Most WNBA groups modified head coaches: let’s get to know the brand new hires

It’s been an offseason of dramatic change within the WNBA teaching panorama.

Seven head coaches departed the group they beforehand led, and eight new head coach hirings have been made. Not one of the head coaches who have been fired have been rehired as head coaches elsewhere.

Three of the brand new head coaches — Karl Smesko (Dream), Lynne Roberts (Sparks), and Chris Koclanes (Wings) — are coming instantly from faculty.

Three coaches are recent off of stints as WNBA assistant coaches — Tyler Marsh (Sky), Natalie Nakase (Valkyries), and Sydney Johnson (Wings).

One — Rachid Meziane — hails from abroad basketball.

Is your head spinning but? SB Nation rounded up all of the teaching modifications that have been made this offseason — right here’s the whole lot you have to know.

Atlanta Dream — fired Tanisha Wright, employed Karl Smesko

Photograph by Adam Hagy/NBAE through Getty Photographs

No common supervisor change: Dan Padover returns for his fourth season as head coach.

Karla Smesko has served as the pinnacle coach of FGCU’s girls’s basketball workforce since 2002. In that point, he established the workforce as probably the most constant mid-major applications within the nation. He has the third-highest successful share (.845) amongst lively head coaches in NCAA Division I girls’s basketball (trailing solely UConn’s Geno Auriemma and LSU’s Kim Mulkey).

And, he has the stamp of approval from his colleagues; in The Athletic’s nameless coaches ballot, he was named the very best X’s and O’s practitioners for 2 consecutive seasons.

“I need this to be a enjoyable, thrilling fashion to observe, and I need it to be enjoyable and gratifying for our gamers,” stated Smesko in his opening press convention. “I imagine in pushing the ball, getting up and down the court docket, clearly identified for using the three-point shot, creating plenty of house, attacking the rim, and enjoying collectively and sharing the ball.”

Chicago Sky — fired Teresa Weatherspoon, employed Tyler Marsh

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No common supervisor change: Jeff Pagliocca returns after two years as common supervisor.

Tyler Marsh is the Chicago Sky’s subsequent head coach. Marsh, most just lately an assistant coach on the Las Vegas Aces, has s coached males’s faculty basketball, within the G-League, and within the NBA previous to becoming a member of Becky Hammon’s workers in Las Vegas.

Marsh was a participant improvement coach on the Toronto Raptors who received the 2019 NBA championships and subsequently spent two seasons in participant improvement with the Indiana Pacers, from 2020 to 2022. He made his transition to the WNBA in 2022, main the participant improvement 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 serving to elevate the sport of Jackie Younger, one of many Aces’ Olympic guards, who went from being a comparatively inconsistent shooter to a knockdown risk.

“The championship groups that I’ve that I’ve been part of have an elite stage of professionalism, an elite stage of selflessness and accountability,” Marsh stated in his first press convention. “That’s how we wish to be right here.”

Connecticut Solar — Stephanie White left, employed Rachid Meziane

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Basic supervisor change: The Solar promoted Morgan Tuck to be the subsequent common supervisor, whereas former GM Darius Taylor will now lead scouting.

Rachid Meziane at the moment serves as head coach of Villeneuve-d’Ascq, a French membership that was the EuroLeague runner-up winners in every of the final two seasons. He additionally coaches the Belgian girls’s nationwide workforce which got here in fourth place on the 2024 Paris Olympics. That veteran expertise teaching high-level, big-game basketball might show to be useful down the stretch because the franchise pursues a first-ever championship.

“He’s such a pleasant man — simply tremendous laid again and chill,” stated Solar common supervisor Morgan Tuck.

Dallas Wings — fired Latricia Trammell, employed Chris Koclanes

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Basic supervisor change: The Wings employed ex-Sparks coach Curt Miller as their new common supervisor.

