The Chicago Sky have not gotten off to a great start under new head coach Tyler Marsh, as they have an 0-3 record through the first week of the 2025 WNBA season.

After losing their first two games against the Indiana Fever and New York Liberty by a combined 60 points, the team fell by double-digits again on Sunday against the Los Angeles Sparks. Despite a 13-point, 12-rebound effort from 2024 WNBA All-Star forward Angel Reese, the Sky lost 91 to 78 in Los Angeles.

Now, Chicago will travel to Phoenix for a late-night contest on Tuesday evening. The Mercury are 3-1 overall this season, but they are also 3-0 at home in 2025.

Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas (25).

Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images

Phoenix is led by five-time All-Star and back-to-back First-Team All-WNBA forward Alyssa Thomas. She was traded to the Mercury this offseason after spending the first 11 years of her career with the Connecticut Sun.

Given that the Sky are facing Phoenix on Tuesday night, coach Marsh spoke to the media about guarding Thomas, one of the WNBA’s most decorated players.

“She’s the engine for a reason. She’s not just a mismatch for us, she’s a mismatch for the league in a lot of respects,” Marsh said. “Her prowess on both ends of the floor, her energy, her toughness, she has the ability to be disruptive defensively. We gotta game-plan against that and see what goes.”

Thomas is averaging 16.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.3 assists per contest through four games this season. She is also a threat on defense, as she is contributing 1.5 steals and 0.5 blocks per game in the early part of her 2025 campaign.

Chicago post players Angel Reese, Kamilla Cardoso and Elizabeth Williams will be tasked with keeping the six-time WNBA All-Defensive forward in check. The Sky will look to get their first WNBA win of coach Marsh’s tenure when the game tips off at 10:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday night.