Diverse Hires Across the Board
The seven hires this offseason display no single trend. Among the new head coaches:
Three were former college head coaches (Karl Smesko, Lynne Roberts, and Sydney Johnson).
Two were WNBA assistant coaches (Chris Koclanes and Tyler Marsh).
One came from the international coaching ranks (Rachid Meziane).
Additionally, two of the positions were filled by Black men, Johnson and Marsh.
The league now also features three Black general managers: Morgan Tuck (Connecticut), Ohemaa Nyanin (Golden State), and Jamila Wideman (Washington).
A Closer Look at the New Coaches
Karl Smesko (Atlanta Dream)
Smesko transitions to the WNBA after a 23-year tenure at Florida Gulf Coast University, where he boasted a .829 winning percentage—the third-highest among active college coaches. Known for his teams’ prolific 3-point shooting, Smesko will lead a talented Dream squad that includes Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.
Tyler Marsh (Chicago Sky)
Marsh arrives from the Las Vegas Aces, where he was instrumental in their back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023. The Sky, led by post players Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso, also hold the No. 3 pick in the upcoming WNBA draft.
Rachid Meziane (Minnesota Lynx)
Meziane brings a wealth of experience from France and Belgium, where he coached professionally and led Belgium’s national team to a fourth-place finish at the Paris Olympics. He inherits a Lynx roster in flux, with several key players entering free agency.
Chris Koclanes (Dallas Wings)
Koclanes reunites with GM Curt Miller, whom he worked with in Connecticut from 2016-2022, helping the Sun reach the WNBA Finals twice. With the No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft and a core led by Arike Ogunbowale, Koclanes has a strong foundation in Dallas.
Natalie Nakase (Golden State Valkyries)
Nakase becomes the first head coach of the expansion Valkyries, after success as an assistant with the Las Vegas Aces. Golden State recently secured its initial roster through the expansion draft and holds the No. 5 pick in the draft. The team is also expected to be active in free agency.
Stephanie White (Indiana Fever)
White returns to Indiana after leading the Connecticut Sun for two seasons. She takes over a young Fever team featuring the last two WNBA Rookie of the Year winners, Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston. White aims to finish what she started during her first stint with Indiana.
Lynne Roberts (Los Angeles Sparks)
Roberts, a California native, comes to the Sparks after nine seasons at Utah, where she earned Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors in 2023. She inherits a promising young core featuring Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, and Dearica Hamby. The Sparks hold the No. 2 pick in the upcoming draft.
Sydney Johnson (Washington Mystics)
Johnson brings experience from USA Basketball and his time as an assistant coach with the Chicago Sky. A former Princeton standout, he also spent eight years as head coach of Fairfield University’s men’s team, leading them to four postseason appearances. He takes over a Mystics roster anchored by Shakira Austin, Brittney Sykes, and Ariel Atkins.
