Latest news with #TylerMarsh
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
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Chicago Sky Coach Sends Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso Message
Chicago Sky Coach Sends Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso Message originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky improved to 2-4 in the 2025 WNBA season on Saturday after defeating the Dallas Wings. The 94 to 83 victory marked their second-straight win, and the Sky are now tied for fourth place in the Eastern Conference. Advertisement Veteran guard Ariel Atkins paced Chicago once again with 26 points, and Courtney Vandersloot added another 15. She also contributed seven assists and seven rebounds while committing zero turnovers. After scoring a career-high 23 points on Thursday, second-year forward Kamilla Cardoso only scored four points after being limited to 15 minutes due to foul trouble. Angel Reese added 14 points, nine rebounds and three steals in the win. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5).Chris Jones-Imagn Images New Sky head coach Tyler Marsh has now won back-to-back games for the first time in his young coaching career as well. He spoke to the media after Saturday's win about how effective the team's trio of post players has been. Marsh shouted out Reese and Elizabeth Williams in particular for filling the void left by Cardoso, who was benched with multiple fouls. Advertisement 'I thought Angel did a great job tonight, offensively and defensively, as well as E-Will picking up the minutes for Kamilla as she was in foul trouble,' Marsh said. 'Our posts have been great. They've been great at facilitating and finding the open person, they've been great at rebounding.' Williams scored eight points and grabbed three rebounds in 15 minutes of playing time in the win. Chicago also gave up a season-low 83 points to the Wings on Saturday, who were led by NaLyssa Smith's 20 points and DiJonai Carrington's 16. The Sky will not play again until June 7, when they take on the Indiana Fever in the 2025 WNBA Commissioner's Cup. It is unknown whether or not First-Team All-WNBA guard Caitlin Clark will be available for the Fever, but the Sky also have plenty of time to get healthy and avenge their 93 to 58 loss on opening day. Advertisement Related: Fans Upset After DiJonai Carrington's Punishment During Chicago Sky Game Related: WNBA Legend Candace Parker Turns Heads After Major Personal News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Angel Reese aims to expand her shot profile in Year 2 with Sky — while continuing to dominate the boards
Angel Reese aims to expand her shot profile in Year 2 with Sky — while continuing to dominate the boards CHICAGO — Two days into the Chicago Sky's training camp, Angel Reese still hadn't posted up. It was a distinct shift from Reese's prior function in Chicago, but the second-year forward knew it was coming. In the first week of camp, new coach Tyler Marsh is tackling one of the most important challenges of his system — how to create enough offensive balance for both of his frontcourt stars to succeed. Advertisement For Reese, that means adapting to a modified role that will tap into her full potential as a stretch-four. 'It's obviously a transition for me,' Reese told the Chicago Tribune. 'But I don't mind if it frees up Kamilla (Cardoso). I know eventually in the game, if I'm the first post down, I'm ducking in. I know it's going to come.' This doesn't mean Reese never will post up again. But Marsh understands if the Sky want to build an effective offense, they need to start by building out space in the half court. Last season they struggled to keep the offense from getting clogged in the paint. The Sky took the fewest 3-pointers in the league by far — 14.9 per game, more than three per game fewer than the next-closest team — allowing defenses to sag into the paint and throw numbers at the rookie frontcourt duo. And that led to one of the league's most stagnant offenses, with the lowest assist rate (63.9%) and second-worst offensive rating (97). Advertisement In the new-look offense, Reese still won't spend much time behind the 3-point arc. The guards will be the ones tasked with pulling defenses out toward the perimeter. But to meet the new spacing demands, Reese must change the way she navigates the area inside the arc by increasing her off-ball cuts and relocating relentlessly to keep the floor balanced. 'A huge point of emphasis for us has been how to maintain and create space, whether that's for the perimeter players or for the post players,' Marsh said. 'Once we've established that, we'll get to how we work them inside.' Marsh isn't asking for everything to change. Reese is the league's best rebounder and led the WNBA in second-chance points per game (4.1) as a rookie. If a shot is going up, the Sky always will want Reese to crash the boards. And her proficiency at creating shots at the rim — both rolling downhill off screens and with her back to the basket — remains a key weapon that Marsh will work to highlight in the new offense. Advertisement But both Marsh and Reese believe she is more than just a low-post scorer. This change isn't all about Cardoso, who certainly will benefit from a more spread-out offense. But so will Reese, who often was bludgeoned by double teams and help-side defense due to opponents' ability to compact the paint. And if Reese wants to build out her offensive profile, she knows she must add more versatility to her range. 'I'm still doing my post work, but I've got to come with more this year,' she said. 