Most WNBA teams changed head coaches: let’s get to know the new hires

It was an offseason that changed dramatically. WNBA Coaching scenery.

Seven head coaches have left their previous organizations, and eight new head coaches have been hired. None of the fired head coaches were rehired as head coaches elsewhere.

Three of the new head coaches are college graduates: Carl Smesko (Dream), Lynn Roberts (Sparks), and Chris Koknes (Wings).

Three coaches, Tyler Marsh (Sky), Natalie Nakase (Valkyries) and Sidney Johnson (Wings), recently completed stints as assistant coaches in the WNBA.

One of them, Rashid Mejian, comes from an overseas basketball background.

Is your head spinning yet? SB Nation has compiled all the coaching changes made this offseason. Here's everything you need to know.

atlanta dream — Fired Tanisha Wright and hired Carl Smesko

No change in general manager: Dan Padover returns for his fourth season as head coach.

Carla Smesko has been the head coach of the FGCU women's basketball team since 2002. During 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 (only runner-up) university universitywith Geno Auriemma of LSUKim Mulkey).

And he has the support of his colleagues as well. at the athletics anonymous coach survey; He was named Best X and O Practitioner for two consecutive seasons.

“I want the style to be fun and exciting to watch, and I want it to be fun and enjoyable for the players,” Smesko said at the opening press conference. “I'm known for pushing the ball, getting up and down the court, obviously utilizing the three-point shot, creating a lot of space, attacking the rim, and playing together. I believe in sharing the ball.”

chicago sky — Fired Teresa Weatherspoon and hired Tyler Marsh

Photo by Randy Belice/NBAE, Getty Images

No change in general manager: Jeff Pagliocca returns after two years as general manager.

Tyler Marsh is the next head coach of the Chicago Sky. Marsh was most recently an assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces and coached in men's college basketball, the G League and the NBA before joining Becky Hammon's staff in Las Vegas.

Marsh was a player development coach. toronto raptors He won the 2019 NBA Championship and then spent two seasons developing players with the Indiana Pacers from 2020 to 2022. WNBA He is best known for leading the Aces to back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023 and elevating Jackie Young's game. A member of Ace's Olympic Guard, he has grown from a relatively unstable shooter to a knockdown threat.

“The championship teams I've been on have an elite level of professionalism, an elite level of selflessness and responsibility,” Marsh said in his first press conference. “That’s how we want to be here.”

san, connecticut — Stephanie White retires, hires Rashid Mejian

Photo credit: Elsa/Getty Images

Change of manager: The Sun has promoted Morgan Tuck to be the next general manager, and former GM Darius Taylor will lead the scouting department.

Rachid Meziane is currently the head coach. Villeneuve d'AscqThe French club has been EuroLeague runners-up in each of the past two seasons. he also Belgium women's national team He placed 4th at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The veteran's experience coaching high-level, big-game basketball could prove helpful as the franchise pursues its first-ever championship.

“He's a very nice guy. He's very laid-back and relaxed,” Sun general manager Morgan Tuck said.

dallas wings — Fired Latricia Trammell and hired Chris Cocranes

Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire, Getty Images

Change of manager: The Wings have hired former Sparks coach Curt Miller as their new general manager.

Chris Cochrans, currently an assistant at USC, will be the Dallas Wings' next head coach. He was Miller's longtime defensive coordinator with both the Los Angeles Sparks (2023) and Connecticut Sun (2016-2022). The Sparks had the league's third-best defense under Cocranes, but the Sun consistently finished in the top three.

“Through an extensive search and interview process, Chris continued to rise to the top and continue to check off our key pillars,” Miller said in a statement. press release. “He is a servant leader who values ​​connection, collaboration, and a positive and consistent communication style with everyone he coaches. Chris is a great teacher of the game and has a great basketball IQ. . He is committed to player development and has a positive and innovative mindset for the game. He is a tireless worker who has built his foundation through preparation.”

golden state valkyries — Hiring Natalie Nakase as first coach

Photo by Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

Change of manager: The Valkyries hired Ohemaa Nyanin as their first general manager.

Natalie Nakase will be the first head coach of the Golden State Valkyries. Nakase coached in the NBA for 10 years before joining Las Vegas Aces head coach Becky Hammon's staff for the 2022 WNBA season. She became the first Asian American coach to win a WNBA title and led Las Vegas to back-to-back titles.

Las Vegas Aces — Becky Hammon returns as head coach

Photo by Barry Gossage/NBAE, Getty Images

Change of manager: The Aces fired general manager Natalie Williams in October but have not yet announced a new hire.

The Aces' top two assistants, Natalie Nakase and Tyler Marsh, will take on the head coaching position. The Aces instead hired Ty Ellis and Larry Lewis as assistant coaches.

los angeles sparks — Fired Kurt Miller and hired Lynn Roberts

Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images

No change in general manager: Ragen Scott Pebley returns for his second season as general manager.

The Sparks have found a new head coach. Lynn Roberts is a veteran Division I coach with 27 seasons of experience in women's college basketball. Roberts has been the head coach at the University of Utah for the past nine seasons, leading the team to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and overseeing the development of Alyssa Pirri. Prior to that, he was a coach at Chico State and Pacific. She is well known for utilizing the 3-pointer and prioritizing efficiency.

indiana fever — Fired Christy Sides and hired Stephanie White

Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE, Getty Images

Change of manager: Amber Cox has been hired as the Fever's new general manager, with former GM Lin Dan moving into a senior advisory role.

Stephanie White joins the Fever after spending two seasons as the head coach of the Connecticut Sun and a stellar player and coaching career at Indiana. White, who grew up in West Lebanon, Indiana, played for the Fever from 2000 to 2004 and served as an assistant coach from 2011 to 2014.

When asked by ESPN's Marika Andrews what appealed to him about the position, White said, “First and foremost, this is home.” “This is the franchise, the Indiana Fever, the Indiana Pacers, and that's in my DNA. Growing up in Indiana, playing in Indiana, playing for the franchise and of course winning the WNBA Championship. was also part of the franchise.

minnesota lynx — Cheryl Reeve returns as head coach

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Change of manager: Former GM Claire Duwellius has left the company to become general manager of the Unrivaled Basketball League. The Lynx also hired former 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

Photo by: Melissa Tamez/Icon Sportswire, Getty Images

No change in general manager: Nick Woolen returns for his third season as general manager.

washington mystics — Fired Eric Thibault and hired Sidney Johnson

Change of manager: The Mystics parted ways with general manager Mike Thibault and hired Jamila Weidman. Wideman spent the past six seasons in the NBA league office and was the No. 3 overall pick in the inaugural WNBA Draft.

The Washington Mystics have hired former Chicago Sky assistant Sidney Johnson as their coach.

storm in seattle — Noel Quinn returns as head coach

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

There is no general manager: Talitha Rea returns as general manager.