Liberty Part Ways With Sandy Brondello

The New York Liberty have parted ways with head coach Sandy Brondello a year after she led the franchise to its first WNBA championship in 2024, ending her four-season tenure as the team's winningest coach (107–53). GM Jonathan Kolb called the move “proactive,” saying it was driven by a need for “evolution and innovation” after a thorough review that had been under consideration even last season. The 2025 campaign began 9–0 but was derailed by major injuries to key players, producing a No. 5 seed and a first-round loss to the Phoenix Mercury. Players publicly defended Brondello and reacted with surprise and anger, while Kolb said he is confident core stars — including Breanna Stewart, Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones — will remain. Ownership’s high expectations amid large investments, including a proposed $80 million practice facility, and a reported preference for a coach with NBA experience are shaping the search for a successor. Brondello has been linked in reports to interest from expansion clubs, and commentators remain divided on whether New York’s move will pay off.