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Sky Coach Tyler Marsh Has Strong Opinion About Valkyries Coach

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated Jun 27, 2025 10:59 PM ET

Tyler Marsh is in his first season as head coach of the Chicago Sky. On Friday night, he'll go head-to-head with Golden State Valkyries head coach Natalie Nakase, also in her first season leading a WNBA team, when the two squads meet at the Chase Center.

Before tip-off, Marsh spoke to the media and had high praise for his former colleague. The two previously coached together with the Las Vegas Aces and built a strong bond during their championship run.

Kenzo Fukuda, who covers the Valkyries and Warriors, shared a few highlights from Marsh’s comments:

"Chicago Sky HC Tyler Marsh joked about Natalie Nakase and their close relationship coaching in the Aces together."

Chicago Sky HC Tyler Marsh joked about Natalie Nakase and their close relationship coaching in the Aces together:

“Natalie’s extremely competitive so we haven’t had a whole lot of communication since the season started.”

He emphasized their mutual respect and close bond. pic.twitter.com/t2Twr5WDvA
— Kenzo Fukuda (@kenzofuku) June 28, 2025

Marsh opened up about their past in Las Vegas, where they won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023:

“Natalie’s extremely competitive, so we haven’t had a whole lot of communication since the season has started.”

He also reflected on their close working relationship:

"We were extremely close the last three years, working hand-in-hand, side-by-side."

Marsh concluded with heartfelt praise for Nakase:

"Obviously, being able to go through what we were able to experience together in Vegas helped bring us closer together. Who she is as a person, who she is as a coach—I think the world of her."

Marsh served on the Aces staff from 2022 to 2024 and was part of the Toronto Raptors’ coaching staff during their 2019 NBA championship season.

Nakase’s coaching tenure in Vegas overlapped with Marsh's. Prior to coaching, she played for the San Jose Spiders, San Diego Siege and Germany’s Herner TC. Her coaching career began in 2008 with the Wolfenbüttel Wildcats.

Friday's matchup is more than just a game; it’s a reunion between two former colleagues turned head coaches, each aiming to make their mark in a new chapter of their WNBA careers.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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