The 3 WNBA coaches who are on the hot seat

Jeremy Beren

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The 3 WNBA coaches who are on the hot seat image

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The 2025 WNBA season has been one of the most intriguing -- and complicated -- in the league's 29-year history. On one hand, young stars are emerging around The W, with three rookies garnering selection to the All-Star Game. The Minnesota Lynx and the New York Liberty may well be on a WNBA Finals collision course again, while the upstart Atlanta Dream and the retooled Phoenix Mercury will be among those hoping to spoil the party.

On the other hand, Indiana's Caitlin Clark -- the league's top draw -- has missed most of the season through injury. When the final buzzer goes in Los Angeles on Sept. 11, it will bring a league-record 44-game regular season to a close. The season's length has been cited as a reason why Clark and others have struggled to stay healthy: there is less recovery time in between games for everyone, not just the league's stars.

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The 2025 campaign has been particularly disappointing in Seattle, where Storm head coach Noelle Quinn is under the microscope. The Storm has lost six consecutive games to fall to 16-17, a half-game ahead of the Sparks for the last playoff spot.

With a veteran-laden roster that includes Skylar Diggins and Nneka Ogwumike, much more was expected of Seattle in 2025. If Quinn (90-87 over five seasons) cannot inspire a turnaround, the Storm could use that as pretext to make sweeping changes, to build around the young big tandem of Ezi Magbegor and Dominique Malonga.

The Dallas Wings (9-24) have Paige Bueckers and three first-round picks in the next two drafts, but first-year head coach Chris Koclanes has been criticized for the Wings' struggles, especially defensively. Last week, some Wings fans called for the franchise to replace him with assistant coach Nola Henry, which speaks to the discord being felt in Dallas despite Bueckers enjoying a historic rookie season.

However, Koclanes and Wings general manager Curt Miller enjoy a strong relationship dating to Koclanes' tenure as Miller's defensive coordinator with the Connecticut Sun. If Miller is retained -- assumption dictates that he will be -- Koclanes probably gets another season in Dallas.

In Chicago, another first-year head coach is struggling. Tyler Marsh got the job after the Sky dismissed Teresa Weatherspoon in 2024, but results have gotten worse in Chicago.

Under Marsh, the Sky (8-24) have lost 11 of the past 12 games as Angel Reese continues to nurse a back injury. Chicago ranks 12th in offensive rating and 12th in defensive rating; the team's lack of strong guard play has been noticeable.

Under Marsh though, Reese has taken her game to another level, improving statistically while assuming more responsibility as the team's "point forward". In addition, Marsh is Chicago's fifth coach in the past four years -- and with the Sky set to open a new practice facility next year, the organization is seeking stability as it tries to execute a rebuild around Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.

All this points to Marsh getting another season to demonstrate his player development chops, which he honed on Aces head coach Becky Hammon's championship-winning staff in Las Vegas.

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Jeremy Beren

Jeremy Beren is a freelance WNBA writer with The Sporting News. A Phoenix native, he is a graduate of Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and he has a decade’s worth of sports journalism experience. Jeremy's work has appeared in publications such as Marca, SB Nation, Athlon Sports and Vice Sports. He currently lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas.