The Chicago Sky brought in young head coach Tyler Marsh in the offseason hoping a fresh approach could bring the best out of second-year forward Angel Reese and a talented group of players. Marsh’s philosophy took some time to implement with the Sky losing their first four regular season games, but the tide seems to be turning in their favor.
Sunday’s 78-66 win over the Connecticut Sun at the Mohegan Sun Arena provided a big boost for Reese and her teammates. The victory gave the Sky their third win of their season and broke a three-game losing streak.
Hailey Van Lith, Ariel Atkins, Kia Nurse and Kamilla Cardoso all had big games, but it was a dominant triple-double display from Reese that stole the headlines and provided some much-needed optimism for a team that has struggled early in the season.
Reese was outstanding on the night, finishing with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists to record the first-ever triple-double of her young career. She also logged three steals and two blocks.
Angel Reese Credits New Head Coach Tyler Marsh for Fine-Tuning Her Game
Recall that Reese was one of the top-rated high school recruits in the nation coming out of St. Frances Academy in Maryland. Her physique, athleticism, and skills made her a threat on both ends of the court. At the University of Maryland and Louisiana State University, Reese rose to prominence, becoming one of the most complete players in the nation.
Last year, Reese made a name for herself as one of the WNBA’s top rebounders, averaging 13.1 rebounds per game. This season, the 23-year-old is proving that she can offer so much more in Marsh’s new-look system.
Following her memorable game against the Sun, Reese spoke about her range, versatility, and her new role under Marsh.
“I’ve kind of been a passer all my career,” said Reese. “I came out of high school as the No. 1 wing and trying to get back to that, trying to get back to being super versatile. Tyler made that emphasis early on in the season. I didn’t understand it. I’m still figuring it out but I have patience obviously. Tonight it came up big.”
It’s no secret that Reese spent plenty of time in the gym during the offseason working on her game, and keeping an open mind is paying off for the rising star.
“I just want to be unstoppable,” she added. “I want to be to a point where it’s hard to guard because they have to guard the pass, they have to guard the shot … some of the best players in the world, if their shot is not falling, they find other ways to get the team together and stay involved.”
Marsh’s system is starting to pay dividends, especially with how it’s empowered Reese to impact the game beyond scoring.
Through 10 games, the 6’3″ forward leads the Sky in both minutes (29.7) and rebounds (11.9) while averaging 10.4 points, 3.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 0.4 blocks per game. As her confidence grows within Marsh’s system, so does the belief that the Sky may be turning a corner.