Most WNBA teams changed head coaches: let’s get to know the new hires
The Fever, Sun, Mystics, Wings, Dream, Sky, Sparks, and Valkyries all hired new head coaches this WNBA offseason.
It’s been an offseason of dramatic change in the WNBA coaching landscape.
Seven head coaches departed the organization they previously led, and eight new head coach hirings were made. None of the head coaches who were fired were rehired as head coaches elsewhere.
Three of the new head coaches — Karl Smesko (Dream), Lynne Roberts (Sparks), and Chris Koclanes (Wings) — are coming directly from college.
Three coaches are fresh off of stints as WNBA assistant coaches — Tyler Marsh (Sky), Natalie Nakase (Valkyries), and Sydney Johnson (Wings).
One — Rachid Meziane — hails from overseas basketball.
Is your head spinning yet? SB Nation rounded up all the coaching changes that were made this offseason — here’s everything you need to know.
Atlanta Dream — fired Tanisha Wright, hired Karl Smesko
No general manager change: Dan Padover returns for his fourth season as head coach.
Karla Smesko has served as the head coach of FGCU’s women’s basketball team since 2002. In that time, he established the team as one of the most consistent mid-major programs in the country. He has the third-highest winning percentage (.845) among active head coaches in NCAA Division I women’s basketball (trailing only UConn’s Geno Auriemma and LSU’s Kim Mulkey).
And, he has the stamp of approval from his colleagues; in The Athletic’s anonymous coaches poll, he was named the best X’s and O’s practitioners for two consecutive seasons.
“I want this to be a fun, exciting style to watch, and I want it to be fun and enjoyable for our players,” said Smesko in his opening press conference. “I believe in pushing the ball, getting up and down the court, obviously known for utilizing the three-point shot, creating a lot of space, attacking the rim, and playing together and sharing the ball.”
Chicago Sky — fired Teresa Weatherspoon, hired Tyler Marsh
No general manager change: Jeff Pagliocca returns after two years as general manager.
Tyler Marsh is the Chicago Sky’s next head coach. Marsh, most recently an assistant coach on the Las Vegas Aces, has s coached men’s college basketball, in the G-League, and in the NBA prior to joining Becky Hammon’s staff in Las Vegas.
Marsh was a player development coach on the Toronto Raptors who won the 2019 NBA championships and subsequently spent two seasons in player development with the Indiana Pacers, from 2020 to 2022. He made his transition to the WNBA in 2022, leading the player development efforts of Las Vegas Aces from 2022 to 2024. He helped lead the Aces to back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023, and is most well-known for helping elevate the game of Jackie Young, one of the Aces’ Olympic guards, who went from being a relatively inconsistent shooter to a knockdown threat.
“The championship teams that I’ve that I’ve been a part of have an elite level of professionalism, an elite level of selflessness and accountability,” Marsh said in his first press conference. “That’s how we want to be here.”
Connecticut Sun — Stephanie White left, hired Rachid Meziane
General manager change: The Sun promoted Morgan Tuck to be the next general manager, while former GM Darius Taylor will now lead scouting.
Rachid Meziane currently serves as head coach of Villeneuve-d’Ascq, a French club that was the EuroLeague runner-up winners in each of the last two seasons. He also coaches the Belgian women’s national team which came in fourth place at the 2024 Paris Olympics. That veteran experience coaching high-level, big-game basketball could prove to be helpful down the stretch as the franchise pursues a first-ever championship.
“He’s such a nice guy — just super laid back and chill,” said Sun general manager Morgan Tuck.
Dallas Wings — fired Latricia Trammell, hired Chris Koclanes
General manager change: The Wings hired ex-Sparks coach Curt Miller as their new general manager.
Chris Koclanes, a current assistant at USC, will be the Dallas Wing’s next head coach. He was Miller’s longtime defensive coordinator, both with the Los Angeles Sparks (2023) and Connecticut Sun (2016-2022). The Sparks had the league’s third-best defense under Koclanes, while the Sun consistently finished in the top three.
“Throughout our extensive search and interview process, Chris continued to rise to the top and check the boxes of our important pillars,” Miller said in an official press release. “He is a servant leader who places a high value on connection, collaboration, and a positive and consistent communication style with all those he coaches. Chris is a fantastic teacher of the game and has an outstanding basketball IQ. He is committed to player development and has a forward-thinking and innovative mind for the game. He is a tireless worker with a foundation built through preparation.”
Golden State Valkyries — hired Natalie Nakase as first coach
General manager change: The Valkyries hired Ohemaa Nyanin as their first general manager.
Natalie Nakase will serve as the Golden State Valkyries’ inaugural head coach. Nakase spent 10 years coaching in the NBA before joining head coach Becky Hammon’s staff with the Las Vegas Aces ahead of the 2022 WNBA season. She became the first Asian-American coach to win a WNBA title, and helped lead Las Vegas to back-to-back championships.
Las Vegas Aces — Becky Hammon returns as head coach
General manager change: The Aces fired general manager Natalie Williams in October, but have yet to announce a new hire.
The Aces’ top two assistants, Natalie Nakase and Tyler Marsh, both depart for head coaching positions. The Aces hired Ty Ellis and Larry Lewis as assistant coaches in their place.
Los Angeles Sparks — fired Curt Miller, hired Lynne Roberts
No general manager change: Raegen Scott Pebley returns for a second season as general manager.
The Sparks have found their new head coach: Lynne Roberts, a seasoned Division I coach with 27 seasons of collegiate women’s basketball experience. Roberts was the head coach of the University of Utah for the past 9 seasons, where she led the team to three consecutive NCAA tournament berths and oversaw the development of Alissa Pilli. Prior to that, she coached at Chico State and Pacific. She is well-known known for utilizing three-pointers and prioritizing efficiency
Indiana Fever — fired Christie Sides, hired Stephanie White
General manager change: Amber Cox hired as the Fever’s new general manager, while former GM Linn Dunn will move to a senior adviser role.
Stephanie White joins the Fever after two seasons as head coach of the Connecticut Sun, and after an illustrious playing and coaching career in Indiana. White, who grew up in West Lebanon, Indiana, played for the Fever from 2000 to 2004, and was an assistant coach from 2011 to 2014.
“First and foremost, it’s home,” White said to ESPN’s Malika Andrews when asked what drew her to the position. “This is a franchise, the Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, that’s in my DNA. Grew up in Indiana, played in Indiana, played with the franchise, of course, was a part of the franchise when we won the WNBA championship.”
Minnesota Lynx — Cheryl Reeve returns as head coach
General manager change: Former GM Clare Duwelius left to become the general manager of the Unrivaled Basketball League. The Lynx also hired ex-Mystics coach Eric Thibault and franchise legend Lindsay Whalen as assistants.
New York Liberty — Sandy Brondello returns as head coach
Phoenix Mercury — Nate Tibbetts returns as head coach
No general manager change: Nick U’Ren returns for third season as general manager.
Washington Mystics — fired Eric Thibault, hired Sydney Johnson
General manager change: The Mystics parted ways with general manager Mike Thibault and hired Jamila Wideman. Wideman spent the last six seasons in the NBA league office and was the No. 3 overall pick in the first WNBA draft.
The Washington Mystics have hired former Chicago Sky assistant Sydney Johnson as coach.
Seattle Storm — Noelle Quinn returns as head coach
No general manager: Talisa Rhea returns as general manager.