'I've got to be able to shoot the midrange shot, 10 to 15 feet, be able to shoot the 3, the 2 consistently. I work every day on it, so I've got to take the shots.' Reese may pull the trigger on a few more 3-pointers this season, but the change to her shot profile is mostly focused on getting her more midrange jump shots, both off the dribble and in catch-and-shoot situations. That's a shot she drilled relentlessly throughout the offseason, in both the Unrivaled league and her private training sessions. Advertisement Expanding Reese's shot profile will be a long-term project. She shot 39.1% from the field in her rookie season, a sizable deficit compared with forwards such as Alyssa Thomas (50.9%), Aaliyah Edwards (49%), NaLyssa Smith (48%) and Rickea Jackson (45.6%). And Reese's shooting suffered when she ventured away from the basket. In 34 games as a rookie, she took 233 of her 419 shots at the rim. She attempted only 80 jump shots while generating 272 of her 462 points (58.9%) off layups. Reese shot 28.7% on jump shots and 28.3% (17 of 60) outside the paint, including 18.8% (3 of 16) behind the arc. This raises a tough question: How does a young player improve her efficiency while simultaneously taking more shots outside her comfort zone? There's no clear answer. But Reese is ready to embrace the challenge. Advertisement 'What's the point of me working on it if I'm not going to take the shot?' she said. 'The best thing is just to have great teammates and coaches around you that put confidence in you. And I'm a pretty confident person, so I think it's going to be pretty easy.' Outside of shooting, the Sky's new system under Marsh will tap into a part of Reese's game she always has loved. Reese likes having the ball in her hands. She played point guard in AAU ball and defined herself as a wing when she entered college. Scouting reports from her years at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore described her as a stretch-four who offered a perimeter threat as a passer. Things changed at Maryland, where Reese molded herself into a more traditional forward role that continued after she transferred to LSU. But she still considers facilitation to be one of the strongest — and least utilized — aspects of her game. Advertisement That was clear in the debut season of Unrivaled, as Reese dished the ball eagerly and slung full-court passes to teammates in transition. For Reese, those moments highlighted an older version of her game that she hopes to bring back: 'I was just being the player I used to be.' Both Cardoso and Reese will be asked to facilitate more in the offense this season, aided by the presence of veteran point guard Courtney Vandersloot. For Reese, that means passing through the post and out of the elbow to initiate high-low sequences with Cardoso and feed the guards on the perimeter. And as the team's leading rebounder, her ability to initiate the offense in transition will be vital in creating a fast-paced style. 'I think that's going to be one of the keys for this team — the versatility,' Reese said. 'Being able to get the rebound and just push and create and make people have to guard us on every end of the court.' Advertisement This season may come with some growing pains for Reese. Improving her shot while taking different looks could make for a challenging first month, especially while she's also expected to lead the defense and dominate the boards. But if the Sky can maximize Reese's offensive potential? Well, that's the next step toward building this team into a playoff contender. ____
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Angel Reese's Decision During Chicago Sky's First Win Catches Attention
Angel Reese's Decision During Chicago Sky's First Win Catches Attention originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky improved to 1-4 during the 2025 WNBA season after Thursday's win against the Dallas Wings. Not only was this the first win of the season for the Sky, but the first of head coach Tyler Marsh's career. Advertisement It was a well-rounded effort for Chicago, with Kamilla Cardoso scoring 23 points, Ariel Atkins adding 17, and Courtney Vandersloot chipping in 13. Vandersloot also became the franchise's all-time leading scorer with 3,728 points. Clinging to a 95 to 92 lead with just 29 seconds left to play, the Chicago Sky put together an incredible possession that resulted in a made pull-up jump shot by Atkins. This put the Sky up by five points with just 16.3 seconds remaining. After Vandersloot came off the ball screen and hit Cardoso on the roll, Cardoso found Angel Reese open underneath the basket. Instead of going up for a shot, Reese gathered the ball and found Rebecca Allen in the corner, who ended up getting the game-clinching assist. Advertisement Fans were divided on what Reese should have done in that situation. Given that there was just seven seconds remaining on the shot clock, plenty of people responded to the play by saying that Reese should have taken the shot. "Angel should've took that but good ball movement," one fan responded. "This was a beautiful play for sure. But in reality, Angel gotta go straight up," another fan said. "Bro yall keep saying run some clock like the shot clock not still in play," a fan replied. "By time Angel gotta the ball it was 7 seconds left on the shot clock." Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5).Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images Reese still received a fair amount of praise for her decision to pass the ball out, however, as it ultimately led to a bucket that put the game out of reach. Advertisement "Nah angel didn't wanna mess up the game winning play which was smart," a fan replied. "Made the right pass." "She had two defenders in her face the second she touched the ball," one fan pointed out. "It was the right move." "There were FOUR opponents in the paint when AR had the ball," another fan added. "Kicking the ball out like this is going to end up giving her way more open looks." The Sky's next game is against the Dallas Wings once again, as the teams will complete a two-game series against each other. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. EST on Saturday. Related: DiJonai Carrington Had 8 Words for Paige Bueckers After Wings' Loss to Sky Related: Dallas Wings Announce Injury Update After Paige Bueckers News This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