Chris Koclanes, a present assistant at USC, would be the Dallas Wing’s subsequent head coach. He was Miller’s longtime defensive coordinator, each with the Los Angeles Sparks (2023) and Connecticut Solar (2016-2022). The Sparks had the league’s third-best protection beneath Koclanes, whereas the Solar constantly completed within the high three.

“All through our in depth search and interview course of, Chris continued to rise to the highest and verify the bins of our vital pillars,” Miller stated in an official press launch. “He’s a servant chief who locations a excessive worth on connection, collaboration, and a optimistic and constant communication fashion with all these he coaches. Chris is a unbelievable trainer of the sport and has an impressive basketball IQ. He’s dedicated to participant improvement and has a forward-thinking and modern thoughts for the sport. He’s a tireless employee with a basis constructed by way of preparation.”

Golden State Valkyries — employed Natalie Nakase as first coach

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Basic supervisor change: The Valkyries employed Ohemaa Nyanin as their first common supervisor.

Natalie Nakase will function the Golden State Valkyries’ inaugural head coach. Nakase spent 10 years teaching within the NBA earlier than becoming a member of head coach Becky Hammon’s workers with the Las Vegas Aces forward of the 2022 WNBA season. She grew to become the primary 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

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Basic supervisor change: The Aces fired common supervisor Natalie Williams in October, however have but to announce a brand new rent.

The Aces’ high two assistants, Natalie Nakase and Tyler Marsh, each depart for head teaching positions. The Aces employed Ty Ellis and Larry Lewis as assistant coaches of their place.

Los Angeles Sparks — fired Curt Miller, employed Lynne Roberts

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No common supervisor change: Raegen Scott Pebley returns for a second season as common supervisor.

The Sparks have discovered their new head coach: Lynne Roberts, a seasoned Division I coach with 27 seasons of collegiate girls’s basketball expertise. Roberts was the pinnacle coach of the College of Utah for the previous 9 seasons, the place she led the workforce to a few consecutive NCAA event berths and oversaw the event of Alissa Pilli. Previous to that, she coached at Chico State and Pacific. She is well-known identified for using three-pointers and prioritizing effectivity

Indiana Fever — fired Christie Sides, employed Stephanie White

Photograph by Ron Hoskins/NBAE through Getty Photographs

Basic supervisor change: Amber Cox employed because the Fever’s new common supervisor, whereas former GM Linn Dunn will transfer to a senior adviser function.

Stephanie White joins the Fever after two seasons as head coach of the Connecticut Solar, and after an illustrious enjoying and training profession in Indiana. White, who grew up in West Lebanon, Indiana, performed for the Fever from 2000 to 2004, and was an assistant coach from 2011 to 2014.

“Initially, it’s dwelling,” White stated to ESPN’s Malika Andrews when requested what drew her to the place. “This can be a franchise, the Indiana Fever, Indiana Pacers, that’s in my DNA. Grew up in Indiana, performed in Indiana, performed with the franchise, after all, was part of the franchise once we received the WNBA championship.”

Minnesota Lynx — Cheryl Reeve returns as head coach

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Basic supervisor change: Former GM Clare Duwelius left to change into the final supervisor of the Unequalled Basketball League. The Lynx additionally employed ex-Mystics coach Eric Thibault and franchise legend Lindsay Whalen as assistants.

New York Liberty — Sandy Brondello returns as head coach

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Phoenix Mercury — Nate Tibbetts returns as head coach

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No common supervisor change: Nick U’Ren returns for third season as common supervisor.

Washington Mystics — fired Eric Thibault, employed Sydney Johnson

Basic supervisor change: The Mystics parted methods with common supervisor Mike Thibault and employed Jamila Wideman. Wideman spent the final six seasons within the NBA league workplace and was the No. 3 general decide within the first WNBA draft.

The Washington Mystics have employed former Chicago Sky assistant Sydney Johnson as coach.

Seattle Storm — Noelle Quinn returns as head coach

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No common supervisor: Talisa Rhea returns as common supervisor.