The Chicago Sky find themselves grappling with more than just a losing streak this season – they are facing what could be one of the most significant problems in WNBA history and Tyler Marsh must find a way to fix it.
The team is currently averaging 18.9 turnovers per game, a number that not only tops the league but also sets a near-historic record for the highest turnover rate since the WNBA’s inception.
To put this into perspective, the closest team behind the Sky is the Las Vegas Aces, who average 16.3 turnovers per game, making Chicago’s figure a considerable outlier.
The last time a team posted such a high turnover average was the 1999 Washington Mystics, who recorded 21.1 turnovers per game.
The Sky’s troubles were on full display during their recent home game against the Phoenix Mercury. Chicago committed 20 turnovers – marking the fourth time this season they have reached that number – while Phoenix capitalized with a team-record 17 three-pointers. The combination proved too much for Chicago, leading to a lopsided 107-86 defeat.
Marsh’s tough decision amid blowout
The game became so one-sided that midway through the third quarter, Chicago Sky head coach Tyler Marsh made the decision to pull his starters while trailing by 25 points. This move sparked criticism on social media, with some fans accusing Marsh of “quitting” on the team.
However, Marsh explained his rationale as a practical decision grounded in concern for his players’ wellbeing. With the game part of a demanding back-to-back schedule – Chicago was set to face the Atlanta Dream the very next day – Marsh prioritized preserving his players’ health.
“I think that we’ve got a couple of players that are banged up so we want to be mindful of the minutes that they play as the game got out of hand there midway through the third,” Marsh said. “For us, it was more preservation at that point and the players were almost at their limit anyway being on a back-to-back, so we wanted to be mindful of that.
“If the game wasn’t as out of hand, maybe it would have looked different. But we’ve got to be healthy and ready to go into Atlanta tomorrow. … We’ve got to be mindful of having healthy bodies, so we can give it as good an effort as we can going into tomorrow.”
A season to forget so far
The Sky’s struggles extend beyond turnovers and a recent blowout loss. With a current record of 3-9, Chicago has now dropped five of their last six contests, making the climb back to playoff contention a steep challenge.
Turnovers have been a consistent issue this season, crippling the team’s ability to compete at a high level. The Sky’s inability to protect the basketball not only limits scoring opportunities but also gives opponents extra chances to capitalize, as demonstrated in the loss to the Mercury.
The physical toll of a grueling schedule further compounds these issues, as key players battling injuries force adjustments and limit the team’s depth. Marsh’s decision to rest starters during the blowout loss underscores the importance of managing player health as the Sky navigate a difficult stretch of games.
Looking ahead, the team must find ways to reduce turnovers and improve execution while maintaining the health of their roster if they hope to turn their season around.
Chicago’s fans remain hopeful that with adjustments and a renewed focus on fundamentals, the Sky can overcome their historic turnover woes and begin stringing together wins. For now, Coach Marsh’s focus remains on managing his team’s health and instilling resilience during this challenging campaign.
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