Perfection is what it will take for the Sky to successfully navigate filling their coaching vacancy.
Right off the bat, that’s a tall order for an organization that has become entirely comfortable doing the bare minimum. That complacency needs to end here and now. It’s the only way they stand a chance of luring the kind of coach capable of saving them from their basement-dwelling reputation in the WNBA and lowly rank in the standings.
The likelihood of the Sky landing Stephanie White — arguably the best coach in the WNBA next to the Lynx Cheryl Reeve — are next to zero. However, several assistants could be promoted to head coaching roles, including for the Sky.
The Valkyries got the memo out early that the best head coach candidates are WNBA assistants when they hired former Aces assistant Natalie Nakase. She’s the first Asian American head coach in league history. They hired her before waiting to see all the teams that would end up firing their head coaches, which is a testament to her experience. The Sparks, Sky and Dream were the first to dismiss their coaches. The Wings have since fired Latricia Trammell. According to multiple league sources, there will be more coaching vacancies before the end of the month.
Another product of Becky Hammon’s bench, Tyler Marsh, is also being considered for multiple vacancies. According to one league source, Marsh has already spoken with the Dream and is expected to meet with the Sparks in the coming weeks.
In today’s WNBA, when franchises like the Aces and Mercury pay their head coaches upwards of $1 million, that’s the starting point for a coach of White’s caliber. In the Sky’s 19-year history, they have never paid a seven-figure salary to a coach, not even James Wade, who led them to their first title in 2021.
This week the Sun conducted White’s exit interview amid her dealing with a family emergency. She did not elaborate on what her family was experiencing. However, it has her full focus.
“I’m not having conversations right now about anything outside of my family,” White said. “I’m solely focused on my family and getting through this tough time.”
According to league sources, multiple franchises are attempting to entice White from the last year on her contract with Connecticut. If the Sky are unable to land White, their next best option might be to go after one of her assistants.
Briann January served on White’s bench for the last two seasons following a 14-year playing career in the WNBA. She won a WNBA title with the Fever in 2012. Fever senior advisor Linn Dunn was the coach at the time and White was one of her assistants.
The biggest question regarding January’s potential fit with the Sky is whether she has the experience to handle a young locker room. The Sky need a coach who can come in and establish a culture for a team with many strong personalities. This could lead them to go after someone with more experience than January.
Sky general manager Jeff Pagliocca could end up targeting the Lynx bench. Cheryl Reeve’s lead assistant Katie Smith was hired by the Lynx in 2020 after serving as the head coach for the Liberty in 2018 and 2019. Before that, she spent three seasons on Bill Laimbeer’s bench.
Smith is expected to be heavily pursued for vacancies following the conclusion of the WNBA Finals on Sunday. The Lynx and Liberty are currently tied at two games apiece ahead of Game 5 in Brooklyn.
Other assistants likely to receive consideration for head coach positions are Lynx assistant Rebekkah Brunson and Mercury assistant Kristie Toliver.