| Washington Mystics | |
|---|---|
| Position | Assistant coach |
| League | WNBA |
| Personal information | |
| Nationality | Turkish |
| Career information | |
| College | Marmara University |
| Coaching career | 2002–present |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
| 2002–2007 | Migros Basketball (HC/Asst.) |
| 2008–2014 | Galatasaray (assistant) |
| 2015–2017 | Seattle Storm (intern) |
| 2017–2019 | Yakın Doğu Üniversitesi (assistant) |
| 2018–2023 | Chicago Sky (assistant) |
| 2022 | Çukurova Basketbol |
| 2023 | Chicago Sky (interim) |
| 2025–present | Washington Mystics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| As assistant coach: | |
Emre Vatansever is a professional basketball coach who is an assistant coach for theWashington Mystics of theWomen's National Basketball Association (WNBA). He got his start in the WNBA serving as a coaching intern for theSeattle Storm, before serving as an assistant and player development coach for theChicago Sky. He also served as the interim head coach and general manager of the Sky for several months.[1][2][3] Vantansever has previously been the head coach atÇukurova Basketbol and an assistant withYakın Doğu Üniversitesi andGalatasaray.
Vatansever spent seven years at Galatsaray as an assistant coach.[citation needed] During his time as assistant with Galatsaray, Vatansever was a part of the teams that won the Turkish Cup in 2010 and the EuroLeague Women's Championship in 2014.[citation needed]
Vatansever’s first coaching job in the WNBA was as a coaching intern onJenny Boucek’s Seattle Storm staff.[3] Vatansever's time in Seattle included a lot of different roles including being an advance scout for the team.[4]
Vatansever spent two years at Yakın Doğu Üniversites, where he was an assistant coach for the squad.[5][6]
Vatansever joined the Chicago Sky in 2018 onAmber Stocks's coaching staff as a player development assistant coach. When Stock was let go following the 2018 season, Vatansever was retained whenJames Wade was hired.[7] Vatansever became the acting head coach for two games in 2022, when Wade was sidelined for COVID. Vatansever helped the Sky go 2-0 during that time.[8]
In the 2023 season, then head coachJames Wade stepped down on July 1, 2023 and took an assistant coaching position with theToronto Raptors. Vatansever was named as the interim head coach and general manager for the Sky - this being his first head coaching stint in the WNBA.[1][9] He became the first Turkish coach to take on the position of head coach in the WNBA.[citation needed]
After the conclusion of the Chicago Sky’s 2023 season, the Chicago Sky announced that Vatansever will not return as head coach and general manager of their team.[10]
Vatansever earned his first head-coaching role in 2022 when Çukurova BK in Turkey hired him to be their head coach. His roster included five WNBA players:Chelsea Gray,Briann January,Tiffany Hayes,DeWanna Bonner, andJonquel Jones.[3] Vatansever held the responsibility of head coach with Çukurova Mersin until early December when the club announced it had parted ways with him.[11]
On 18 March 2025, theWashington Mystics announced that Vatansever had been hired as an assistant coach under head coachSydney Johnson.[12]
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHI | 2023 | 24 | 11 | 13 | .458 | 4th in Eastern | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 | Lost in1st Round |
| Career | 24 | 11 | 13 | .458 | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
Vatansever married professional basketball playerKristen Newlin. She played in Turkey since she graduated from Stanford in 2008, including on the Turkish national team for several years as a naturalized citizen. The couple have three children together.[13]