DiJonai Carrington Had 8 Words for Paige Bueckers After Wings' Loss to Sky
DiJonai Carrington Had 8 Words for Paige Bueckers After Wings' Loss to Sky originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky earned their first win of the 2025 WNBA season on Thursday when they took down the Dallas Wings 97 to 92. This snapped a four-game losing streak and gave new Sky head coach Tyler Marsh his first career victory. Advertisement Kamilla Cardoso, a member of the 2024 All-Rookie team, scored a career-high 23 points, and veteran guard Ariel Atkins chipped in 17 for Chicago as well. For the Wings, Arike Ogunbowale poured in 37 points and added seven assists and rookie guard Paige Bueckers had 15 points and eight assists. Veteran wing DiJonai Carrington also chipped in 15 points and four rebounds in the loss. Dallas Wings guards Paige Bueckers (5) and DiJonai Carrington (21).David Butler II-Imagn Images During Thursday's contest, there seemed to be a dispute before a jump ball between the Sky's Rebecca Allen and the Wings' Teaira McCowan. Bueckers seemingly smoothed the air at the time, but her veteran teammate still poked fun at her. Advertisement DiJonai Carrington, who is in her fifth WNBA season and first with Dallas, posted on her Instagram story about the play. She made fun of Bueckers for trying to be a peacemaker in an intense part of the game. "nahhhhhh who died and left you in charge?!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂," Carrington wrote. Dallas Wings guard DiJonai Carrington posts on her Instagram / Instagram While the Wings are off to a brutal 1-5 start during the 2025 WNBA season, both Bueckers and Carrington have been major contributors. Bueckers is averaging 14.7 points, 6.7 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.0 steals per contest, while Carrington is chipping in 11.0 points and 3.5 rebounds. Chicago is led in scoring by Cardoso, Atkins and veteran guard Courtney Vandersloot, all of whom are averaging 11.4 points per game or more. 2024 WNBA All-Star Angel Reese is also contributing 9.2 points and a league-leading 13.0 rebounds per night. Advertisement The Sky are back in action on Saturday evening, as they will take on the Wings in Dallas to complete the two-game series. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST. Related: Dallas Wings Announce Injury Update After Paige Bueckers News Related: Chicago Sky Coach Makes Paige Bueckers Statement After Wings Game This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Chicago Sky Coach Faces Backlash for Angel Reese Decision Against Dallas Wings
Chicago Sky Coach Faces Backlash for Angel Reese Decision Against Dallas Wings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Chicago Sky secured their first win of the WNBA season on Thursday night after a sluggish 0-4 start, defeating the Dallas Wings 97-92. Advertisement Chicago played their most fluid game of the year, with contributions from multiple players. Kamilla Cardoso led the way with a career-high 23 points, while Ariel Atkins added 17 points, six assists, and five rebounds. Veteran Courtney Vandersloot, who recently became the all-time leading scorer in Sky franchise history, chipped in 13 points, nine assists, and five steals. One notable storyline was first-year Sky head coach Tyler Marsh's decision to play Angel Reese fewer minutes than three other starters. While the team secured a victory, many fans feel Reese is not being utilized to her full potential, as she is currently averaging just 9.2 points per game through the first five games of the season. Other fans have also reacted to Marsh's handling of Reese on Thursday night and throughout her second year in the WNBA. Advertisement "Angel Reese is quite literally the best rebounder in WNBA history and 'Tyler marsh' got her playing on the perimeter and getting zero touches like she's Deuce McBride," a fan said. Another fan posted, "I'm afraid Angel Reese is not in Tyler Marsh's plans or priority,he's got her there just setting screens..A5 Chicago sky is not your home gon head request that yourself & your development." Someone else added, "Tyler Marsh is such a bad coach for Angel and her development. The worse that they could've picked for her. I really feel for her." "Angel Reese sitting at just 19 minutes with 7:30 left in the game. In the two non-blowout games she played 32 and 34 minutes. Tyler Marsh appears to be, at least in this game, making the move to reduce her role," one more fan commented. Chicago Sky forward Angel Reese (5).Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images Reese continues to be a dominant force on the glass, averaging 13.0 rebounds per game, but it appears she's struggling to find her role in Marsh's offense alongside her teammates. Advertisement Last season, under Teresa Weatherspoon, Reese averaged 13.6 points, 13.1 rebounds, while shooting 39.1% from the field and 73.6% from the free-throw line. This season, her shooting has dipped to 31.3% from the field and 62.5% from the charity stripe. Related: Angel Reese's Behavior Toward Paige Bueckers Draws Attention After Chicago Sky's First Win This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
