Sky coach bluntly sends veiled message to Angel Reese after Chicago Sky’s first win of the season

After nearly two weeks of frustration, the Chicago Sky finally put a mark in the win column, defeating the Dallas Wings 97-92 on Thursday night. Kamilla Cardoso led the charge with a career-best 23 points, supported by Ariel Atkins, who chipped in 17.  The victory ended a four-game losing streak and gave the Sky their first win of the 2025 season.  Still, the relief was short-lived in the eyes of head coach Tyler Marsh, who kept expectations grounded in his post-game remarks.  With both teams entering the matchup carrying 1-4 and 0-4 records respectively, few expected fireworks at Wintrust Arena.

Angel Reese was temporarily pulled from the game in the fourth quarter

Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh has addressed Angel Reese being pulled in the fourth quarter of Thursday’s 97-92 win over the Dallas Wings.
It’s been a poor start to the season for the Sky, and Reese has faced criticism. Some accuse her of being distracted despite reaching 500+ rebounds and 500+ WNBA points the quickest in league history. During the Sky’s first win on the 2025 season, Reese scored just six points while registering nine rebounds and five assists in 25 minutes.

But the Sky, playing with urgency, overcame Dallas’ strong 51.4% shooting night with smart passing, aggressive rebounding, and crucial three-point conversions.  Despite being outshot in nearly every metric, Chicago found ways to gain an edge-especially on the offensive glass, where they grabbed 14 second-chance boards compared to nine for Dallas.   Even with the win, Marsh was blunt in his evaluation.

“A lot better than the first four… Oh, I think we’re a long ways away from a complete identity. I think we’re making steps towards it. I think we’ve gotten better each game, one through five. And so now it’s about how we progress over the next five. But we’re a long way away from a complete identity.”

Angel Reese and Cardoso key to Chicago’s slow rebuild

The Sky’s rough start under Marsh has fallen short of preseason expectations. After joining with a mandate to foster elite talent and establish a playoff-caliber identity, the team sits near the bottom of the league in most key metrics.   Their -60 point differential after two games was the worst in the WNBA, and their shooting percentages-40.9% overall and 31.1% from beyond the arc-rank in the bottom tier.  When Marsh arrived, he emphasized shooting and versatility. The 14.9 made threes per game last season weren’t enough, and he sought to push players like Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso to evolve their offensive roles.  “We want them to be effective in different phases of the game whilst also still highlighting the strengths of what they do,” he said when he joined.

While the growth has been gradual, there are signs of momentum. The Sky scored 89 points against the Phoenix Mercury and topped that with 97 against Dallas.  Ball movement has improved, as evidenced by consecutive games with 25+ assists. Defensively, they’re starting to control the boards, as seen in their 42-30 rebounding advantage against the Wings.  Angel Reese, in particular, has been dominant on the glass, averaging double-digit rebounds across her last four games. Her energy and consistency have stabilized the frontcourt and complemented Cardoso’s emerging scoring.

Still, the road ahead remains steep. Marsh’s call for patience reflects the growing pains of a team in transition. But with Reese, Cardoso, and Atkins showing glimpses of chemistry, and veterans like Courtney Vandersloot offering experience, there’s reason to believe Chicago’s identity may yet take shape.   Their rematch against the Wings will be a true measure of whether this first win was a breakthrough or just a brief pause in a difficult season.