Sandy Brondello made her feelings clear about the WNBA Finals rematch between the Liberty and Lynx on Tuesday.
After winning the WNBA Finals in 2024, the New York Liberty (21-13) have the third-best record in the league this season.
No team has put up a stronger challenge to New York's title defense than the first-place Minnesota Lynx (28-5), the team they beat in five games in last year's Finals.
Minnesota leads New York 3-0 in the season series, with the final 2025 regular season matchup taking place on Tuesday night in Brooklyn.
Minnesota star Napheesa Collier has only played in one matchup, while New York's Breanna Stewart has missed all three.
Sandy Brondello's Clear Message About WNBA Rivalry
Liberty head coach Sandy Brondello had no issue stating her true feelings about the Lynx ahead of their fourth matchup in three weeks.
"Of course, we have a rivalry," she mused at Monday's practice. "And it’s great for the league!"
"I don’t know why they play it down," said Brondello, 56. "We don’t like each other. That’s just how it is.”
Coaches Get Involved in Liberty-Lynx Drama
Brondello's quote was part of a longer response to a reporter who asked if she had seen a playful quote that Lynx guard Courtney Williams made about the Liberty before their game against the Lynx on Saturday.
Williams referred to the Liberty as a "punk (expletive) team" on a StudBudz livestream with her co-host Natisha Heideman and guest Jaylyn Sherrod — a former Liberty guard who signed with the Lynx on Aug. 9.
"I heard about the punk (expletive) thing," Brondello said, recalling her direct response during Saturday's game. "I saw Jaylyn and then I saw Natisha Heideman. I'm like, 'Who's calling us a punk (expletive) team?' (Heideman) goes, 'Not me!'"
Williams backed up her talk with a game-high 26 points in the 86-80 win for Minnesota. Afterward, Lynx coach Cheryl Reeve also acknowledged the viral comments made by her All-Star guard about their rivals.
"It’s my understanding that Courtney may have poked the bear a little bit on the other side with some words on a stream that they do," Reeve said after the game. "You don’t go from a Birkin bag to a Target bag. So she had to back that up."
WNBA Defined by Growing Rivalries
The WNBA has many great rivalries:
- Minnesota Lynx vs. New York Liberty — 2024 Finals rematch with added drama off the court
- Indiana Fever vs. Chicago Sky — regional matchup with individual rivalry that goes back to college showdowns between star players Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese
- Seattle Storm vs. Phoenix Mercury — historic series dating back to Sue Bird vs. Diana Taurasi
Intense competition and familiarity between teams breed higher television ratings as the WNBA audience continues to grow and fans find storylines to latch onto.
The brash comments shared by players and coaches, combined with the excellent basketball product they put on the floor, have turned Lynx vs. Liberty into a marquee matchup no matter who is on the court.
They have one more guaranteed chance to show it on Tuesday, but another playoff series between the heated rivals is not out of the question.
Related: Calls Mount for Indiana Fever to Make Caitlin Clark Decision After Sophie Cunningham News
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 19, 2025, where it first appeared in the WNBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Category: Basketball
