreover, his coaching ideologies are beginning to gain some traction as well! Angel Reese has been on a historic run these past few games, putting up an 8-game double-double streak. Not only that, her assist numbers have been steadily going up, drawing comparisons to former NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. And all of this is happening under Marsh’s purview. A supporter said it best. “Angel Reese not only improving but being able to show off other facets of her game underneath the coaching/leadership of Tyler Marsh needs to be acknowledged,” they tweeted, calling for more appreciation for the Chicago head coach.
It will be interesting to see where the Chicago Sky and Tyler Marsh go from here. They might’ve won this battle, but they face Cheryl Reeve’s team again on Monday, and this time? The Lynx will be gunning for their heads. Can Angel Reese and her squad hold off Napheesa Collier and the Minnesota Lynx? Only time will tell.
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