WNBA Fills All Head Coaching Spots For Upcoming Season

Florida Gulf Coast head coach Karl Smesko, left, watches play on the court during a first-round college basketball game against Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament, March 23, 2024, in Bloomington,

The WNBA has successfully filled all of its head coaching positions after a record seven open spots this offseason. The latest hires include Chris Koclanes for Dallas and Sydney Johnson for Washington, completing the seven new head coaching appointments.

Among the seven new hires, there is a diverse mix of backgrounds. Three were former college head coaches, two were WNBA assistants, and one is an international coach. Stephanie White, a former WNBA head coach, secured a position with Indiana. Additionally, Natalie Nakase will lead the Golden State Valkyries next season, making it a total of seven women and six men coaching the 13 teams.

Notably, the league saw a shift in diversity among head coaches. While half of the coaches were Black at the end of the 2022 season, the number has decreased to three in 2025. Noelle Quinn of Seattle remains the only Black female head coach, with Teresa Weatherspoon and Tanisha Wright being let go. Nakase's appointment marks a milestone as the first Asian American to lead a WNBA franchise.

Diverse mix of backgrounds among the new head coaches.

Record seven new head coaching hires in the WNBA.

Shift in diversity with fewer Black head coaches in 2025.

Natalie Nakase becomes the first Asian American head coach in the WNBA.

Three Black male head coaches and three Black female head coaches in the league.

New coaches leading teams with promising players and potential for growth.

Golden State Valkyries and Indiana Fever have new head coaches with talented young cores.

Two Black men, Johnson and Marsh, were among the new coaching hires. The WNBA now boasts three Black general managers in Connecticut, Golden State, and Washington.

Here's a closer look at the eight new coaches:

• Atlanta Dream: Karl Smesko, known for his success at Florida Gulf Coast, joins a team with promising players like Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray.
• Chicago Sky: Tyler Marsh, previously an assistant coach for Las Vegas, takes over a team led by Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso.
• Connecticut Sun: Rachid Meziane, with experience coaching in France and Belgium, inherits a team facing changes with several key players as free agents.
• Dallas Wings: Chris Koclanes, who worked with GM Curt Miller in Connecticut, will lead a team with the top pick in the upcoming draft and star player Arike Ogunbowale.
• Golden State Valkyries: Natalie Nakase, the first coach for the expansion team, aims to build a competitive roster through the draft and free agency.
• Indiana Fever: Stephanie White returns to Indiana with a talented young core featuring Caitlin Clark and Aliyah Boston.
• Los Angeles Sparks: Lynne Roberts, coming from Utah, takes over a team with rising stars Rickea Jackson, Cameron Brink, and Dearica Hamby.
• Washington Mystics: Sydney Johnson, with a background in USA Basketball and college coaching, leads a team anchored by Shakira Austin, Brittney Sykes, and Ariel Atkins.