The Chicago Sky fell in their season opener to a familiar foe but with an unfamiliar cast. The protagonist, however, is still the same. Continuing to wreak havoc on Chicago, Clark ended the game with a 20-point triple-double. After the game, Sky Coach Tyler Marsh was asked what they could’ve done better to contain Clark. And his response was the kind of admission coaches rarely make, especially in Week 1 of a 44-game grind. 

While CC causes the most damage with the ball in her hands, her performance against the Sky was a statement to those critical of her defense. Clark registered four blocks in the game, matching her career high in the stat. “You know, coaching staff has just challenged me to try to be a better defender every single practice and just getting better in that area.” Clark said when asked if she worked on defense, particularly in the offseason. Although a CC defensive masterclass was unexpected at the very least, Chicago knew they had to disrupt Clark’s rhythm on offense if they were to stand a chance. And that’s exactly where Coach Marsh’s squad failed. And if there was any doubt about where the blame lay, Sky coach Marsh was blunt: “Everything,” he admitted when asked what his team could’ve done better to contain Clark.

“I thought we did a decent job with her in in transition. I think that, um, pick a roll, she hurt us a little bit. Um, and you know, it’s one of those things where she when she can get it going scoring wise and facilitating, she’s she’s tough to stop,” he said.

Well, Stephanie White’s fast-paced offense is built to hurt. And when that offense is led by arguably the greatest offensive player, there’s not much you can do. Clark, as Tyler Marsh mentioned, is adept at scoring as well as facilitating, making her a nightmare for the opposition in a pick-and-roll. If the big switches on to her, she can beat them off the dribble, and if they decide to let her shoot from the 3, they’re in for a very, very long night.

While the game was going on, you could see ample analysts and live bloggers calling Chicago’s “offense” ugly in front of Indiana. With a new coach and significant personnel turnover, it was somewhat expected. However, it is not like Fever was coming with a bond of ages—they, too, had just five returning players, after all. Many pointed to how the Sky teammates just couldn’t seem to agree on the floor, suggesting they didn’t gel well enough in the locker room, and how Reese had no help at all. Some even began clamoring for the return of Chennedy Carter.

Marsh, however, debunked any such ideas, sharing the truth about the nature of his locker room. “This is one game in the midst of 44 regular season games. So the message to the team was just staying together.” Marsh said. “We got our work cut out for us, but we’re up for the challenge. We’re not backing down from anything.” he said “Nobody said that this was going to be easy, We don’t want it that way. We’re tough in that locker room and we’re going to stay together.”

So, as it seems, the Windy City fans will have to exercise patience. While Tyler Marsh is implementing an NBA-style, high-powered offense in Chicago, it would take a while for the pieces to fit together, with the team going through a revamp in multiple departments.

What makes the revamped Chicago Sky offense different?

In their season opener, the Chicago Sky showcased an offense that is clearly undergoing a significant evolution under new head coach Tyler Marsh. This is a notable shift from the last season under Teresa Weatherspoon, where the offense often appeared less structured and struggled for efficiency.

The most apparent difference is the commitment to stretching the floor and increasing the volume of three-point shooting. While the results weren’t consistent in the opener, as they shot just 22.2% from deep, the intent was evident. Chicago attempted 27 three-pointers in the game, a stark difference from their 14.9 three-point attempts per game last year. This aligns with the offseason acquisitions of players like Ariel Atkins and Kia Nurse, known for their perimeter threats.

Star forward Angel Reese also expressed her backing of the offense, saying, “It’s gonna be really good for us. We can kick it out, or they can drive and dump it off for us,” underscoring the push for better spacing. Furthermore, we saw glimpses of Angel Reese’s evolving role. While she was still a dominant force on the boards, grabbing 17 rebounds, Angel even stepped out to take a three-pointer, indicating the coaching staff’s desire to diversify her offensive game, which was evident over the training camp. “We don’t want Angel Reese to be just a rebounder because she’s so much more than that,” Marsh said.

So, Marsh presents a modern, spread attack aimed at creating space and leveraging shooting threats, a clear departure from the Sky’s offensive identity of the past. The execution will need time to catch up to the scheme, but once it does, their glittering set of personnel will shine.